A.T. Volunteer Recognition Program
This recognition program is offered by the Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC) and the National Park Service Appalachian National Scenic Trail par
k office (APPA) as a means of thanking A.T. volunteers for their contributions. The A.T. volunteer recognition program is a Trail-wide program that complements volunteer recognition programs of A.T.-Maintaining Clubs or other organizations who coordinate A.T. volunteers.
In 2023, the volunteer visual identity featured here was released. The new logo symbolizes the aspiration and community of the A.T. volunteer experience, while celebrating the majesty of the Trail and the legacy of generations of volunteers. Read more about the new volunteer visual identity.
True to its name, the volunteer visual identity is available to those who have earned it. Keep reading to learn how.
Guidelines to Nominate A.T. Volunteers for Awards and Recognition Items
- One officer of the club should be responsible for submitting nominations.
- There are four categories of volunteer awards and recognition items. Keep reading for detailed sections on each category:
- Hours of Service Awards
- Presidential Lifetime Service Award
- Years of Service Awards
- America the Beautiful – Interagency Volunteer Pass
- One request can include all four categories of awards for multiple volunteers.
- Hourly and Presidential Service Awards, as well as America the Beautiful – Interagency Volunteer Passes are fulfilled on this cycle: February 1, April 1, July 1, and October 1.
- Silver and Gold Awards are ordered only once per year, with a February 1 deadline.
- Items will be mailed to the requesting club officer to be presented at a club event when possible. The exception is the America the Beautiful – Interagency Volunteer Pass that is mailed directly to the qualified volunteer.
- Information stating how the club has chosen to award the items (e.g. an awards banquet on December 8), can accompany a nomination.
Ready to submit a request?
Download the Request Template in Excel
Hours of Service Awards
The Hours of Service recognition program is based on the cumulative hourly contributions of volunteers to the Appalachian Trail, and is administered by ATC, primarily through local Trail-maintaining clubs. Trail clubs may decide whether or not to participate in this program as a resource for recognizing volunteers, and if it augments other volunteer recognition programs within the club.
Award items are available to clubs on the fulfillment schedule of February 1, April 1, July 1, and October 1. For example, an order submitted on March 1 will be processed on April 1.Vests are size-specific and may need to be special-ordered due to limited stock.
With the exception of stickers, each club is responsible for providing cumulative hours of service information when requesting award items. Recipients of stickers will not be tracked and are available to clubs in quantities of 25 to issue to club volunteers and anyone else the club would like to recognize for a day or more of service.
| Item | Hours of Service | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Sticker | Minimum of 3 hours | 3", "Appalachian Trail Volunteer" logo |
| Pin | Minimum of 30 hours | 1", with dye-cast logo |
| Patch | Minimum of 100 hours | 2.5"x4", with embroidered logo |
| Buff® | Minimum of 300 hours | coming soon! |
| Cap | Minimum of 500 hours | Two choices: Khaki with embroidered logo or mesh trucker-style hat with embroidered logo |
| Vest | Minimum of 1,000 hours | Black fleece, with embroidered logo on left chest, unisex sizing available in Small, Medium, Large, Extra Large, 2X Large |
Excessively worn or damaged caps bearing the A.T. Volunteer logo may be subject to replacement after every 7 years, contingent upon their continued active involvement (defined as either at least two work-trips in the last year, or a minimum of 200 hours above the last time a cap was issued to the individual). The request should be made through the club using a request form, indicating that it is a replacement request beside the volunteers’ current volunteer hours.
For purchasing lost caps or vests, volunteers should contact volunteer@appalachiantrail.org.
Ready to submit a request?
Download the Request Template in Excel
America the Beautiful – Interagency Volunteer Pass
The National Park Service’s Appalachian National Scenic Trail park office (APPA) provides a Volunteer Recreation pass for volunteers who accumulated 250 hours of service. The “America the Beautiful” Interagency Volunteer Pass, provides fee-free access to federal lands for 12 months after issuance. It cannot be awarded more frequently than once every 12 months. Any excess of 250 hours of service within a year does not “bank” for a future pass. When a pass is issued, the volunteer’s time clock resets to zero, until another 250 hours of volunteer service has been recorded, and the 12 month timeframe has elapsed. Hours for the first issuance of the pass may be accrued since January 1, 2007; there is no specific time frame in which the hours must be accrued.
Volunteers already in possession of a “Senior Pass” or comparable pass gain no additional benefit from the America the Beautiful Pass. Passes are non-transferable; other information on pass benefits are included with card issuance. The America the Beautiful Passes are issued quarterly and are mailed directly to the qualified volunteer.
Ready to submit a request?
Download the Request Template in Excel
Presidential Lifetime Service Award
The Appalachian Trail Conservancy is certified to award Presidential Lifetime Service Awards to volunteers who have contributed at least 4,000 hours of service to the Appalachian Trail. The award includes a framed certificate, a letter from the President of the United States and a presidential “Call to Service” pin.
Please include in the volunteer recognition request:
- The volunteer’s name as it should appear on the award
- 3-5 sentences describing how the recipient earned this award.
- An official representative of the group must affirm that the nominated volunteer meets the following criteria:
- is a United States citizen or lawful permanent resident.
- is not a registered sex offender. It is crucial that all Lifetime Achievement Award recipients exhibit characteristics that honor the Office of the President of the United States; therefore, one should not be listed on the National Sex Offender Registry.
Ready to submit a request?
Download the Request Template in Excel
Years of Service Awards
The National Park Service Appalachian National Scenic Trail park office (APPA) recognizes volunteers who have completed 25 (Silver award) and 50 (Gold award) years of service to the A.T. Awards will be sent directly to clubs. Recipients of these awards may be announced at the Appalachian Trail Conservancy’s Annual Meeting in the fall.
These award requests are processed the first week of February. Production and shipping can take 4-6 months. For expedited production, please provide the date of the award ceremony. Delivery in advance is not guaranteed. Additional information, including any accomplishments, hours/years of A.T. service, or initial date of volunteerism should accompany the recognition request using the online form or submitted to volunteer@appalachiantrail.org when using the Excel template.
Ready to submit a request?
Download the Request Template in Excel
Volunteer Spotlight and Other Features
ATC regularly features A.T. volunteers in a Spotlight feature on its website and e-newsletters. The intent is to spotlight the wide variety of work done by hard-working volunteers to benefit the A.T. Volunteers in the spotlight are not required to complete any certain number of hours or years of service to be eligible for this recognition. Nominate here.
In an effort to bring volunteer success stories to the public-at-large, ATC will work with your club to showcase volunteer accomplishments and achievements. These do not need to be by a single individual, and may include complex projects, multi-year efforts, or initiatives that leverage creative solutions or expanded partnerships to meet a shared goal to help the A.T. A profile of volunteer accomplishments may be achieved through press releases shared by ATC or NPS NER Public Information Officer, stories Inside NPS “People News,” Partnership for the National Trails System news, ATC’s magazine Appalachian Trail Journeys, The Register newsletter or blog, and nominations to the George and Helen Hartzog Award. Volunteer leaders are encouraged to send success stories of individual or collective accomplishments to volunteer@appalachiantrail.org.
Scout Volunteer Recognition
Scouts (boy, girl, or venture), Troops, Order of the Arrow Lodges, or Eagle, Silver or Gold scouts who complete A.T. related projects are entitled to receive a letter of appreciation from ATC’s Senior Director of Partnerships and Trail Operations recognizing their contributions that accompanies a certificate from NPS Appalachian National Scenic Trail Superintendent and Appalachian Trail Conservancy President. The accomplishment can be reported on the form found at www.appalachiantrail.org/scouting to initiate this acknowledgment.
One-Time Use Approval Process
Eligible A.T. partners may request one-time use of the volunteer brand for internal recognition of their A.T. volunteers. Eligible A.T. partners are organizations with volunteers who are operating under a sponsored group agreement in support of Appalachian National Scenic Trail. To request a one-time use, complete the application linked in the Brand Use Guidelines.
Discover More
Discover More
Volunteer Spotlight
Highlighting the contributions of Appalachian Trail volunteers who work in the field or behind the scenes to protect, manage, and maintain the Trail.
ATC's Volunteer Blog and Newsletter
The Register
Learn more about A.T. volunteerism and the stewards who keep the dream of the Trail alive.
What does Cooperative Management mean?
Cooperative Management
The A.T. is cared for by public and private partners working together to achieve common goals for the Trail. This unique partnership relies on civic engagement from people within A.T. Maintaining Clubs, the ATC, and local land managers to communicate, collaborate, and carry out the essential management of the A.T.