2nd Annual Family Hiking Day Weekend Celebration

Photo: J.Hess, theshadowshop.blogspot.com

On September 29-30, 2012, the Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC)’s Mid-Atlantic Regional Office, located at 4 East First Street, Boiling Springs, PA, invites families to “hike their own hike” on the Appalachian Trail (A.T.) for the 2nd Annual Family Hiking Day. This event is free and open to the public.

Held on National Public Lands Day, Family Hiking Day is an initiative developed by the ATC to introduce families to the A.T. and the benefits that come from spending time outdoors. Hiking on the A.T. is a good source of physical exercise, one that provides an opportunity to create lasting memories and encourages long-term appreciation of protected public lands.

Families who visit the ATC's regional office will receive a free Adventure Packet that will aid in planning local day hikes. The guide includes a description of local hikes, directions to A.T. trailheads, and safety tips.

After taking a self-guided hike along the A.T., participants who turn in their “Family Hike Wrap Up” sheet from their Adventure Packet will be entered into a prize drawing during the closing celebration.

The closing celebration will be held on Sunday, Septemeber 30, 2012, from 4:00 p.m.- 6:00 p.m. at the ATC’s regional office. The celebration will include family friendly entertainment, nature activites for all ages and a visit from Smokey Bear.

“The Appalachian Trail Conservancy is proud to host Family Hiking Day,” said Mark Wenger, executive director/CEO of the ATC. “It’s a great opportunity to engage families with the outdoors, promote physical exercise, and encourage people to explore their local natural resources.”

Participants will also have the opportunity to share their family hiking day experience for a chance to win a REI Flash 18 reversible pack. To enter, stories and photos can be emailed to Julie Judkins at jjudkins@appalachiantrail.org by October 8, 2012. The winning story will be featured in A.T. Journeys, the official magazine for the Appalachian Trail.

The ATC was founded in 1925 by volunteers and federal officials working to build a continuous footpath along the Appalachian Mountains. Stretching from Georgia to Maine, the A.T. is approximately 2,180 miles in length, making it one of the longest, continuously marked footpaths in the world.  Volunteers typically donate more than 220,000 hours of their time doing trail-related work each year, 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.

For more information about Family Hiking Day or resources for hiking with your family, call 717.258.5771, e-mail atc-maro@appalachiantrail.org, or visitwww.appalachiantrail.org/FamilyHike.