Genesee Valley Chapter
Adirondack Mountain Club

Here and There with Deni

May 2, 2008 2:14 PM ET

More from Deni

May 2008

Volunteer Opportunities
Deni Charpentier, Chapter Chair

Spring is here and we are all in the process of switching gears from cold to warm weather activities. I'm putting my snowshoes and skis into the basement and getting ready to unpack and reassemble my foldable kayak. My husband is cleaning out the garage and preparing to fix the John Deere tractor that one of us (we don't agree on who) damaged with our car this winter.

ADK-GVC is also getting ready for the new season with a multitude of activities planned. Spring cleaning is an important rite and the Spring Highway Cleanup is scheduled for May 3. This is a great opportunity to do something for your community (and many hands make much less work). I recently had an experience that made me realize how important programs like Adopt-A-Highway are.

I was on Mount Etna in Sicily on a beautiful spring day looking out over fantastic views of lava flows and craters and on down to the valley floor far below. The volcano is awe-inspiring from both a historical and geological perspective as it has been active almost continuously for thousands of years. Then, I looked down at my feet and saw a tremendous amount of trash and garbage strewn about and piled up off the edge of the parking lot on the lava. It was a sad and shocking sight.

Since that experience, I have been reflecting on how important all of our efforts to protect and improve our environment are. It is not only important to pick up the trash that our fellow humans leave behind, but it is equally important to educate people about the consequences of this thoughtless behavior. The philosophy of "leave no trace" that we try to live by on our ADK journeys is a way of life that benefits everyone and everything.

One of the best opportunities we have to educate and expose people to ways to enjoy the outdoors in a low-impact manner is our annual Outdoor Expo. This event will be held on June 14 and is also a wonderful volunteer opportunity. If people enjoy participating in outdoor activities that don't harm the environment, they are far less likely to "trash" it.

National Trails Day on June 7 is a celebration of hiking and trails and Mary Norman, Trails Committee Co-Chair, is organizing our participation in that event. This is another opportunity to volunteer your time for a great cause.

Please consider volunteering your time for your Chapter in one way or another. There are plenty of opportunities and the benefits to everyone (including the volunteer) are invaluable. Spring is not only a time for clean-up, but also for renewal. Renew your commitment to what ADK stands for by participating in our mission of public service and stewardship.

More from Deni

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