Are you looking to get away to enjoy the great outdoors? If you’re interested in getting in touch with nature you don’t have to travel too far. The Pennsylvania Highlands is 1.9 million acres of beautiful forests and open space, trails and rivers all within a short ride from Philadelphia and the Delaware County.
The Appalachian Mountain Club would like to get college students involved in enjoying the Pennsylvania Highlands. Since 1876, AMC has promoted the protection, enjoyment and stewardship of the mountains, forests, waters and trails of the Appalachian region.
The AMC consists of 12 chapters and the one in the Philadelphia area is the Delaware Valley Chapter, which includes the Young Members Committee as well. The Young Members Committee organizes events and activities geared toward the 20 to 40 year old crowd in the Philadelphia area. You don’t have to be a member to participate in the activities that are planned. On the Delaware Valley Chapter Web site, www.amcdv.org/activities, they have planned hiking, paddling and backpacking events coming up in the near future for anyone interested.
AMC has done a lot to try to promote the Pennsylvania Highlands. The organization put out a locator map to help people find the Highlands and to navigate them. It is a trip planner for 75 trails, parks, forests and preserves that are identified by location. The recreational opportunities which include, hiking, walking-running, biking, horseback riding, boating, fishing, camping, swimming, historic sites and nature centers.
“I love the outdoors and I think it’s a great idea to get people our age out and about and doing activities in nature,” Andrew Jacobs, senior business major, said.
Volunteers are also needed for AMC to keep up with their parks in the region. One of the parks that AMC is associated with is Valley Forge National Park. Every month a team of AMC members work to keep trails updated. AMC is encouraging people our age to become active with the environment, not just to enjoy it but also become stewards of the land. Being a steward of the land means helping to protect nature and keep it clean and safe for animals.
Going to the Highlands can help college students get away from the ordinary school day and go and get in tune with nature. Also they can get away from the everyday suburban atmosphere to see animals in their habitat.
Free copies of the Pennsylvania Highlands Recreation Map and Guide are available at locations throughout the city and can also be requested through the AMC’s Web site under “Hiking Resources” at www.outdoors.org/hikethehighlands.
