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E D U C A T I O N 6 EDUCATION Marie L. Haberl School Outreach Program Snow was abundant in winter 2011, and every fourth-grade class in the winter portion of the “Three Seasons at Heart Lake” Program got a chance to try out snowshoeing. “Three Seasons at Heart Lake” participants In the spring, we saw several additions to our school programming, including snowshoe and Leave No Trace® programs for sixth graders from Hawthorne Valley Waldorf School, a “Hike Safe” presentation for Arongen Elementary School, a spring exploration hike for Keeseville Elementary School first graders, and a program on safe and responsible hiking for 140 students at Queensbury Elementary School. In the fall, Long Lake rejoined “Three Seasons” after a year off. Sally Vrooman of the Morristown youth program brought ten students for a Leave No Trace® and geology hike up Mt. Jo, led by Environmental Education Program Manager Thea Moruzzi. And for a second fall in a row, the Blue Mountain Lake Museum invited ADK to provide programming for their kick off to Take a Child Outside week (for third-grade classes). In 2011, ADK received more requests for school programming outside the “Three Seasons at Heart Lake” program than ever before, a sign that more and more teachers are recognizing the value of environmental and outdoor recreation. Interpretive Programs and Workshops In the spring, High Peaks Information Center staff provided valuable assistance to the Education Department. Michelle Minnoe helped with community and school outreach programs, and Audrey Hyson planned lectures for HPIC and Johns Brook Lodge. This cross-training of HPIC staff allowed ADK to spread its educational message more effectively to the thousands of day visitors to the High Peaks while strengthening support for ADK Education. ADK’s four Summer Naturalist Interns— Lauren Richard, Larry Montague, Jamie Landry, and Dove Henry—did a great job educating the public, making more than 8,000 contacts during the summer of 2011. As Mt. Jo summit hosts, they interacted with more than 5,000 people, and 350 people participated in Campfire Talks. Three experienced volunteers put in a total of 60 hours at the ADK Nature Museum. This freed staff to complete other projects, such as the new and improved Heart Lake Tree Trail, designed and implemented by Summer Naturalist Intern Larry Montague. ADK also offered a full slate of outdoor workshops, including day hikes, backpacking trips, and skills courses. More than 400 people participated in about 100 courses and trips. For the first time since 2005, ADK ran an eight-day Wilderness First Responder course, which was completely filled. (L–R) ADK Education Director Thea Moruzzi with Summer Naturalist Interns: Dove Henry, Lauren Richard, Jamie Landry, and Larry Montague Outdoor Leadership—Leave No Trace® Over Memorial Day weekend, Leave No Trace® Traveling Trainers took up residence at Heart Lake to conduct an awareness workshop, lead an evening campfire program, share Leave No Trace® ethics with hikers at the Loj trailhead, present an evening lecture at HPIC, and train incoming ADK seasonal staff. Leave No Trace® programs in 2011 included a Trainer course for staff in June, a public Trainer course in July, and Master Educator courses in August and September. Outdoor Leadership Coordinator Ryan Doyle and Environmental Education Program Manager Thea Moruzzi ran a custom Leave No Trace® Master Educator course for Adventuresports Institute at Garrett College in McHenry, MD. Leave No Trace® Master Educator course September 2011 participants at Racquette Falls “This is a great program! It is a real paddling trip—not like the wimpy one at St. Simon Island on the Georgia coast, which I took in 2004. The itinerary contained a good variety of basically daylong paddling trips. Being at the lodge on the lake added a lot to the trip, just wonderful. We had a fabulous, fun-loving group, game for whatever conditions or challenges faced us. Ryan Doyle is a terrific leader—he is very knowledgeable, passionate about the Adirondacks and preserving our wilderness areas, and a calm and responsible leader of outdoor activities. He is able to be flexible and assert leadership appropriately, as well as having a genial, friendly, great personality. Excellent at dealing with different skilllevels and desires of the various group members, if they occur. Don’t lose or change this trip. It is a winner!” —2011 Road Scholar (formerly Elderhostel) participant
F A C I L I T I E S & P U B L I C A T I O N S ©Nancie Battaglia FACILITIES It was an eventful year for ADK’s North Country facilities. Once again, ADK’s dedicated and talented volunteers labored to make our lodges more attractive and more comfortable. At the same time, Mother Nature had a different agenda. Heavy rains and mud hampered the Johns Brook Lodge fly-in, while Tropical Storm Irene temporarily shut down the Adirondak Loj. The North Country volunteer work weekends left incredible improvements in their wake. At Heart Lake, three new canvascabin tent platforms were constructed. An improved Loj entranceway was completed with built-in benches overlooking Heart Lake and a new wood box, and the walkway to the beach was rebuilt. Johns Brook Lodge (JBL) volunteers made over the two bunk rooms with new paneling, insulation, and windows. The JBL fly-in was a challenge as we battled rain, massive flooding, and deep mud, but we managed to complete the airlift in two segments. After nearly a full day of flying on May 2, operations were washed out until May 6, when the rest of the materials made it to JBL. Tropical Storm Irene swept through the North Country in late August with devastating results. Local homes, businesses, Top: New sign by Frank Sorbero Above: Transom windows and new pine paneling brighten the bunk rooms at JBL windows at Johns Brook Lodge and roads were demolished. DEC closed the High Peaks backcountry, and the Adirondak Loj was closed for ten days, including the Labor Day weekend. Adirondack Loj Road was washed out at the second bridge, stranding about thirty guests for four days. ADK staff, themselves stranded at the Loj, kept our guests comfortable and well-fed. ADK was able to get all guests out of the Johns Brook property before the storm. Hutmaster Seth Jones and assistant Brendan Wiltse rode out Irene at JBL and witnessed the incredible power of nature. The ADK bridge to Camp Peggy O’Brien and Camp Grace was washed out, but was later replaced by the ADK Professional Trail Crew. ADK’s Member Services Center in Lake George also lost power and was out of commission for two days after Irene. Considering the devastating impacts of Irene on neighboring areas, ADK facilities came through with relatively minor damage. Columbus Day weekend was busy as usual, but the remaining fall weekends saw Marcy Dam before (top) and after (above) Tropical Storm Irene. a downturn as many hikers were uncertain of road and trail conditions. The fall volunteer work weekends were certainly needed after the recent weather events. On the weekend after Columbus Day, a muddy group of about twenty-five braved cool temps and rain to help get the Johns Brook Lodge back into shape. Heart Lake Property Work Weekend brought unusually sunny weather as a group of about sixty-five chopped, stained, built, raked, sawed, Top: Adirondack Loj road damage. Above: Loj road repaired. COVER Forests and Trees fall 2:Layout 1 10/2/12 5:29 PM Page 1 FORESTS and TREES In the Adirondacks, trees are always with us, wherever we go. They clothe the landscape in green finery; they provide shelter from the storm and give us shade during the heat of the day. They capture our attention and grace our photographs. In their variety and combinations trees con tinually reveal and record changing forests that integrate the land - scape and give distinct character to each mountain as we climb. It seems appropriate, then, to pause awhile to make the acquaintance of these trees and their combinations that we walk among, to learn their kinds and their environments, and to share their natural history. —E. H. Ketchledge ate, drank, and were merry for the good of the property. The ADK Construction Bugs were back at Heart Lake in December to work on the Wiezel Trails Cabin bathrooms. ADIRONDACK MOUNTAIN CLUB FORESTS FORESTS and and TREES TREES E. E. H. H. KETCHLEDGE KETCHLEDGE ISBN ISBN 978-0-935272-49-9 978-0-935272-49-9 PUBLICATIONS In 2011, ADK published Alan Via’s new guidebook: The Catskill 67: A Hiker’s Guide to the Catskill 100 Highest Peaks under 3500’. The book features details on climbing 67 mountains, including many little-known and littleused routes. Fully illustrated with color maps and photos, the guide further enhances ADK’s offerings in the Catskills. In addition, our partnership with National Geographic Maps has produced a new Catskill Park map, which is #755 in the Trails Illustrated Map series that includes five ADK/National Geographic maps covering the Adirondacks. The waterproof, largeformat, two-sided color map is keyed to the new edition of ADK’s Catskill Trails guidebook, available in 2012. The third edition of The Adirondack Reader, with minor revisions, was published in paperback. ADK also reprinted the hardcover version of this classic, which covers four centuries of writings about the Adirondacks. Forests & Trees of the Adirondack High Peaks Region, by the late E.H. Ketchledge, was reissued with a new full-color cover and an update on Ketchledge’s death. Quotes from the book were featured in the 2012 ADK Calendar, published in 2011, which won the Gold Award for Best Non-Profit in the Retail category from the Calendar Marketing Association. Forests andTrees OF THE ADIRONDACK HIGH PEAKS REGION E. H. Ketchledge A HIKER’S GUIDE ADIRONDACK MOUNTAIN CLUB 7
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Staff Board of Directors

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