Blue Ridge Center: New Media

Blue Ridge Center for Environmental Stewardship

	Partnerships
	New Media
	American Hiking Society
	Appalachian Trail Conference
	Potomac Conservancy
	American Discovery Trail Society
	Training & Workshops
	Blue Ridge Fellows

American Hiking Society

The American Hiking Society (AHS) is the only national organization dedicated to serving hikers and protecting the nation's trails. It is a recreation-based, conservation organization working to cultivate a nation of hikers committed to establishing, protecting, and maintaining foot trails across America.

AHS views trails as an integral feature in the lives of communities and people across the nation. American Hiking Society is a membership-based organization including 135 affiliated-member clubs throughout the U.S., working and volunteering in the field and in the halls of Congress to preserve and promote the nation's trail system.

THE AHS WEB SITE
The American Hiking Society benefited from a complete overhaul of its web site, improving navigation and adding lots of color, photos, and "hot spots" — areas that promote events, provide interactive opportunities for visitors, or highlight programs at AHS.

Behind the improved interface lies a wealth of information about trails across the country. The challenge of bringing multiple national elements together was achieved through the creation of six different databases tied together through an online Hiker's Information Center.

These related databases enable a visitor to click on geographic maps to find information about volunteer opportunities, events, and alliance hiking club efforts within their local area. Activists can send electronic letters to their elected officials and sign up to receive regular AHS email alerts.

Online registrations for volunteer involvement have dramatically increased; more and more local organizers are using AHS's web site to register National Trails Day events, rather than sending in paper forms; and the site now allows visitors to charge memberships, donations, and merchandise purchases online.

Users find a wealth of information, can interact with a lively, current and interesting site, and come away with a good feeling about supporting AHS.

Visit the American Hiking Society web site.

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