www.nynjtc.org The New York-New Jersey Trail Conference Special Insert

October 1, 2006 through September 30, 2007 Behind Every Scenic Picture...

...there is someone who cares. Contributed Services 1,301 Trail Conference volunteers contributed a It’s said that a picture total of 55,896 hours of work and travel. The tells a thousand words. value of their work is estimated at $843,177! But neither pictures Volunteer Contributions by Committee Committee Hours Travel Hrs Value

nor words substitute for Publications 1,888 131 $62,678 Marketing/Outreach 98 14 1,432 the experience of hiking Membership/Development 36 9 750 Trail Land Conservation 110 17 1,780 a mountain summit and & Advocacy Science 698 180 13,200 being rewarded with a Trail Builders & Maintainers 32,083 10,798 450,117 Darlington School House 672 61 15,675 magnificent view. Volunteer Committee 16 8 710 Ramapo ATC Conference 2007 3,850 269 129,883 They can’t replace the pleasure of spotting first-hand Indigo Buntings Communications 1,991 — 95,317 flitting among trees while one walks the Wyanokie Circular Trail in Administrative 2,968 537 71,635 Norvin Green State Forest. They only suggest the visual and audible spectacle of water dropping TOTAL 44,410 12,023 $843,177 180 feet in a narrow gorge, as it does at Verkeerder Kill Falls in the Shawangunks, accessible only by hiking on the Long Path. Pictures and words are informative, sometimes inspiring, but they are Summary: On-Trail, Off-Trail Volunteer Contributions not the same as walking a footpath with children at Ramapo Valley Coun - ty Reservation or Bear Mountain State Park and giving them the chance On-Trail Volunteer Work Hours 32,083 to delight and investigate for themselves the mysteries of ponds and On-Trail Volunteer Travel Hours* 10,798 streams. On-Trail Volunteer Work Valuation $450,117 The work of the Trail Conference is to make such first-hand, per - sonal experiences available to millions of people by providing them with the trails and resources to explore nature safely and respectfully. Off-Trail Volunteer Work Hours 11,787 The fact that in so doing we enjoy being out in nature ourselves is Off-Trail Volunteer Travel Hours* 1,228 icing on the cake. Off-Trail Volunteer Work Valuation $393,059 This report is our annual celebration of the work achieved by the Trail Conference and its volunteers. Check it out, then go outside and experience the rest of the story. Total Volunteer Work Hours 43,870 Total Volunteer Travel Hours* 12,026 Grand Total Volunteer Hours 55,896 Total Value of Volunteer Work Hours $843,177

Robert Boysen Edward K. Goodell Value is based on information from U.S. Department of Labor statistics. Chair, Board of Directors Executive Director *We currently do not include travel time in our calculations for valuating volunteer contributions. Page 2B Special Insert: 2006–2007 Annual Report Trails The Trail Conference works with land-owning partners, including state, county, and local agencies and nonprofit conservancies and preserves in the New York-New Jersey region to make open space and nature accessible to the public. In fiscal year 2007, 1,192 trail volunteers kept 1,682 miles of hiking trails in the region open and well maintained for the public.

Pursuing Major Projects Improving Our Trails

New trail lands, trail erosion, trails Each year Trail Conference volun - damaged by floods or ice storms: teers build new trails to create links all present challenges and in the trail network or give access opportunities for significant to new lands. Trail sections are trail building projects. relocated to avoid road walks, Bear Mountain accommodate land-owner requests, During year two of this seven-year project skirt environmental problems such to improve the AT and related trails on as erosion, or improve views. Bear Mountain, 297 volunteers con - During 2006/07, volunteers: tributed 4,185.5 hours of work to help • extended the Hillburn Torne Sebago build a stretch of the AT in a challenging Trail on top of the Ramapo Torne; Publications area requiring heavy construction. During the season, our crews, many comprising • relocated a short section of the Long Ten map sets and 11 guidebooks published by youth and volunteers in training, built: Path across a bridge over the Minekill • 2,375 square feet of cribwall Creek in the Catskills; the Trail Conference were available to the public • 465 square feet of stone paving • relocated eastern end of the Timp- during the year. Trail Conference maps and Torne, 1777W and 1779 Trails in • 53 stone steps Harriman State Park; guidebooks provide people with the information • 710 linear length of new trail • relocated portions of the Wyanokie they need to access and enjoy public open Circular Trail ; Long Path Crews built a new three-mile trail in the • built a new connector between the space in our region. Catskills that connects the Warner Creek Castle Point and the Hoeferlin Trail/Long Path directly to the Devil’s Path Memorial Trails in Ramapo State Books Maps on Plateau Mountain, eliminating a five- Forest, named the Skyline Trail ; mile detour that included a road walk. • adopted part of the Canal Greenway • Scenes and Walks in the Northern Two completely new digitally-produced Committee’s Greenway Trail in Shawangunks by Jack Fagan; map sets were produced: Shawangunk Ridge Warren County, NJ; new third edition, published in 2006 • North Jersey Trails Crews completed seven miles of new • completed extensive work on the • Hiking the Jersey Highlands , • Harriman-Bear Mountain Trails trails in the southern Shawangunks on Warren Trail in Warren County, NJ; by George Petty; new book, • Work progressed on an updated edition land protected by the Trail Conference: published in 2007 of the Shawangunk Trails map set • a five-mile loop that connects the City • completed bridge and trail repairs in the Dunnfield Creek area; • Walkable Westchester , by Jane Daniels and of Port Jervis to the Lenape Ridge, Walt Daniels; new book, in development comprising two trails: Lenape Ridge • relocated a segment of the AT Trail and Minisink Trail; in Wawayanda State Park. • a two mile loop dubbed the Ravine Trail in the Town of Mount Hope that links Expanding Our Network the Shawangunk Ridge Trail to an old Science (closed) fire tower. The Trail Conference regularly adopts new trail areas. We also Tracking Wild Invasives Ramapo Mountains work to identify routes for extend - The Indian Rock and Wanaque Ridge ing or protecting existing trails. The Trail Conference, working with Rutgers University, completed the second year of a three-year project supported by the US Dept. of Agriculture to study the spread Trails , which combine to make a 5.5-mile Last year, we: loop, were planned and built in the of invasive plants in public parklands. Trail Conference volunteers were trained as Ramapo Mountain State Forest and • adopted trails in the Kitchawan Preserve “citizens-scientists” and hit the trails to collect data in the field. An explicit part of Wanaque municipal lands in New Jersey. and Montrose Point State Forest, NY ; the research is to test whether hikers can collect accurate data regarding invasive plants. • adopted trails in Idlewild Park in Catskill Storm Recovery Queens, NYC; The months of April and May 2007 saw • adopted trails in West Brook Park extensive trail closures in the Catskills in West Milford, NJ; due to ice storms in April. Much of the Special Events & Initiatives Long Path and many other trails above • identified route segments in Wonder 2,400 feet were closed for some time. Vol - Lake State Park in Putnam County for unteers provided many backbreaking hours the Highlands Trail , which we seek to ATC at Ramapo Darlington helping to clear the Long Path , especially extend from the Hudson River east to in the northern portion of the park. the Connecticut state line; 2007 Schoolhouse • identified a route for the Highlands The Trail Conference, a maintaining The Trail Conference announced plans to Trail across Route 15 in Sparta, NJ. member of the Appalachian Trail preserve through purchase and restore as Conservancy, hosted ATC’s biennial its headquarters a landmark 19th-century gathering in July 2007 at Ramapo State schoolhouse that sits at the gateway to College of New Jersey. Under the leader - Bergen County’s Highlands. Working Supporting Our Trail Volunteers ship of Conference Chair Jane Daniels, with several partners—Bergen County, 387 volunteers made the eight-day festival Township of Mahwah, New Jersey Green Our Trail University offers novice- to advanced-level training in trail of hikes, workshops, trail work, and Acres Program, and The Morris Land building and maintenance. conviviality a major success! Conservancy (MLC)—the property • In its second year, Trail U offered specialized workshops at Bear Mountain, • 856 attendees was purchased in January 2007 for the from basic trail construction to advanced stone working skills, as well as the Trail Conference with bridge financing • 161 hikes with 1,762 hikers provided by MLC. Work to complete Trail Conference’s “core curriculum” of Trail Maintenance 101, Construction (individuals hiked more than once) and Restoration, and Chainsaw Safety Certification. the transfer of the property to the Trail and 180 hike leaders Conference and joint owner Mahwah • Through the help of Lydia Silman Zakim and the Harry B. Silman Tool Fund • 28 excursions township, as well as to stabilize the and with Gary Haugland’s editorial help, the Trail Maintenance Manual was structure and prepare for fundraising revised and printed. • 78 workshops, including 22 Trail U workshops at Bear Mountain, where and design stages continued through 57 volunteers contributed 867 hours the fiscal year. of service • 52 exhibitors Special Insert: 2006–2007 Annual Report Page 3B Conservation & Advocacy Advocacy Conservation Protecting land and promoting trails through Saving and extending trails by saving open space. political action. In New York In New Jersey Trail stewardship includes heavy work off trail as well as on. Trail Conference Highlands Trail staff and volunteers were vigilant and active throughout FY2007, testifying The Trail Conference Land Acquisition Fund worked to protect the following trail • Washington Township, 74 acres, Morris at planning board meetings to protect trail corridors from development, lands through acquisition and stewardship writing and speaking to government officials to advance funding for open County: Two parcels purchased October, (parcels are identified by the names of the 2006, and one February, 2007. space protection, and promoting the interests of hikers at every opportunity. former/current owners): Transferred to Morris County Parks June, 2007. These parcels will connect Shawangunk Ridge Trail In New York We promoted a Long Path National Stephens State Park in Mount Olive to Scenic Trail Feasibility Study. • Ferretti, 18.5 acres, Greenville, Orange Schooley’s Mountain County Park via We celebrated ‘closing the hole’ County: Signed contract, title work the Highlands Trail and Patriots’ Path. in Sterling Forest. Trail Conference staff began working with the Adirondack Mountain Club and completed (closed March, 2008) • Appello Tract, 128 acres, West Milford In November 2006 New York State pur - National Park Service to secure Congres - • Karvellas land swap, 18 acres, Greenville: Township, Passaic County: Applied for chased 575 acres at the center of Sterling sional funding for a Long Path feasibility In progress funding from Victoria Foundation, and Forest State Park, capping a nearly 20-year study to aid in completion of northern trail • LaFarge, 140 acres, Mamakating, project was taken over by NJ Dept. fight to preserve this extraordinary open sections as well as move some Orange Sullivan County: Clean-up planned of Environmental Protection’s Green space. The Trail Conference and AMC County road walk sections into the woods. and funded by LTA NE grant Acres program. NY-NoJ Chapter co-founded the coalition • Lake Lackawanna Investment Corp., that eventually included 30 groups and • Completed land transfers to NYS Dept. We submitted comments on of Environmental Conservation totaling 280 acres, Byram, Sussex County: successfully pushed for the creation of the the Shawangunk Ridge Unit Toured site with landowner and 15,000-acre state park. more than $1 million; worked toward Management Plan. additional transfers valued at $640,000 prospective buyer, but have not made offer. Trail Conference staff attended an informa - We joined with others to expand Appalachian Trail the Environmental Protection Fund. tion session and submitted written comments to NYS Dept. of Environmental • Shirazi-Monroe, 63 acres, Monroe, Legislation that will increase New York’s Conservation as part of its process of revis - Orange County: Secured funding Environmental Protection Fund to an ing its management plan for its holdings on commitment from Palisades Interstate all-time high—$300 million by fiscal year the Shawangunk Ridge. Park Commission (land would be added 2009 was signed into law in July 2007. to Sterling Forest State Park); applied The Trail Conference advocated for an In New Jersey for match from Orange County increased EPF as part of a coalition that Open Space program (signed contract included the Adirondack Mountain Club, We participated in development March, 2008) Environmental Advocates of New York, of the State Trails Plan. the Adirondack Council, the Natural • Shirazi-Warwick, 72 acres, Warwick, Resources Defense Council, the New York Trail Conference staff members represent - Orange County: Met with Town of League of Conservation Voters, the New ed the interests of hikers during the entire Warwick, Orange County Planning, York Farm Bureau, the Coalition of Living year-long process, from from initial infor - and landowner (donation in progress) Museums, NYPIRG, Scenic Hudson, and mation sessions to guided discussions with the Wildlife Conservation Society. consultants to commenting on draft plan. Long Path North The final plan is expected to be released in mid 2008. • Beretz, trail easement, Middleburgh, We promoted the Bigger, Better, Schoharie County: Working with Bottle Bill. Long Path North group and landowner We worked tirelessly and success - (no agreement yet) The Trail Conference participated in a fully for passage of the Garden statewide coalition pushing for New York State Preservation Trust Fund/ to revamp and update its bottle bill. The NJ Ballot Question No. 2, BBBB aims to increase container recycling Park Improvements legislation. Trail Support in the state and generate—through state collection of unpaid bottle deposits—new This legislation passed in November Protecting and extending trails by offering funds for the Environmental Protection 2006 with 60% public support. The Trail Fund (EPF). Conference worked with a coalition of technical expertise. environmental groups called Keep It Green to inform the public about the In addition to acquiring land, the Trail Conference uses a number of other tools to We supported the Community need to establish a stable source of fund - protect or extend hiking trails. It may help negotiate easements of less formal agreements Preservation Act. ing for park capital projects. This coalition to allow trail access across a property, arrange for insurance coverage of a landowner The Trail Conference strongly advocated continues to work together to find a long- who allows access, or work to acquire a key connector piece along a trail corridor. on behalf of the Hudson Valley Communi - term source of revenue for the Garden The following trails were supported through one or more of these kinds of ways: ty Preservation Act (HVCPA), which State Preservation Trust fund to protect authorizes towns and cities in Westchester open space in New Jersey. • Long Path, NY and NJ: Worked on federal legislation to fund National Scenic Trail and Putnam counties to establish commu - feasibility study • Iron Belt Trail, Sussex, Morris, and Passaic Counties, NJ nity preservation funds through the We advocated for the Highlands • Highlands Trail east of Hudson, Putnam County, NY imposition of a small real estate transfer Regional Master Plan. fee, of up to two percent, on the portion • Highlands Trail in Byram NJ, Sussex County, NJ of the sale price over the municipality’s Trail Conference staff testified at public • AT connector/Warwick trails system, Orange County, NY median price. The local tax must be hearings, submitted written comments, held approved by voters through a referendum. information sessions for TC members, and The lower Hudson Valley has been issued action alerts. This work is ongoing. particularly affected by rapid growth and development, and this legislation will We continued to push for allow the voters in these communities to ATV regulations. decide their future direction themselves. The effort to pass statewide ATV legislation is non-stop. The Trail Conference formed We worked to protect the a coalition with Pinelands Preservation Highlands Trail in Chester. Alliance and other groups to pursue this Trail Conference staff testified at a Chester goal. Legislation moved through the Planning Board hearing against allowing a Assembly but it did not make it through housing project to move forward without the Senate before the end of session. acknowledging that the Highlands Trail lies in its path. The existence of the trail was included in the scoping document; the project seems stalled due to the gloomy economy. Page 4B Special Insert: 2006–2007 Annual Report Condensed Financial Treasurer ’s Report Statements 2006–2007 Submitted by Mac Highet, Treasurer Year ended Our financial results for the fiscal year ended September 30, Our net surplus for the year (which is termed “change in Assets 9/30/07 2007, show that we had another strong year. net assets”) was $185,940, which compares with $32,732 at Our preliminary financial statements show revenues for the the end of our prior fiscal year. Cash & Investments $ 608,538 year of $1,708,806 ,which include membership dues and con - As of September 30,2007, our Statement of Financial Posi - Receivables 214,756 tributions of $689,023, Ramapo Conference revenue of tion shows that we had total Assets of $3,502,407 and that $162,992, map and book sales revenue of $226,280, land our two primary assets are cash and investments of $608,538 Inventory 145,768 sales $444,560, and other miscellaneous revenue of $185,951. (in line with last year), and Trail Land and Easements of Prepaid Insurance 14,600 Total expenses for the year were $1,522,866, almost half of $2,453,011. Total Liabilities were $1,670,197, which mostly which goes to salaries and benefits for our employees. Note includes mortgages payable of $1,549,700. The land resale Current Assets 983,662 that while we continue to rely heavily on volunteer labor to process is slow but we expect that in the current fiscal year we support all our activities, this is not reflected in our financial will be selling some of our acquired land, which will allow us Trail Land 2,453,011 results as it was in prior years. Other major categories of to repay some of the related mortgage debt. expense include Ramapo 2007 conference expenses, printing Our accountants have completed their audit field work for Other Assets 65,734 and production costs, land holding costs (principally inter - fiscal 2007 and will be issuing their unqualified audit report TOTAL ASSETS $ 3,502,407 est), and rent and occupancy costs. and statements shortly. Liabilities and Net Assets Membership and Development Current Liabilities 85,583 Mortgages Payable, Long Term 1,549,700 A heartfelt thank you to the 802 individ - Conference to be the region’s leader in received. But we take this opportunity to Other 34,914 uals, organizations, and corporations that training and supporting active volunteers extend special recognition to two generously supported the Trail Confer - who maintain and protect hiking trails extraordinary groups of donors: our Total Liabilities 1,670,197 ence’s mission in 2006-2007. The value of and the lands surrounding them. Trail Champions and our Foundation these donations reached $489,706. These We acknowledge our donors in Trail supporters who funded special projects Net Assets 1,832,320 generous contributions enabled the Trail Walker throughout the year as gifts are during 2006-2007. TOTAL LIABILITIES $ 3,502,407 Trail Champions AND NET ASSETS The Trail Blazer Society recognizes and Our Trail Champions Anne & Fred Osborn Statement of Activities honors individuals who support the Trail in 2006-2007 were: George P. Perkinson Conference’s activities above and beyond Dr. George L. Becker Jr. Hedley M. & Barbara Weeks Membership Dues $ 199,317 their annual membership dues. Within Robert & Rose Marie Boysen Mary Smart that group are our Trail Champions , who John & Marianne Gunzler Mary & Gay Mayer Grants & Contributions 489,706 distinguish themselves by supporting the Peter L. Kennard Gaylord C. Holmes Sales, Maps & Books 226,280 Trail Conference’s activities with annual Robert W. Messerschmidt James & Barbara Hanson Land Sales 444,560 donations at the highest levels. Bob & Alma Newton Contract Income 138,276 Support for Special Projects Investment Income 47,675 Ramapo AT Conference 162,992 We received generous support from several foundations and agencies that made possible a range of special projects. Total Revenue $ 1,708,806 Foundation Project Amount Marie Baier Foundation Volunteer Recruitment $10,000 Expenses Land Trust Alliance Clean up of La Farge property $15,000 Program Services 1,312,635 LL Bean Trail maintenance on the AT $1,140 Support Services 210,231 New Jersey Historic Trust Planning grant for Darlington Schoolhouse $50,000 Total Expenses 1,522,866 New Jersey Dept. of Central Jersey and Highlands $25,000 Environmental Protection Trail Crew development CHANGE IN NET ASSETS $ 185,940

FY 2007 Revenues FY 2007 Expenses 10 % 12 % 14 % Membership Investments Programs* 26 % Contributions Land Sales 28 % Support** Publications ATC Ramapo *Programs include: Trail building and 86 % Conference 8% maintenance; Trail land conservation Contract Income 13 % and advocacy; Outreach, Publications, 3% Membership, and Science **Support includes: Management; fund raising

Board of Directors FY2007 Committee Chairs FY2007 Staff Positions FY2007 Chair Advocacy Chair Trails Chair, AT Orange/Rockland Executive Director Land Acquisition Director Jane Daniels H. Neil Zimmerman G. Gail Neffinger Edward Goodell John Myers Vice Chair Conservation Chair Trails Chair, West Jersey Operations Director GIS Specialist/Cartographer Peter Kennard/Robert Boysen Seth McKee Robert Boysen Josh Howard/Elizabeth Bleiweiss Allison Werberg Treasurer Science Committee Chair Trails Chair, Catskills Director of Membership Information Manager Herb Hochberg/Mac Highet Anne Todd Osborn Peter Senterman & Development Catherine Gemmell Secretary Development Committee Co-Chairs Trails Chair, Highlands Josh Howard Fullfillment Coordinator Daniel Chazin Mary Smart and John Gunzler Gary Haugland Advocacy/Conservation Director Gary Willick Directors Administrative Committee Chair Trails Chair, Long Path North Bill O’Hearn Bear Mountain Project Manager Henry Atterbury Mac Highet/Herb Hochberg Clarence Putnam Advocacy/Conservation Associate Leslie Rapparlie Chris Connolly Technology Committee Chair Trails Chair, Long Path South Brenda Holzinger Administrative Assistant Ellen Cronan Walter Daniels Jakob Franke Trails Director J. Cal Rizzuto Matthew Garamone Larry Wheelock John Gunzler Publications Committee Chair Trails Chair, West Hudson North Trail Walker Editor Peter Kennard Daniel Chazin James J. Gebhard Trail Projects Coordinator Georgette Weir Seth McKee Nominating Committee Chair Trails Chair, West Hudson South Eddie Walsh , Jr. Graphic Designer Anne Osborn George Becker John Mack Volunteer Coordinator Lou Leonardis Mary Smart Strategic Planning Chair Trails Chair, Metro Trails Heidi Adami Malcolm Spector Robert Boysen Joseph Gindoff Member & Volunteer Associate Daniel Van Engel Katy Dieters Trails Council Chair Trails Chair, North Jersey New York-New Jersey Trail Conference, Inc. Peter Heckler John Moran 156 Ramapo Valley Road (Rt. 202) Trails Chair, AT Dutchess/Putnam Trails Co-Chair, East Hudson Mahwah, NJ 07430 Jim Haggett Vacant Tel: 201-512-9348 Fax: 201-512-9012 Trails Chair, AT New Jersey Trail Chair, Central Jersey e-mail: [email protected] Gene Giordano Ellen Cronan World Wide Web: http://www.nynjtc.org