Join our local trail colleagues, The Ralph Peak Hikers Cabin Volunteer Club,  for its 20th annual AT Work Weekend and BBQ/Campout, July 13-15. Come for part or all of the weekend. The club maintains the Appalachian Trail and RPH cabin in the Hopewell Junction area.

Proposed projects this year are: paint and repair Seth Lyon Memorial Bridge; install new check dams; rebuild wooden walkway; replace rotted water bars; prune back invasive foliage along trail right of way;  build steps. There is work for all levels of experience and skills.

Contacts:

• Tim Messerich, Trail Work Leader, bascomgrillmaster@yahoo.com or 845.401.8817
• Jim Gahn, President, earmaster@juno.com or 914.213.7250

The club works on the AT in the vicinity of RPH Cabin every Saturday, weather permitting, and invites new participants.

Contact: Russ Faller 845-297-5126 (before 9:30 PM) or russoutdoors@yahoo.com. A fun-filled day for you and your entire family, whether you’re paddlers or have never paddled before.  Bring the kids, grandchildren, spouse, partner & friends.  Don’t let the name fool you.  It’s not just kayaks.  There will be canoes and stand-up paddle boards (SUPs) for you to try.  The emphasis will be on education, demonstrations, lessons and guided tours for all levels of paddler, as well as, for those who’ve never paddled before.  If you have a boat, bring it.  We need volunteers to help run this event.  You need not be a paddler to be of help – contact Russ.  You will not be asked to help for more than a couple of hours, so you’ll still be able to do some paddling – a lesson, a guided tour, etc.

Members of the Mid-Hudson Chapter of ADK get in free.  Bring your membership card.  Non-members are asked to donate $10 to the non-profit Forsyth Nature Center.  Go to Kingston Point Beach, 53 Delaware Av., Kingston, NY, between 10 AM to 4 PM.

• 10:00 AM – 4 PM        Test Paddle a Kayak
• 10:30 – 11:15 AM       Beginner Kayak Lesson on the Beach:  Mike Pettigrew & Mark Tatro of Mid-Hudson ADK
• 10:30 – 11:15 AM       Kayaking with the Mayor (Intermediate Level):  Steve Noble, Kingston Mayor
• 11:15 – 12:15 PM        Kayaking 101*: Mike Pettigrew of Mid-Hudson ADK & KC Keegan-Twombley of Forsythe Nature Center
• 12:00 – 12:45 PM        Kayaking with the Mayor (Intermediate Level):  Steve Noble, Kingston Mayor
• 12:00 – 1:00 PM          How to Choose a SUP/Intro to SUPing:  Tara of Kenco Outfitters
• 12:45 – 1:30 PM          Beginners’ Kayak Tour:  KC Keegan-Twombley of Forsythe Nature Center
• 1:00   – 1:45 PM          Beginner Kayak Lesson on the Beach:  Mike Pettigrew & Mark Tatro of Mid-Hudson ADK
• 1:15 – 2:00 PM            Kayaking with the Mayor (Intermediate Level):  Steve Noble, Kingston Mayor
• 1:45 – 2:45 PM            Kayaking 101*:  Mike Pettigrew of Mid-Hudson ADK & KC Keegan-Twombley of Forsythe Nature Center
• 2:00 – 2:45 PM            How to Pick a Kayak & Paddle:  Dave of Kenco Outfitters
• 3:15 – 4:00 PM            Beginners’ Kayak Tour: Steve Noble, Kingston Mayor & KC Keegan-Twombley, Forsythe Nature Center

Click on image above to view or download a copy of our Summer newsletter.

Join members of the Mid Hudson Chapter of ADK as we hike and explore
Maine’s 100 Mile Wilderness, some of the most remote country along the Appalachian Trail’s entire 2150 miles.

This region was carved by glaciers millions of years ago. This
is Lake Country, where wild life (Moose), outnumber people. There are
mountain ranges with big, panoramic views of Mountain Ranges as far North as
Katahdin and carpets of green trees – hardwood and spruce, with lakes and
streams in between. Click on links below to

Learn more: Hike Maine’s 100 Mile Wilderness

Register: Registration Form-Hiking Maine’s 100 Mile Wilderness

Complete Release of Liability Form: Liability Release-Hiking Maine’s 100 Mile Wilderness

Our Mid-Hudson Chapter gives funds to support ADK education programs such as the Summit Steward program in the Adirondacks (above) and Catskills.

In the last couple of years the Adirondacks and the Catskills have seen a large increase in the number of hikers.

On the one hand, it is good to have more people enjoying and benefiting by exercising in these beautiful natural places. On the other hand, it leads to added stress to the trails and the summits.

In response, ADK has put in place a “Summit Stewardship Program”. Upon giving training to staff and volunteers, the program then deploys them to the summits, where you can find them educating hikers about flora and plant communities, and about the importance of protecting them from trampling.

Our Mid Hudson Chapter regularly donates funds to support this very valuable education program.

Our Chapter also gives scholarships for youth education programs. Learn more from our Chapter Chair.

Additionally, the Chapter has made available to young people scholarships to help them attend outdoors programs and youth environmental camps. Contact the Chapter Chair Dan Jones, jones.daniel.jr@gmail.com, if you wish to learn more about how your children, grandchildren or other young people might benefit from our scholarship opportunities.

In February, our chapter received a thank-you letter from the executive director of the Stony Kill Foundation, for funding  the “Little Free Library” project at three locations on the NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation (DEC) owned lands just north of Beacon. Our Mid Hudson Chapter gave $500 for the project, which was constructed by Girl Scout Chailyn Schroll last autumn.

The mission of the Stony Kill Foundation, Inc. is to develop environmental, educational and historical interpretive and outdoor recreation programs and events at the Stony Kill Farm Environmental Center in Wappingers Falls. More than 10,000 people of all ages visit the farm each year to walk trails and gardens, and attend environmental-themed events, workshops, summer camp and field trips.

The “Little Free Library” project was originally proposed by DEC as a way to bring more people to the property by offering a unique learning concept. The libraries are located near the Stony Kill farm pond, the garden plots and the trailhead to the Woodland trail.

Books pertaining to hiking, gardening, cooking, nature, environmental studies, farm life and children’s books are housed in each library, encouraging visitors to take a book and leave a book. There are picnic tables and a newly constructed bench on the woodland trail where visitors can read while on the property.

Chailyn started the library project in September 2017 as part of her Gold Award. In addition to our chapter’s $500 donation, she raised additional money to fund building three libraries. She was able to construct the library using plans found online and secured additional labor from her Girl Scout troop, family and a carpenter. She also collected enough books to fill each library.  Look for them the next time you are in the area to hike or ski the trails.