Malin Clyde

February 2025

As a member of the Appalachian Trail Conservancy’s (ATC) Stewardship Council, Malin Clyde shows that you don’t have to wield a tool to make a significant contribution to the Appalachian Trail! In her work with the Council’s Partnership Coordinating Committee, Malin is advancing conservation efforts on the Trail by sharing her robust expertise on volunteerism.

Malin’s work with both the University of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension and Nature Groupie, a New England based website and community that promotes volunteering in the outdoors, has helped improve ATC’s own volunteer administration strategies. A few of her significant contributions include helping ATC develop its Volunteer Engagement Platform, sharing best practices in volunteer recruitment at the 2022 A.T. Volunteer Leadership Meeting, and keeping ATC apprised of relevant trends in volunteerism. According to Leanna Joyner, ATC Senior Director of Partnerships and Trail Operations, the latter has helped ATC better understand how to work with new and younger audiences.

Malin had limited experience with ATC before joining the Stewardship Council, and both staff and fellow Council members appreciate her fresh perspective, ability to look at the bigger picture, and willingness to ask insightful questions. Also, while ATC has benefited from Malin’s contributions, she was excited to broaden her knowledge by volunteering with ATC.

“The partnership model in place to manage and operate the A.T. is incredible, in both its complexity and its performance. I wanted to learn more about how collective action and collective impact by so many different partners, working toward a shared goal and vision, can do so much for so long,” she explained.

“I also love outdoor volunteers, and I was super impressed at the scale of volunteer action happening on the A.T. and hoped my experience and enthusiasm for outdoor volunteering in general (not just on trails) might be helpful. But I knew I would also learn a lot about trails volunteers, which has been true!”

Malin’s experience demonstrates that you don’t need to be a thru-hiker or have a long history with the A.T. to make a meaningful impact as a volunteer.

“I had only a minor connection to the ATC before I joined the Stewardship Council, but I continue to serve because the people involved in the A.T. are so welcoming, so committed, and the goal of protecting and caring for this incredible trail brings everyone together,” she said.

Like many volunteers, Malin is inspired by the Trail’s legacy and has forged her own path in supporting its legacy of partnership and stewardship.

“I love the epic nature of the trail, especially the incredible vision it took to think of it, and the hard work, love and dedication it has taken to sustain it for 100 years,” she shared. “I also love that it has inspired so many other long-distance trails around the world. I’m honored to help contribute to this incredible legacy in my small way!”

Malin assures future volunteers that volunteering isn’t as intimidating as it looks and that the experience is bound to be a positive one.

“Although volunteering may look like work in pictures, working with others is always fun. Smiles and good vibes are guaranteed!”