Volunteer of the Month

June 2008

Bradley Alston joined the Mountain Club of Maryland (MCM) six years ago seeking a more interesting view than the one he saw from his treadmill at the local Y.  He was immediately hooked: he enjoyed the scenery, the social aspects of group hiking and found that hiking the A.T. sparked new interests – everything from the Civil War to botany.

Though he joined MCM because he loved hiking, Bradley wanted to instill his love of hiking in others. Already a volunteer hike leader and leadership council member for MCM, he works with his club to bring students from local schools to the A.T. The projects he organizes are designed to compliment the students’ curriculum, expose them to hiking and the outdoors and meet service learning requirements. In an outing last fall, Bradley partnered with the YMCA of Central Maryland, ATC and W.E.B. DuBois Environmental High School in Baltimore to involve students in World Water Monitoring Day on the A.T. Bradley, assisted by W.E.B. DuBois teachers and MCM Vice President Rosie Suit, led the students to a local water source to collect water quality data, visited a shelter and took a short hike. It was a good learning experience for the students – many of them first time hikers. 

Bradley brings youth to the A.T. because he wants them to benefit from hiking in the same way he has. “I want them to see,” he says “the world beyond their neighborhood.” Thanks to Bradley’s efforts, many young people are expanding their horizons!

ATC Thanks All Appalachian Trail Volunteers

ATC appreciates all the efforts made by Trail volunteers. Learn more about the extraordinary contribution made by other A.T. volunteers:

Regional Volunteer of the Year Awards 
Silver and Gold Awards - Awarded for 25 and 50 years of service to the A.T.

If you would like to recognize a volunteer affiliated with ATC, a Trail maintaining club or other A.T. partner contact Jeanne Mahoney at jmahoney@appalachiantrail.org.