Near, Far, and Along the Trail

The ELS participants — who ranged in age from 18 to 30 — included college students, recent graduates, and young professionals. Some attendees have completed thru-hikes, some serve as A.T. Trail Club volunteers, and some are A.T. ridgerunners. Many represented outdoor organizations, including Southern Appalachian Wilderness Stewards (SAWS), SCA Pennsylvania Outdoor Corps, Shenandoah National Park, Groundwork Elizabeth, First Landing State Park, Philadelphia Outward Bound School, Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC) Boston, the New York-New Jersey Trail Conference, and the Maryland Conservation Corps. As a seasonal National Park Service employee from West Virginia says, “We all come from different backgrounds, but each of us has something unique to offer the A.T.”

Even if they aren’t connected to specific organizations, all have a love of the outdoors. “As a newbie, I felt not just supported — but welcomed — into this vast new world of possibilities. I met so many people in the field, as well as people who were just like me, getting started and looking into what they could do for the outdoors. It was eye-opening,” shares an emerging leader from New Jersey. And while most participants had A.T. experience, five took their first steps on the Trail during the summit.

A Shared Mission

In its programs and outreach, the ATC endeavors to incorporate justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion (JEDI). Bringing together young people from different backgrounds has long been a core goal of the ELS. According to one emerging leader, “My favorite aspect of the ELS was the amazing group of people the ATC was able to put together. I was impressed by the diversity of age, gender, race, geography, and backgrounds that were represented at this summit. That is a real testament to terrific outreach. I was nervous coming to a conference like this and not knowing who might be there, but I know we all left feeling like we belonged in that group and on the A.T. in whatever way we want to be.”

In addition to continuing to foster a diverse and inclusive environment, this year’s summit emphasized the importance of conveying the ATC’s mission. The agenda for the three days was filled with activities guided by the Conservancy’s work. The summit’s goals were also adapted to incorporate the ATC’s current strategic pillars:

Protect: Emerging leaders learn about the work the ATC does and how they can get involved.

Experience: They explore the Appalachian Trail while gaining new stewardship and outdoor skills.

Belong: They connect with and are inspired by others in a supportive environment.

“It’s really important that the participants understand what the ATC does and what it stands for — how our work stretches across the Trail and beyond,” says Rachel Lettre, the ATC’s Mid-Atlantic Regional Director. “We’ve structured the ELS so it’s not only an opportunity to educate, but to collaborate. They can take what they learn about the ATC and from each other and apply it to their lives or careers. For those connected to other outdoor organizations, it’s also an opportunity to learn about shared goals and see how the ATC can expand partnerships.”

In the Classroom and on the Trail

On the first day, members of the ATC’s Next Generation Advisory Council — who Lettre stresses are an important part of the summit because they directly support the ATC’s efforts to engage with a younger and more diverse audience — led welcome tours and shared their hopes for the summit. Participants were introduced to the ATC’s work and the three pillars. That evening, attendees got to know each other through conversations around a traditional campfire. “My favorite parts of the summit were the people and the location. Hosting it at the NJSOC created the perfect environment for people to come out of their shells and connect with each other and with nature. Many people said they felt like they were at summer camp, and I share this positive association. The site also had such an interesting history and spoke to the ATC’s mission of incorporating local partners into its work,” remembers a participant from North Carolina.

Outdoor activities during the three days included group hikes on the A.T., which is around a mile away from the NJSOC. ATC staff were on hand to teach the emerging leaders about conservation, science, and stewardship on the A.T. landscape. Staff from the New York-New Jersey Trail Conference introduced the attendees to traditional Trail maintenance. Leave No Trace principles and hiking and camping basics and impacts were shared by A.T. ridgerunners. Many of these details were new to some attendees, but even those familiar with hiking on the Trail expanded their knowledge through these workshops. One environmental educator developed a better understanding of Trail infrastructure, “It was super interesting to learn more about how blazes on the A.T. work, along with other Trail structures. Of course, I had seen these (steps, water bars, puncheons) but I didn’t fully recognize their function.”

“The contributions of all the different staff and volunteers were essential to making the summit a success,” says Lettre. “And having ridgerunners present their experiences provided some participants with new understandings. Most assumed that ridgerunners only work on the A.T. They were surprised to learn that ridgerunners also share their knowledge off the Trail, including during programs like these.” When asked, a participant said that they considered themselves to be well-versed in Leave No Trace, but they “appreciated the detail that the ridgerunners shared with real-life examples.”

This shared knowledge flows both ways. Summit educators also learn from the emerging leaders — whether it’s gaining a new understanding of how information is received or finding new ways to impart vital Trail trainings. According to Hope Schrouder, a New Jersey ridgerunner, “The ELS encompasses many of the goals that ridgerunners are trying to accomplish while out on the Appalachian Trail. We connect with visitors from a multitude of backgrounds and age groups with differing levels of hiking experience. The summit is so beneficial because it empowers participants to recognize the impacts of a single person from a Leave No Trace perspective. I can’t stress enough the profound importance of a single person. All of us have started somewhere in our relationship with the outdoors and the trails. There’s this innate part of us that longs to be out in nature and to connect with it, but knowing how to do it in a way that protects and preserves for years to come is key….I don’t shy away from giving examples of times when I haven’t always done a great job with Leave No Trace in the past. Explaining that empathy goes a long way with education. I believe that most people want to do the right thing, but often simply don’t know that what they are doing has negative impacts.”

Hands-on cooperative activities were also key to engaging the participants and incorporating their new Trail knowledge. For an “Edible Trail” design competition, participants were divided into teams and given 40 minutes for planning and implementation. Their edible construction materials were used to show features on the Trail, such as a stream crossing, a bog or wetland, an ascending hill, a drainage feature, a traditional trail structure, and an overnight site.

With an eye on exploring Trail-related careers, members of the NextGen Advisory Council set up a Career Panel and a Speed Networking activity. With a format similar to a speed dating event, attendees were moved from partner to partner, sharing their experiences along the way. One participant, who is a college student, found that their “biggest takeaway is what [they] learned about opportunities within the ATC and related careers.”

As a result of these career workshops, an ELS participant who volunteers with their local Trail Club realized they could take their role as an outdoor educator more seriously. In the past, they had joked around, saying they were just the ranger who helps people to have fun, “I wasn’t giving myself the credit for the impact I would hopefully have on those interested in connecting with the natural world around them…It changed the way I view myself in the context of environmental education and looking at outdoor education as a legitimate career path. It invigorated my passion to explore new areas of work within the field while also…being the best I can be in the job I am currently in.”

An emerging leader who works in AMC’s Boston office described the experience and the career discussions, “[It was] basically the first crash course I’ve formally gotten describing cooperative management systems and how trail maintenance gets done on a larger scale. This weekend has really affirmed for me the necessity of facilitating effective partnerships to do good/equitable conservation work. I have a new appreciation for the volunteers at AMC that keep our trails running and the entire network of conservation organizations that we are a part of. I am hopeful that the ELS will kick off some new partnerships for me as well.”

The Path Forward

No matter how they arrived at the Emerging Leaders’ Summit this summer, all the participants expressed excitement and new insights about their educational and career paths. They’re intrigued by how they will use what they learned about the ATC and the Trail.

One emerging leader believes that, “The summit gave us the tools and resources to advance the mission of the ATC. The ELS empowered me and other young adults to take an active role in conservation and outdoor recreation by providing us with the resources and knowledge needed to make a positive impact on our communities.”

A student from New Jersey echoed what many participants felt, “Being able to connect on a personal and professional level with individuals from all different backgrounds and coming together for a cumulative purpose — the goal of protecting and creating inclusivity in the outdoors — has changed my perspective of the work I can do every day to make the world a better place.”

Thanks to donations from members, partnerships, and sponsorships from different organizations and corporations, the ATC is able to offer programs like the ELS. Lettre stresses that the goal is to ensure there are no barriers for participants to attend the summit — their transportation is covered and necessary supplies are provided. For example, in support of the 2024 ELS, Osprey generously provided backpacks for the participants to use on their hikes during the summit and beyond. Additionally, the ATC received a grant from the Partnership for National Trails System (PNTS) to fund an intern to assist in coordinating the summit.

If you have questions about the Emerging Leaders’ Summit, please contact [email protected]