The Appalachian Trail . . .

Is a foot-trail which straddles and crests the Appalachian Mountains all the way from North Georgia to Northern Maine for a total of 2,181 miles! Click here to learn more about the Appalachian Trail History.

Have you ever dreamed . . .

of getting out in the wilderness and experiencing what it would be like to carry everything you need for a 3 or 4-day camping trip on your back? If so, join the A.T. Adventurers for a backpacking trip on the Appalachian Trail.

Prior to the 2012 Hike, we will offer 3 Skill Development Sessions to get ready for the AT hike in June.

• January 28, 2012      Quest Outdoors Store and Hike
• February 11, 2012    Build Your Backpacking Skills
• March 16-18, 2012    Mini Backpacking Experience. Time to “Just Do It!”

**All three skill development sessions are required for any girl or adult who has never backpacked with the AT Adventurers in the past.

Do you want to learn about backpacking and get “your feet wet?”

We are looking for girls 11 and up who want to take their outdoor experiences beyond campground camping and get out into the wilderness. Join our group individually or come as part of a troop. We also welcome adult women and men. All participants must be registered members of Girl Scouts.

Who can participate?

• All Skill Development sessions are open to girls in 6th through 12th grades OR 11 through 19 years old and adults, both women and men. All must be a member in good standing of the Girl Scouts. If you need to register, or re-register, you can do so online at the Girl Scout Website.
• The Appalachian Trail hike is open to girls currently in the 8th through 12th grades OR who are 13 to 19 years old and adult women and men who are a member in good standing of Girl Scouts of Kentuckiana.

Cost

The cost for all 3 skill development sessions is $30.00 per person if paid in full by registration deadline. If you pay for all three sessions by the registration deadline, then participate in all sessions, the total fee for the sessions will be deducted from the AT Hike trip fee.

If you are 6th and 7th graders or not planning to hike the AT with us, you may sign up for the training sessions only.

Girls: If you want to work on earning badges while you are involved in our skill development and hiking sessions, great! The backpacking skill development sessions will provide opportunities for you to work on First Aid, Trailblazer, and Adventurer badges, and possibly others. Bring your booklets to the sessions. Talk to us, let us know you are interested, and we will help facilitate badge work.

Pre-Requisites

In addition to age requirements, session 1 and 2 are required in order to participate in session 3. All three sessions are required for anyone who is a first-time participant with the AT Adventurers. All participants are encouraged to attend all Skill Sessions for purpose of pre-trip team building and bonding.

Membership

All participants, including adults, must be a member in good standing of Girl Scouts. You may register at the Girl Scout website for the 2011-12 membership year. The cost for membership with Kentuckiana Girls Scouts is $12.00 per year at the GSK site. If you are not a member of a troop, you can sign up as a Juliet.

There is no fee to join the AT Adventurers, however, you must register and provide your Girl Scout member number.

Event Dates

Summer Trip – Backpacking on Appalachian Trail + Whitewater Rafting
June 22 – Wednesday, June 27, 2012
(for girls currently in the 8th-12th grades OR 13-19 years old and adults all must register as Girl Scouts for the 2011-12 membership year): Have you heard of the Appalachian
Trail, a 2,181 miles foot-trail which straddles and crests the Appalachian Mountains all the way from North Georgia to Northern Maine? Have you ever dreamed of getting out in the wilderness
and experiencing what it would be like to carry everything you need for a 3 or 4-day camping trip on your back? If so, join the A.T. Adventurers for a backpacking trip on the Appalachian Trail.

Our 2012 Hike will take us through the mountains of Tennessee / North Carolina.
Cost for backpacking trip:
$155.00 per adult;
$80.00 per girl.
Whitewater rafting is optional; and is expected to cost between $55 and $70 per person; actual cost TBA.

Registration Deadline for Backpacking Skill Development sessions:
Friday, January 20, 2012. Completed registration form and full payment for skill sessions due.

Registration Deadline for AT Adventurers summer backpacking trip:
Friday, April 20, 2012. Completed registration form and deposit of $30.00 due.

Skill Development Session 1**

Saturday, January 28, 2012 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.: QUEST OUTDOORS STORE and HIKE

Skill Development Session 2**

Saturday, February 11, 2012
Build your backpacking skills.

Skill Development Session 3 **
Friday, March 16 7:00 p.m. – Sunday March 18, 2012, 1:30 p.m.
Mini Backpacking experience. (one night)

Physical Conditioning/Hiking Prep for AT Hike: We plan to offer 1 or 2 additional hikes in March, April and/or May for more opportunities to hike with a backpack before the AT trip. Dates/places and times TBA. $1.00/pp to rent GS backpack if needed.

Trail Maintenance Service Project:

We may also offer an opportunity to do trail maintenance service between April and Sept
2012 at Camp Stem or Jefferson Memorial Forest. Please advise us by March 18 if you
are interested.

Saturday, May 19, 2012 9 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. – Meeting for AT Hike trip planning and equipment
check. Balance of paperwork and payment of final balance due no later than today.

Saturday, June 16, 2012 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. – Meeting for final AT Hike preparations – Bring food,
pack food, receive issued equipment, pack equipment, final individual pack checks.

Friday, June 22 – Wednesday, June 27, 2012 – AT Adventurers backpacking trip on Appalachian Trail. Itinerary provided at pack-up meeting.

Either Sat July 14 or Sun July, 15, 2012 – Photo Swap/picnic, cookout, or pitch in meal and get together for AT Hikers. Exact date / time / location TBA.

For 6th and 7th graders and anyone who will not be participating in the AT trip, you may attend any or all of the skill development sessions. However, we recommend that anyone who wants to participate in the Mini-Backpacking Weekend prepare by attending the Focus on Food and Hike skill builder sessions.

****We encourage, but will not require, any girl or adult who plans to hike on the AT in Summer
2012 and who has previously backpacked with AT Adventurers to participate in the March mini-
backpacking experience weekend as a refresher experience (and for fun and bonding!).