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 […]

2022 Vanguard + Trailblazer Awards

  Vanguard Award recipients are legislators or other public officials whose leadership, actions, and advocacy have substantially benefited the North Country National Scenic Trail over a Chapter/Affiliate/Partner’s area or larger, not just a short segment. Mary Mertz, Ohio Department of Natural Resources. Mary Mertz, Director of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR), has arguably accomplished […]

Sasha Ospina and Dan Vogler: Volunteer Spotlight

  2020 Outstanding Private Landowner Award Sasha Ospina, Circle Pines Center. The Center is a longtime private cooperative that offers many groups a place for retreats in a serene wooded setting. They permitted the Chief Noonday Chapter to take the Trail off-road to go all the way on their property, plus permitted parking for hikers, […]