Hit the trails in this week’s Voluntourism Spotlight. We’re showing you a new way to experience the hiking trails and national parks across the country while also giving back. Check back every Wednesday for more voluntourism opportunities and tune into Peter Greenberg Worldwide Radio on Saturday for more information.
For the past 35 years, the American Hiking Society has worked as a non-profit to maintain our nation’s trails and represent the interests of the hikers who enjoy them. One aspect of that work is voluntourism opportunities. Throughout the year, the organization hosts upwards of 500 volunteers in 27 states as well as the U.S. Virgin Islands. Most of their trips last a week, but the organization keeps costs as low as $275 a trip, which includes a one-year membership to the American Hiking Society and all food and accommodation costs for participants.
Hikers are expected to bring their own tents and sleeping bags along on trips and be in good physical condition as some of the trips can be quite strenuous. For most trips, participants are also required to be at least 18 years old, though some trips are open participants that are 14 and up.
If you’re tuning into the weekend Colorado Springs broadcast, one upcoming trip to keep in mind is August Colorado trip to the Lake Como Basin, the Rio Grande National Forest and the Blanca Peak Summit Trail.
The project’s mission is to carry out the final phase of a 2-year project to build a sustainable trail to the ridge of the Blanca Peak and Ellingwood Point Summits. Volunteers will get to construct rock steps and retaining walls, put in new trail, cloe social trails, transplant vegetation plugs and build cairns.
The work provides stellar views of alpine meadows and lakes as well as surrounding mountains and the San Luis Valley. Wildlife in the area includes big horn sheep, marmots, deer, pika, bears, fish and a variety of birds. Volunteers will get to stay at a primitive tent site at a base camp in the Rocky Mountains.
Recreational swimming and fishing opportunities will also be available.
This trip will take place from Aug. 18, 2012, through Aug. 26, 2012. Registration information for this trip and other opportunities can be found on their website.
By Charles Edward Hicks for PeterGreenberg.com
