AMC Trails
Programming will be partnering with NH-Jobs for America’s Graduates (JAG) for the
second year in a row! Building on the success of the AMC/NH-JAG partnership in
Berlin, NH High School in 2011 we have expanded our programming to work with
two High Schools in 2012.
AMC partnered
with NH-JAG for the first year in 2011 to offer Conservation and Trail
Stewardship work experience during the summer for NH-JAG students in Berlin, NH
High School. The program was an overwhelming success. Looking forward, there was
interest to not only continue to work with Berlin, NH, but expand to a second
NH-JAG program in Woodsville, NH.
Through
generous grants both AMC and NH-JAG have developed a full summer season of Conservation
and Trail Stewardship work for these students. Berlin’s NH-JAG students will be
working for four weeks of July continuing to work on the new trail they
constructed on Mount Jasper in Berlin, NH. These students will also work to
help construct a second trail on Mount Jasper, as well as working directly with
the White Mountain National Forest to construct a new trial on Mount
Washington.
The students
from Woodsville’s NH-JAG program will be working for three weeks of August on
White Mountain National Forest trails to repair damage cause by tropical storm
Irene, as well as invasive plant species removal, and erosion control trail
maintenance.
In addition
to the Trail Stewardship work experience these students will become involved in
AMC citizen science research efforts in climate change. AMC Research staff will
be offering a number of opportunities during the summer work experience for the
NH-JAG students to become actively involved in data collection for this
important, long-term climate study.
All of the
Trail Stewardship projects will be directly led by two AMC staff Trail Crew
Leaders. These two leaders have been hired to work exclusively with the NH-JAG
students in Berlin and Woodsville for the 2012 summer season.
Alana Scannell
AMC/NH-JAG
Trail Crew Leader
Hello! This will be my first summer working for the AMC and I could not be more
excited! I have been exploring the White Mountains since before I was old
enough to tie my own hiking boots and I have to say these mountains are pretty
fantastic. I am originally from the Boston area but I am studying social work
at the University of New Hampshire. I am currently studying abroad in South
America - two months in Buenos Aires, Argentina and two months in Lima, Peru. I
spent spring break backpacking through Torres Del Paine, Patagonia and I am so
excited to spend a whole summer surrounded by mountains! When I am not
frolicking in the wilderness I like to play guitar and ukulele, bake, and yell
angrily at the TV while watching Red Sox games. I can't wait to be a part of
the AMC/NH-JAG program and see all the lovely faces that come through!
Michael
Farmer
AMC/NH-JAG Trail Crew Leader
This summer will be my first year
working for the AMC as a NH-JAG Trail Crew Leader and I am looking forward to a
summer in the White Mountains! I am from Vermont and thru-hiked the Long Trail
when I was 13, this inspired me to hike the Appalachian Trial when I was 18 and
ever since I have appreciated the work that trails crews do to allow everyone
to enjoy the outdoors. I am a senior at Lyndon State College where I study
Exercise Science which helps me to learn how to maximize the strength of the
human body, which will be a useful skill in trail building! I am looking
forward to working with local students teaching mountain stewardship, and I
hope that this education will inspire them to spread the message of
conservation in recreational settings. Living in the White Mountains will allow
me to do some of my favorite activities such as hiking and rock climbing and I
am looking forward to seeing you out on the trails!
We are very much looking forward to
an outstanding 2012 summer partnership between AMC and NH-JAG offering unique
and meaningful work experience for northern New Hampshire youth.
We’ll see you on the trails!
