The County of Warren and the Appalachian Trail Conservancy will be hosting a public outreach meeting on Wednesday March 23rd from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the Warren County Library Headquarters located at 2 Shotwell Drive in Belvidere, NJ, 07823. Please join us to learn how Warren County can become an official Appalachian Trail Community, the benefits of this official designation, and how you can be involved. Spanning 2,190 miles across 14 states, the Appalachian Trail draws 3 million visitors each year. While only about 13 miles of this exceptional trail pass through Warren County, our section along the scenic Kittatinny Ridge boasts: . Natural attractions like the Delaware River, Mount Tammany, Dunnfield Creek, Sunfish Pond, Catfish Pond, Mt. Mohican, and more; . Passage through New Jersey’s Worthington State Forest and the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, which draws up to 5 million visitors per year; . Nearby sites of interest like Turtle Beach, Old Mine Road, Millbrook Village; and the Mohican Outdoor Center. This program will not only help promote Warren County as a natural gateway to the popular Appalachian Trail and the entire Delaware River region, but it will help connect visitors to our inviting communities, our charming downtowns and villages, our farmers and farm markets, as well as all of our other local businesses. This is a wonderful opportunity to connect with the celebrated Appalachian Trail, but we need help from community members like you. We hope you will join us! Harpers Ferry, West Virginia Appalachian Trail Community™ A Designation Program of the Appalachian Trail Conservancy The Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC) mission is to preserve and manage the Appalachian Trail – ensuring that its vast natural beauty and priceless cultural heritage can be shared and enjoyed today, tomorrow, and for centuries to come. © 2012 Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC). The Appalachian Trail Community mark is a trademark of the ATC. The Appalachian Trail Conservancy logo and marks are registered trademarks of the ATC, a 501(c)(3) organization. All rights reserved. Hot Springs, North Carolina The Appalachian Trail Program Background Conservancy From the beginning, Benton MacKaye’s vision of an Appalachian Trail proposed to develop opportunities for The Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC) mission is to recreation, recuperation and employment. “The project is preserve and manage the Appalachian Trail – ensuring that one for a series of recreational communities throughout its vast natural beauty and priceless cultural heritage can the Appalachian chain… to be connected by a walking be shared and enjoyed today, tomorrow, and for centuries trail,” he stated in his 1921 article The Appalachian Trail: to come. A Project in Regional Planning. MacKaye was among the first of his time to propose land preservation for recreation The ATC traces its roots to the vision of Benton MacKaye, and conservation purposes, understanding that the a regional planner who convened an Appalachian Trail “secluded forests, pastoral lands and water courses” are “conference” in 1925 “playgrounds of the people.” in Washington, D.C. This initial gathering of Towns, counties, and communities along the Appalachian hikers, foresters, and Trail’s corridor are considered an asset by A.T. hikers and public officials laid the many of these towns act as good friends and neighbors groundwork not only for to the Trail. With millions of visitors coming to the Trail the creation of the Trail, every year, it is no wonder that outfitters, restaurants but also for an organization and businesses catering to outdoor recreation call A.T. to build, manage, and communities home. protect it. Today, through the efforts of volunteers, Designation as an Appalachian clubs, and agency partners, Trail Community™ and Benton MacKaye, participation in the program the visionary of the the A.T. extends more than Appalachian Trail 2,180 miles from Maine to is designed to act as a catalyst Georgia within a protected for enhancing economic 250,000 acre greenway. ATC was instrumental in the development, engaging passage of federal legislation that designated the A.T. as Towns located along community citizens as the Appalachian Trail’s America’s first national scenic trail in 1968. Trail visitors and stewards, corridor are considered aiding local municipalities an asset by A.T. hikers In order to coordinate the efforts of 30 member clubs and and regional areas with their volunteers, numerous federal and state agencies, and conservation planning and close to 40,000 members, ATC employs approximately 45 helping local community members see the Trail as a regular staff and numerous seasonal program employees. resource and asset. The program also serves to highlight With a main office and official Trail visitor center in Harpers and recognize those communities who are taking steps to Ferry, West Virginia, ATC remains singularly focused on ensure the ongoing protection of their natural, cultural and the A.T. with regional offices in North Carolina, Virginia, recreational resources, including the A.T. Preserving and Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire. enhancing a charming, memorable community destination will contribute to the long-term economic health of A.T. towns and make an A.T. hike even more desirable. 1 Appalachian Trail Community™ Designation Program Benefits for Communities and Towns Manchester, Vermont SHORT TERM BENEFITS LONG TERM BENEFITS National designation network and communication Increased community viability and economic health Recognition and visibility through signage, media, Increased community environmental stewardship the ATC’s Web site and publications Enhanced partnerships with public land agencies Increased sense of place and cultural sustainability and volunteers Teacher eligibility for an ATC place-based education and Trail-friendly promotion through the ATC-assisted service-learning program marketing techniques Details of Community Benefits WEB DEVELOPMENT MEDIA SUPPORT PROGRAM TOOLKIT Community webpage that reflects Press releases, access to Appalachian Toolkit providing detailed information what the community has brought Trail media list, Public Service and resources for planning your to the program, including listing of Announcements, proclamation, etc. designation celebration. local events. Recognition in publications such as A.T. Local articles and press releases Journeys magazine, the A.T. Databook highlighted in the ATC’s newsroom. and Thru-Hikers’ Companion. Subscription to e-news providing LOGO USAGE MEMBERSHIP highlights of community successes and network to designated Access to Appalachian Trail Complimentary library membership communities in the program. Community™ under signed licensing (with Appalachian Trail Journeys, the and usage agreement. magazine of the Appalachian Trail). Social networking outreach with the ATC’s Facebook and Twitter users. Incorporating national network brand Subscription to e-news providing to community. highlights of community successes and network to designated communities in the program. PROGRAM ELIGIBILITY SIGNAGE Teachers interested in Trail To Two 18” by 24” full color metal Every Classroom from designated aluminum street entrance signs; communities receive priority over Two 6” window decals (suggested other applicants. placement in town hall or chamber). Appalachian Trail Community™ Designation Program 2.