American Hiking Society Announces 2018 National Trails Fund Recipients

May 24, 2018

SILVER SPRING, MD (May 24, 2018) – American Hiking Society is thrilled to announce the 2018 recipients of National Trails Fund grants. The National Trails Fund gives trail clubs and land managers the necessary funding to complete critical trail projects across the country, thanks to the generous support of its Charter Sponsor, L.L.Bean.

Created in response to the growing backlog of trail maintenance projects faced by grassroots trail organizations, the National Trails Fund has helped hundreds of organizations within American Hiking’s Alliance of Hiking Organizations to acquire resources and galvanize volunteers to protect America’s cherished hiking trails. To date, American Hiking Society has funded 226 trail projects and awarded over $718,000 in National Trails Fund grants.  In 2018, National Trails Fund recipients include:

• Bayou Land Conservancy, Texas
• Dracut Open Space Committee, Massachusetts
• Friends of the Cheat, West Virginia
• Jefferson County Historical Society, Pennsylvania
• New Castle Recreation Department, Pennsylvania
• Ojai Valley Land Conservancy, California
• Oregon Natural Desert Association, Oregon
• Southern New Mexico Trail Alliance, New Mexico
• Trail Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

“Replacing burned directional signage, eliminating illegal off-road vehicle use on a popular trail, and building a boardwalk over a sensitive wetland area, are just a few examples of the diverse and critical projects American Hiking Society is eager to support through the National Trails Fund.” Commented Kathryn Van Waes, American Hiking Society’s Executive Director. “These measures ensure that outdoor recreationists will have safer and more enjoyable hiking experiences well into the future.”

“L.L.Bean recognizes the important role that outdoor recreationalists have in being good stewards of public lands. We applaud American Hiking Society’s efforts to establish, protect, and maintain America’s foot trails. We are proud to sponsor American Hiking Society’s National Trails Fund to support the critical role the volunteer stewards play at the local level,” stated Janet Wyper, L.L.Bean’s Manager of Community Relations.

About American Hiking Society

Founded in 1976, American Hiking Society is the only national organization that promotes and protects foot trails, their surrounding natural areas, and the hiking experience.  As the national voice for hikers, American Hiking Society recognizes that foot trails and hiking are essential to connect people with nature, conserve open space, provide biological corridors for diverse plants and wildlife, and for the health of Americans and our natural environment.  American Hiking Society represents millions of hikers who are committed to beautiful places to hike and believes that the preservation of hiking trails and their environments is important and a worthwhile legacy to leave future generations.

About L.L.Bean, Inc.

L.L.Bean, Inc. is a leading multichannel merchant of quality outdoor gear and apparel. Founded in 1912 by Leon Leonwood Bean, the company began as a one-room operation selling a single product, the Maine Hunting Shoe. Still family owned, Shawn Gorman, great grandson of Leon Leonwood Bean, was named Chairman of the Board of Directors in 2013. While its business has grown over the years, L.L.Bean continues to uphold the values of its founder, including his dedication to quality, customer service and a love of the outdoors. In the past five years, L.L.Bean has donated over $6 million toward conservation and land stewardship. L.L.Bean currently operates 39 stores in 17 states across the United States, along with 25 stores in Japan. The 220,000-sq. ft. L.L.Bean retail store campus in Freeport, ME, is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and welcomes more than 3 million visitors every year. L.L.Bean can be found worldwide at www.llbean.com, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Pinterest, Google+ and Instagram.

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