This annual, national event is sponsored by the American Hiking Society to promote awareness and cooperation among trail users. The event occurs this year on Saturday, June 1st and there are several ways you can get involved! Join the Maine Chapter of the AMC on June 1st for a work day in the Bigelows. Or, check out AMC’s web site for trail day events. Or, donate some of your own time to clean-up a favorite trail in your neck of the woods. And as they say, “Trails Day is EVERY day!” so check out the many opportunities to volunteer on Maine Chapter trail maintenance trips or a trip somewhere else in the great AMC region. There’s a job for everyone!

Now in its 55th year, Mountain Leadership School (MLS) is a five-day wilderness leadership training program designed to help you lead groups with minimal impact in the backcountry. It’s perfect for new trip leaders, or experienced leaders looking to improve their skills. There is also MLS for leaders who primarily lead day hikes. Participants will discover and develop their own leadership style and learn new techniques such as trip planning, map and compass, time management, group dynamics, Leave No Trace, and accident scene management. Mountain Leadership School is now accepting registrations and the schedule is now available online. See the website, or call 603-466-2727 to reserve your space at MLS.

Planning a trip to Baxter State Park this summer with more than 12 of your closest friends? There are new group size limitations in effect for 2013. Groups of 13 or more can continue to camp in Baxter State Park at the designated group area campsites. But groups will need to break into a size of 12 or less to hike anywhere in the Park. Also, if the groups are hiking the same trail, there should be at least 1 mile between the groups and they should not gather at the summit together, forming a group of more than 12. And also remember when hiking with juveniles that Baxter Park also requires an adult leader:juvenile ratio of 1:5. FMI

Are you an avid day hiker who has always dreamed of linking your trail-filled days together into a multiple-day journey? To see the stars at night from a remote campsite? To listen to a babbling stream lull you to sleep? To awake to chirping birds? On Tuesday May 21, the Maine Chapter will be hosting an evening workshop on backpacking at Maine Audubon in Falmouth. Learn what you need to bring to safely hike multiple days in a row without returning to the parking lot at the end of the day! Information on backpacks, gear, clothing, stoves, food, water, hygiene, trip planning, and a variety of outdoor hints will be presented. This workshop is designed for experienced hikers ready to move into overnights on the trail or backpackers looking for new ideas. Please contact Ray Cooper for more information or to sign up.

Join us on Tuesday May 14 at the Freeport Community Library for a presentation on trekking in Patagonia. Few people have traveled to Patagonia in the far southern region of South America. Sam Jamke, on the other hand, has been there twice: once building trails as a volunteer and once leading a group of experienced hikers. Sam will share beautiful photos of scenery and wildlife, stories from both trips, and logistical tips for exploring Patagonia yourself. Freeport Community Library, 10 Library Rd in Freeport, 04032. The dinner begins at 6pm; the presentation at 7pm. Bring a potluck item to share and your own dinnerware (plate, utensils etc.) if possible. Drinks will be available. Parking is free and plentiful. For more information, please download a flyer (140KB PDF) or email Education Chair John Mullens All events are free and open to the public.

Interested in birds and like to hike? The Vermont Center for Ecostudies might have just what you are looking for, even here in Maine. This program was started in 2000 to monitor mountain birds in the northeast such as Bicknell’s Thrush. The program is a citizen science initiative and they offer training for those interesting in volunteering. Check out the trail sections available in Maine and help out if you can!

If you love wildlife and/or are concerned about climate change, here is a great opportunity to learn more about how climate change might affect the animals and habitats in your back yard and beyond. Please join us on Wednesday, May 8 from 7-8:30 p.m. at Maine Audubon’s Gilsland Farm on Route 1 in Falmouth. Maine Audubon and the Natural Resources Council of Maine will present an evening on the impacts of climate change on wildlife and wildlife habitat. Dr. Mark Green from St. Joseph’s College will be speaking about his work on marine animals, and Steve Walker from the Maine Coast Heritage Trust will speak about the vulnerability of Maine wildlife species and habitats to a changing climate. You will hear what you can do to help. This event is free and open to the public. Please contact Karen Herold for more information.

Please join us on Tuesday May 7 for a presentation on trekking in the Gaspe in Canada! In late summer 2012, Carey Kish and Fran Leyman embarked on an 8-day, 70-mile trek on the International Appalachian Trail through Gaspésie National Park. Gaspésie is a vast expanse of high summits, alpine tundra, dramatic escarpments, deep valleys, old growth forests and pristine waters located just inland from the St. Lawrence River on the Gaspé Peninsula in Quebec. It is also home to a remnant herd of woodland caribou, moose, deer, black bear and hundreds of bird species. The park’s “Grand Traverse” was the pair’s goal, and carrying relatively light packs and staying in simple but comfy backcountry refuges, Kish and Leyman enjoyed a magnificent walk. At 7pm on Tuesday, May 7th at Maine Audubon’s Gilsland Farm at 20 Gilsland Farm Rd, Falmouth, Maine 04105 they will show slides, describe their adventure, and give advice on replicating it. Parking is free and plentiful. This program is jointly sponsored by the Maine Chapter of the Appalachian Mountain Club and Maine Audubon’s Fields Pond Center in Falmouth. For more information, download a flyer (132KB PDF) or email Education Chair John Mullens or Audubon Naturalist Holly Twining.

On Friday May 3 Randy Pierce will tell his story of climbing all of New Hampshire’s 48 4,000-footers in winter in a single season. Sure, lots of people do all these peaks in the winter, less people do it in one season, but there’s only one person who has done it that is blind- that is Randy Pierce with his guide dog Quinn. Randy is giving a presentation to benefit Guiding Eyes for the Blind, Maine region. Join Randy and Quinn on Friday May 3 at University of Southern Maine’s Abromson Center. No tickets necessary; $10 donation suggested. FMI, download a flyer (5.5MB PDF)

Have you ever thought about the “freeway” of trails we all hike on, but you want to pay your “toll”? AMC offers a variety of opportunities to give back to the trail through working with volunteer trail crews or adopting your own section of trail. Volunteer for as short as a day or as long as a week, or set your own schedule with trail adoption. Workshops on trail maintaining techniques are also offered. FMI.