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American Hiking Society's National Trails Fund grants

Funding to secure access, volunteers, tools and materials to protect America's public trails.

From American Hiking Society

American Hiking Society created the National Trails Fund in 1998, the only privately supported national grants program providing funding to grassroots organizations working toward establishing, protecting and maintaining foot trails in America.

AHS is now accepting applications for its 2009 National Trails Fund, an ambitious effort to preserve community hiking trails across the nation. Since the grant program’s inception 10 years ago, 89 different hiking trail projects have received a combined $340,000. This year, Nature Valley’s Save the Trails program donated $50,000 to double the size of the 2009 National Trails Fund. This means that 10 applicants will each be awarded $5,000.

Non-profit organizations may apply for a 2009 National Trails Fund grant by visiting www.wheresyours.com or www.americanhiking.org. In addition to the written proposal, applicants are required to upload video or images. Applications are due on Aug. 15, 2008.

On Sept. 30, 2008, the American Hiking Society will post its top 20 submissions on www.americanhiking.org for public voting during the month of October. The top 10 entries, announced in April 2009, will each receive $5,000 to repair their respective trails.

For 2005, American Hiking distributed over $40,000 in grants thanks to the generous support of Cascade Designs and L.L.Bean, the program's Charter Sponsors.

APPLYING FOR A NATIONAL TRAILS FUND GRANT

What types of projects will American Hiking Society consider?

- Securing trail lands, including acquisition of trails and trail corridors, and the costs associated with acquiring conservation easements.

- Building and maintaining trails which will result in visible and substantial ease of access, improved hiker safety, and/or avoidance of environmental damage.

- Constituency building surrounding specific trail projects - including volunteer recruitment and support.

The deadline for applications to be considered for a 2006 National Trails Fund grant is November 1, 2005 (postmark date). Grants will be awarded in March 2006.

For details and application forms see the American Hiking Society website at: http://www.americanhiking.org/alliance/fund.html

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For more opportunities for training on trail design, construction, and management see the National Trails Training Partnership area.