Appalachian Trail Community Designation Info Session
Tuesday, 10/1 at 4PM
Bennington Free Library. Follow signs to conference room.
To RSVP online, please use this link: https://tinyurl.com/ATCommunityBennVT

Come learn how you can help us strengthen our community and raise awareness now and into the future for the Appalachian Trail and Long Trail in the greater Bennington area!

Can't attend, but want to keep in the loop? Email sovtoutdoors@gmail.com or call 802-673-6990. To learn more, visit: http://www.appalachiantrail.org/home/conservation/a-t-community-program

MORE INFO on why we are meeting:
Local members of the regional Chamber working group, the Shires Outdoor and Adventure Recreation (SOAR), are inviting you to discuss the possibility of an official A.T. Community™ designation for the Bennington Area. Did you know that the Appalachian Trail (A.T.) is a National Scenic Trail? Have you hiked Harmon Hill? That's on the A.T. / L.T.! The A.T. and the Long Trail (L.T.) are the same trail for 100 miles in Vermont, and travel along the East side of Bennington.

What is an Appalachian Trail Community™? It is a designation given by the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, who works with partner land managing organizations and volunteer maintaining clubs to steward the Trail in all 14 States. The designation in part is a way to draw tourism to the area, but is also a tool to pull together community stakeholders to play a role in the future of the Trail. This event aims to gather those in Bennington who may not be aware of the Trail, and those already advocating and stewarding the Trail, as well as those who provide services for the thru-hikers [sic], section hikers, and day hikers who live here or are passing through.

Manchester has achieved this designation through having a strong steering committee who is willing and excited to do the work needed to raise awareness in their community and create tools for hikers that are passing through.

Please join us on Tuesday, October 1, at 4:00 pm at the Bennington Free Library. Follow the signs to the conference room.