National Trail Creates Unique Partnerships
Appalachian National Scenic Trail Achieves Success through Cooperative Management System

By Julio Argüello Jr.

"Partnerships, collaboration, networks, and communities of practice are all considered current popular trends that many organizations are seeking to create. For the Appalachian National Scenic Trail (Trail), they are the means for how the Trail was created and continues to be the reason why the Trail exists today," explained Rita Hennessey, outdoor recreation specialist of the Appalachian National Scenic Trail.

The Trail is a 2,174-mile footpath along the ridge crests and across the major valleys of the Appalachian Mountains from Mount Katahdin in Maine to Springer Mountain in northern Georgia. The Trail operates under a "Cooperative Management System" that involves 31 volunteer-based organizations.

The Cooperative Management System evolved as the idea of a Trail grew in the 1920's. The first meeting was in 1925 involving agencies and volunteer trail clubs. They formed the Appalachian Trail Conference and began building and connecting the Trail, which they completed by 1937. The National Trails System Act of 1968 designated the Trail as the first National Scenic Trail in the U.S. Annually, more than 4,500 volunteers contribute more than 185,000 hours of service on the Trail. "This citizen and volunteer-based management system is the significance of the Trail," explained Hennessey.

Today there are more than 100 organizations involved in the Cooperative Management System. These organizations are selected based on their interest, incidental involvement, or because of current management needs. The Trail has Memorandum of Understandings (MOU) with these organizations and with all 14 states through which the Trail passes. These partnerships are mutually beneficial.

The Trail's Cooperative Management System is unique and a very successful partnership. A park superintendent once said, "The Appalachian Trail functions the way the rest of the world ought to [function]."

Appalachian National Scenic Trail is a member of Connect America, a program of the Points of Light Foundation, a diverse network of national organizations working together to leverage volunteering and other resources to increase both individual and collective impact on communities. For more information about Connect America or to become a member of this network, visit the Connect America member page.