We are pleased to announce that we have received funding through the generous contributions of the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation to host the third consecutive year of the Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC) and New Hampshire Jobs for America’s Graduates (NH-JAG) Conservation and Trail Stewardship Programing with Berlin and Woodsville High Schools!
Once again we will be offering a total of seven weeks of programming for high school students enrolled in the NH-JAG program in Berlin and Woodsville, NH. Over the course of the summer we will work with 24 students led by our two dedicated AMC Trail Crew Leaders, Alana and Madison (more info on these two outstanding individuals below).
In Berlin, NH we plan to engage fourteen students for a total of four weeks. During that time we will continue our work on the Mt. Jasper Trail as well as one week of work in partnership with the White Mountain National Forest, and one week of work constructing a new public hiking trail on White Mountain Community College lands in Berlin, NH.
The Woodsville students have three weeks of programming planed where one week will be on the Kinsman Ridge Trail on Cannon Mountain, and two of the weeks will be working on Black Mountain on the White Mountain National Forest. Black Mountain is already utilized by the regional Middle School as part of their 8th grade Earth Science class. We will be expanding the connection with Black Mountain by offering trail programming for Woodsville High School students to help maintain this beautiful trail.
These exciting projects will help to link the students with not only regional conservation efforts but connect them with organizations, agencies, and educational institutions that could provide opportunity for these students after graduating high school.
Over the past two years we have been impressed with the impact this program has had on the students involved. We have seen development in their communication skills, boosting their confidence, improvement in their problem solving skills, and truly change their perspective on our natural resources and public recreation areas. We are more than happy to be able to offer this program for the third year in a row.
Working with NH-JAG students on conservation and trail stewardship projects is dynamic and exciting. Our two AMC Trail Crew Leaders are more than capable and are very much looking forward to the summer season with the NH-JAG students!
Alana Scannell
Hello! I am originally from the Boston area and I am about to graduate from the University of New Hampshire with a degree in Social Work. My first experience with trail work was during a volunteer spring break trip on the Appalachian Trail in Georgia. I have been on two additional trail work volunteer trips since then and I was a leader in the JAG program last year. Last summer was an incredible experience and I can't wait to come back for round two. I'm looking forward to moving rocks, muddy boots, trail names, suspenders and hard hats, and working with the awesome JAG students!
Madison Vlass
Hey guys! I am Madison Vlass, one of the AMC/New Hampshire JAG leaders this summer. Growing up in Massachusetts, the White Mountains have been my playground my entire life. I am now an Anthropology major at a small college in Colorado called Fort Lewis. The large scale terrain out west has helped me develop my outdoor interests, everything from hiking and backpacking to white water kayaking, mountain biking, and rock climbing. But the beautiful New Hampshire mountains continue to pull me back and I am so excited to be working for a second summer maintaining the land I love. I know this will be a wonderful summer, full of hard work, new people, and many great adventures. See you guys in the mountains!
Here is to another successful season of AMC/NH-JAG Programming on the trails!
-Alex DeLucia
Alana Scannell
Hey guys! I am Madison Vlass, one of the AMC/New Hampshire JAG leaders this summer. Growing up in Massachusetts, the White Mountains have been my playground my entire life. I am now an Anthropology major at a small college in Colorado called Fort Lewis. The large scale terrain out west has helped me develop my outdoor interests, everything from hiking and backpacking to white water kayaking, mountain biking, and rock climbing. But the beautiful New Hampshire mountains continue to pull me back and I am so excited to be working for a second summer maintaining the land I love. I know this will be a wonderful summer, full of hard work, new people, and many great adventures. See you guys in the mountains!