Our Stories

2024 Volunteer Awards: Vanguard

  The Vanguard Award is presented to a legislator or other high-level public official whose leadership, actions, and advocacy have substantially benefited the North Country Trail. Kathy DeCoster It’s impossible to name one person that made unit status possible for the North Country Trail, but Kathy was particularly critical. As Vice President for Federal Affairs […]

Hike the Hill 2021: Congressional Outreach

  The final week of Hike the Hill was a busy one! by Andrea Ketchmark We kicked off the week with a meeting with the Chief of the U.S. Forest Service Vicki Christiansen to discuss the new 10 Year Trail Shared Stewardship Challenge. Trail advocates met with the House and Senate Natural Resources Committee, as well […]

Hike the Hill 2021: National Trail Leadership

  A big part of Hike the Hill is demonstrating how nonprofit partners contribute to the system in our cooperative management structure. by Andrea Ketchmark The National Trails System Act, designated in 1968, was unique in that it not only established the National Trails System and mechanisms for trail designation, but it also called for […]