Join the recently created Outreach Sub-committee to help support the Outreach Steward by helping with planning and implementing educational presentations and orientation workshops to underrepresented groups.
Contact Janice Clain (president@matc.org) or Holly Sheehan (coordinator@matc.org) for further information or to volunteer.
The Maine Trail Crew repairs steep, rugged, and degraded sections of the Appalachian Trail, helping to protect and preserve this treasured resource for future generations.
Volunteers (age 18+) are invited to apply to join our paid crew for one or more of the following sessions: June 29 – July 3; July 6-10; July 13-17; July 20 – July 24; August 3-7; August 10-14; August 17-21; August 24-28
Projects run Monday morning through Thursday or Friday afternoon. Crew members must arrive by 4:00 PM on Sunday before their session begins. An enthusiastic and experienced staff looks forward to welcoming you and building trails together
Contact MATC Club Coordinator, Holly Sheehan (coordinator@matc.org) if you are interested in volunteering your time with the Trail Crew.
COME WORK WITH US!
MAINE TRAIL CREW
VOLUNTEER INFORMATION
What You’ll Do:
Projects focus on rebuilding and restoring heavily impacted trail sections. Crews use rigging equipment and hand tools to construct stone steps, install waterbars, improve drainage, and stabilize steep terrain.
Who Should Apply?
We welcome individuals 18 years or older from all backgrounds. Ideal crew members bring enthusiasm and positive energy, good physical health, adaptability and teamwork, willingness to follow instructions and safety guidelines, readiness to share camp chores.
Trail experience is helpful, but not necessary — we’ll teach you the skills you need.
Benefits:
Volunteer Application: https://forms.gle/mSF7vyG3FwEpkrBK7
For more information or the volunteer application email: coordinator@matc.org
This day-long event will be a great introduction to what’s involved with trail maintenance on the AT. It will take place on Little Boardman Mountain over easy terrain. Contact Janice for more information.
Join us for some hands‑on construction fun! We’ll be building, organizing lumber, and packaging materials as we pre‑assemble one of the privies for the 2027 season in Palmyra. This early build is needed because the Rainbow Spring privy will be transported to the campsite by snowmobile during the winter of 2027, ahead of the usual spring pre‑build.
MATC’s annual business meeting will be on Saturday April 25th at Colby. Lunch will be provided by Colby Catering. We are asking attendees to make a cash donation to help the Club defray costs. We will have a limited selection of Club merchandise (hats and t-shirts). Sales are cash only.
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Are you new to campsite maintenance? Been at it for a few years, but want a refresher? Or, maybe you’ve been considering taking on an assignment but want to see what’s involved first? Whatever the case, join us at the Wilson Valley Campsite on May 30 (rain date May 31) for a workshop designed for campsite maintainers! We’ll cover the 11 essential steps of a maintenance visit and even tackle a few tasks together.
MATC’s Dave Field was a featured author in the Winter 2022 edition of ATC’s “Journeys” magazine. Dave is a life-long volunteer on the A.T. and has witnessed and instigated many change over the years. The trail you know and love today is in in large part Dave’s doing. Please thank Dave for his dedication to and love of the trail! Check out the article: https://appalachiantrail.org/official-blog/loving-the-trail/
While using a privy is typically and preferably a solitary experience, the how and why of privies deserve some face time. Check out this recent ATC article explaining the privy “Facts of the Matter.” The banner photo was taken by MATC volunteer Emily Zimmerman from the 2021 Sabbath Day Pond privy project! https://appalachiantrail.org/register-blog/privy-choices/
Group Registrations Coordinator
MATC’s CARE Committee (ridge runner program) is seeking a volunteer to serve as the Group Registration Coordinator. The job includes: receiving information from groups that register to use and camp along the AT; corresponding with groups to advise them on their itineraries and, if necessary, provide alternatives; communicate with ridge runners in the field to inform them of groups passing through or camping in their areas; collecting data to help improve Trail use; providing feedback to camp groups and the CARE Committee on group usage of AT resources. Recommended qualifications for the position are: familiarity with the AT in Maine and its campsites; working knowledge of computer applications for tracking, storing and distributing data; good communication skills.
For more information or to request consideration for the position contact CARE Committee Chair, Janice Clain (jclain@midmaine.com) or MATC Club Coordinator, Holly Sheehan (coordinator@matc.org).
Save the date! The Maine Appalachian Trail Club’s 2022 annual meeting will be held on Saturday April 9th from 9-11am on…. you guessed it- Zoom! Again, we will miss seeing familiar faces and the stories of blow-downs, privies, and flat tires. And we’ll especially miss the coffee and doughnuts! But, with the latest news of COVID-19 this is the best we can do. We are planning on a 2-hour meeting to prevent screen fatigue and stick to the tasks at hand. Based on last year’s meeting we should be able to make it within the 2 hour time-frame. We’ll send out more information, including a Zoom invite, as the date approaches. In addition, we’ll be reaching out to those without the internet to make accommodations. Below is a sneak-peek of the agenda. “See” you all on April 9th! For more information, please contact: Tom Gorrill tgorrill@matc.org
Agenda
Maine Appalachian Trail Club Spring Meeting Via Zoom
Saturday, April 9, 2022
9:00 AM Annual Business Meeting of the Club
10:45 AM News from Appalachian Trail Conservancy – Paige MacGregor
11:00 AM Q&A
11:10 AM End of Day