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.

Beautiful photos from leader Russ Faller’s September backpack trip along the Taconic Mountains.

View from Bash Bish Mtn.

Looking west from the South Taconic Trail

Evening on the summit of Catamount

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View or download the latest issue of Mid Hudson Trails by clicking here.  Includes upcoming outings and events and an article about our changing plantscape.

Japanese stiltgrass covers a trail at Mills-Norrie State Park.