Posts written by PNTS Communications
2020 Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail Highlights
Overmountain Victory Trail Association (OVTA) OUTREACH Program — The story of the Overmountain Victory NHT was presented through a virtual program on social media through collaboration between the OVTA, the USFS, Southeast Region National Parks Sites, and the South Carolina State Parks. Celebration — Battle…
2020 Reflections: Elena Medaras – IATA
by Elena Medaras, Communications Support Specialist – Ice Age Trail Alliance One year ago, I was a National Trails System newbie. My investment in National Trails – like any hobby, passion, or even obsession – began with simple curiosity. Equipped with enthusiasm for outdoor recreation…
Pathways: COVID-19
When we made our plans for 2020, focusing on the challenges that lay before us, no one could have predicted that the greatest challenge of all would be operating in the midst of a once-in-a-century global pandemic. Covid-19 spread across the world and reached into…
The National Trails System: 2020 – “Six Feet Apart, But Closer Than Ever.”
Recently, I read an article that featured responses to a request for people to summarize 2020 in a word or a phrase. Contributions varied wildly, often reflecting the strain and uncertainty so many of us experienced in 2020. My favorite response was a phrase commonly…
Royce Gibson named Executive Director of the Florida Trail Association
Royce Gibson was selected as the Florida Trail Association’s (FTA) new executive director. Gibson began work in October 2020 leading the organization in its mission to build, maintain, protect, and promote the Florida National Scenic Trail. David Waldrop, president of the FTA’s board of directors…
U.S. Forest Service New Roles
Brenda Yankoviak accepted the position of National Trails Program Manager for Recreation Heritage Volunteer Resources in Lakewood, Colorado. Yankoviak currently serves as a natural resource specialist for the Rocky Mountain Regional Office in Golden, Colorado. Samantha Rider accepted the position of National Recreation Planner for…
New Pathways for Samantha Haas of the PNTS
Samantha Haas has accepted a full-time marketing and community outreach specialist position with Mad City Dream Homes (MCDH) in Madison, WI, and will be departing from her part-time communications coordinator and Pathways Across America editor role with the Partnership for the National Trails System. “For…
Florida Trail ‘Big Bend’ reroute approved for implementation
Just around the bend Florida Trail ‘Big Bend’ reroute approved for implementation by Shawn Thomas, Florida National Scenic Trail Administrator Adapted from an article originally published in the Florida Trail Association Footprint magazine Over 1,100 miles of the Florida Trail (FT) have been successfully certified,…
2019 U.S. Forest Service Highlights
Trail Administration — Administered five NSTs (Pacific Crest, Pacific Northwest, Arizona, Continental Divide, and Florida), one NHT (Nez Perce), and managed portions of many others. Maintenance — Maintained and cared for approximately 6,115 miles of trail across the six NSHTs administered by the USFS in…
2019 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Highlights
Trail Management — Managed significant portions of 15 NSHTs on 860 miles of public lands in 21 States. Inventory — Collected field data in the mid-Atlantic and Northeast/New England States for the FWS Cycle 3 Trails Inventory (TrIP 3.0). As of the end of 2019,…