Unicoi County, TN (January 12, 2012) – Janet Hensley has been selected to serve as the volunteer ambassador to the designated Appalachian Trail (A.T.) Community of Unicoi County, Tennessee. In this role, she will serve as a community liaison to the Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC) and the local volunteer club, the Tennessee Eastman Hiking & Canoeing Club, to bolster volunteerism and stewardship of the Trail at the local level.
“The Appalachian Trail Conservancy is excited about building off its volunteer base by providing A.T. Ambassadors to designated A. T. Communities to help increase local stewardship of public lands and support healthy lifestyles for community citizens,” stated Julie Judkins, Community Program Manager of the ATC.
Janet Hensley has been involved with the A.T. in Erwin for a number of years, as the owner of one of the town’s hiker hostels and as the coordinator of A.T. Summit Seminars, meant to generate greater understanding and positive relationships between hikers and the local business community.
“I am very interested in being able to work more closely with my community here in Unicoi County to promote the Appalachian Trail and to encourage others to get involved. I have always felt that we have some great resources in the people of this area and it would be very rewarding to be part of a program designed to get them involved,” said Hensley.
The Appalachian Trail Community™ program is designed to recognize communities that promote and protect the A.T. Towns, counties, and communities along the A.T.’s corridor are considered assets by A.T. hikers and many of these towns act as good friends and neighbors to the Trail. The program serves to assist communities with local initiatives such as sustainable economic development through tourism and outdoor recreation, while preserving and protecting the A.T. The A.T. Community Ambassador opportunity is the first of its kind within the A.T. cooperative management partnership.
The ATC was founded in 1925 by volunteers and federal officials working to build a continuous footpath along the Appalachian Mountains. The A.T. is approximately 2,185 miles in length, ranging from Maine to Georgia, making it one of the longest, continuously marked footpath in the world. Volunteers typically donate more than 220,000 hours each year on Trail-related work and about 2 to 3 million visitors walk a portion of the A.T. each year. This year also marks the 75th anniversary of the completion of the A.T.
About the Appalachian Trail Conservancy
The Appalachian Trail Conservancy mission is to preserve and manage the Appalachian Trail – ensuring that its vast natural beauty and priceless cultural heritage can be shared and enjoyed today, tomorrow, and for centuries to come. For more information please visit www.appalachiantrail.org.
Contact: Julie Judkins
Appalachian Trail Conservancy
Tel: 828.254.3708 x11
Fax: 828.254.3754
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.appalachiantrail.org