American Hiking Society Offers Outdoor Service Vacations for Students

September 16, 2015

Fun times in the great outdoors while protecting wild lands and paying it forward – this is what American Hiking Society is offering in their just-released 2016 Alternative Break trip schedule. Offering a variety of service vacations geared specifically towards college student groups, these voluntour trips combine day hiking, trail conservation, crew camaraderie, and nature exploration within a week’s time, and are planned to allow college students an opportunity to give back to the environment on their school break.

Never been hiking or done trail work before?  American Hiking Society President, Gregory Miller, confirms that is not a problem.  “Trips don’t require any prior trail work experience, just a good attitude and a willingness to get a little dirty!  American Hiking Society will be celebrating 40 years of trail stewardship in 2016.  Participating in an Alternative Break is a tremendously rewarding way to be a part of this lasting legacy of conservation.”

The 2016 Alternative Break schedule offers rewarding trail work projects in seven different states including Arkansas, California, Florida, Missouri, Oregon, Texas, and Virginia.  Accommodations are comfortable and varied, offering everything from car-camping tent sites to fully furnished cabins to ensure you can find the trip that’s right for your group. All trips provide free time to explore the surrounding landscape, hike, or enjoy the cultural offerings of nearby attractions.

• Close to San Francisco, Santa Clara Country Parks in California, offers students the opportunity to vacation amidst the breathtaking views of the Santa Cruz Mountain Range while repairing trails that have eroded from storm damage.
• Known for its exceptional natural beauty, undisturbed islands, and nearby population of manatees, Crystal River Preserve State Park in Florida, provides students the chance to get up close and personal with native wildlife while performing maintenance on the Crystal Cove Trail.
• Home of open skies and gorgeous canyons on Wild and Scenic Rivers, Cottonwood Canyon State Park in Oregon, provides students the opportunity to perform trail maintenance and native plant restoration while surrounded by incredible wildflowers, back dropped across a desert landscape.

Campsite or cabin accommodations, park entrance fees, tools, project supervision, project and meal planning guidance, and a one-year membership with American Hiking Society are all included in the registration fee, making American Hiking’s Alternative Breaks an affordable way to adventure travel over break.

This is a do-good opportunity for students to make new friends, share laughter over a campfire, and experience an amazing sense of accomplishment after restoring a neglected trail. This is a once in a lifetime chance for students to connect with the land and spend their break doing something that makes a lasting difference.

To learn more about the Alternative Break program, visit www.AmericanHiking.org or call (800) 972-8608.

About American Hiking Society
Founded in 1976, American Hiking Society is the only national, recreation-based nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting and protecting America’s hiking trails, their surrounding natural areas and the hiking experience.

American Hiking Society’s stewardship programs are made possible by the generous support of our sponsors – REI, The North Face® Explore Fund™, Vasque, Backpacker’s Pantry, as well as our Federal Public Land Partners – Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service, USDA Forest Service, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.