President's Trailhead, by Wayne Gross, KTA Board President

President's Trailhead

Dear Member,
June is Bustin' Out All Over!  It's summer, so get out for a hike and bring a friend!   

Thank you for your efforts in furthering our mission of providing, preserving, protecting, and promoting recreational hiking trails and hiking opportunities in Pennsylvania. Each of you, through trail maintenance in your club and throughout the state, advocacy on issues affecting our trails, and by just leading hikes, are making a difference at a grassroots level.

KTA developed a strategic plan to help guide us over the next five years. The plan is being implemented.

Our 40th anniversary KTA Trail Care program in 2024 is in full swing.  Plan to participate in one or more of the remaining trail cares Jenn Ulmer has lined up for us.  Check out our website for details.

The Scott Farm along the Appalachian Trail will eventually become KTA's headquarters.  KTA has started preparing the Scott Farm Trailhead Master Site Plan utilizing consultants HRG and James Crum AIA Architects.  Please keep an eye out for release of the Citizen Survey and please complete it so you can have input on the future of this wonderful facility and property.  

Its not too soon to start thinking about nominating members and clubs for our various service awards.  They include Certificates of Achievement, Volunteer of the Year, Club of the Year, and the Citation Award for lifetime achievement.  These will be presented at our fall KTA Annual Meeting.  Please see our website for a listing and description of these awards.  The Awards Committee will be seeking nominations for these awards later his summer.  Start considering members and clubs to nominate for these awards.

The Board recently approved the establishment of another hiking award -The Teen Hiker Award.
The Awards Committee developed the requirements to be similar to the existing Youth Hiker Award that is for youth 12 and under.  Requirements for the Teen Hiker Award: Applicant must be 13 to 18 years old during the award year and must have hiked at least 50 miles on any trails in Pennsylvania during the award year (award year is September 1 to August 31). Applicant may receive this award on multiple occasions, but must complete the 50-mile requirement on different trails each year.   We will be developing a special patch for this award. So please start promoting the encouraging teenagers you know to earn this award.  The other existing hiking awards are also listed on our website.  Check them out and hike toward earning one this year.

There is a full list of KTA hikes, events, activities, and trail care opportunities.  There is so much to do. Please visit our website and sign up for one or more and bring a friend.

Our KTA Fall Annual Meeting will be nestled among the many hikes and activities at the Keystone  Hiking & Outdoor Weekend in the Susquehanna Riverlands of Pennsylvania on October 18-20.  Please put these dates on your calendar and checkout our website to register so you can plan to attend.  

On behalf of the Board and the membership I want to thank Brook and all our staff for the wonderful job they are doing to further our mission. 

For the trails and those who wander on them!

Thanks
Wayne E. Gross
President, Board of Directors 
Keystone Trails Association

The Statewide voice of Pennsylvania Hikers