American Hiking Society is currently accepting applications for the 2006 National Trails Fund. The National Trails Fund is the country's only privately funded grants program providing financial assistance to grassroots organizations working toward establishing, protecting and maintaining foot trails in the United States.
Created in 1998 to address insufficient federal and state funding for hiking trails, the National Trails Fund gives community organizations such as volunteer-led trail clubs and local land trusts the resources necessary to build or repair new or existing trails, protect trail corridors, and support trail outreach and volunteer programs.
“The future of foot trails and a healthy hiking experience depends on dedicated volunteers and sustained trail protection efforts. The National Trails Fund provides critical seed funding to achieve improved hiking access and trail stewardship,” noted Gregory Miller, President of American Hiking Society.
American Hiking will be accepting grant applications until November 1, 2005. Awards will range from $500 to $10,000 per grant. To be eligible for an award, applicants must be a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization and meet one of the following three criteria: 1) building or maintenance of trails which will result in improvement to the environment and enhancement of the hiking experience, 2) acquisition of trail lands including costs associated with acquiring conservation easements, and 3) constituency building surrounding specific trail projects including volunteer recruitment and support. A panel of judges will make final selections in February, and American Hiking will announce the National Trails Fund awards in March 2006. Applications and guidelines are available on American Hiking's Web site, http://www.AmericanHiking.org, or by calling 1-800-972-8608.
To date, American Hiking has granted more than $240,000 to 56 different trail projects across the U.S., including a 2005 grant to the Northwoods Stewardship Center in Vermont to fund a conservation-based service and education program for local youth called Kingdom Corps. The project will address maintenance needed on the Bluff Mountain Community Trail system, enabling the field-crew of young adults to spend two weeks improving trail access, reducing erosion by installing steps and drainages, and improving trailhead signage.
The National Trails Fund is supported thanks in part to generous donations from Cascade Designs and L.L.Bean, the program's Corporate Charter Sponsors. Their support allows American Hiking to award at least $40,000 each year, a significant investment to lock in a future for trails and open space. Additional funding is provided through gifts from private individuals and businesses. More information about the National Trails Fund, including a list of past grant recipients, is available at http://www.AmericanHiking.org. Interested parties wishing to make a donation to the National Trails Fund may do so by contacting the Society's President, Dr. Gregory Miller, at 800-972-8608, extension 210.
