Volunteer Resources
Explore the Appalachian Mountain Club's essential volunteer resources, including training materials, guidelines, DEI initiatives, and leadership development tools to enhance your outdoor volunteering experience.
Volunteering at AMC
This section provides a comprehensive overview of all the essential information you need as a volunteer. From understanding the organizational bylaws and code of conduct to embracing principles like Leave No Trace, you'll find everything necessary to get started and connect with the community of volunteers across AMC.
Volunteering Basics
These documents are applicable to all AMC volunteers and outline our guiding principles.
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
AMC believes the outdoors is for everyone and our DEI efforts are both a priority and a work in progress. Read more about AMC’s commitment to DEI and access resources to support your volunteer role here.
General Principles & Policies
These documents outline the principles and policies we expect all volunteers to adhere to and champion when representing AMC.
Not an AMC volunteer yet?
Maintain and repair public trails, lead trips, advocate for conservation, or participate in community science. Hands-on opportunities abound in every corner of AMC.
Leading AMC Activities
Leading an activity as an AMC volunteer is a rewarding opportunity to share your passion for the outdoors and actively connect people to nature through joyful outdoor activities. Whether you’re new to leading activities or need to refresh your knowledge before your next big adventure, this section provides all the necessary resources to help you plan, organize, and lead AMC activities.
Leadership Basics
These documents offer insight for both current and future AMC activity leaders on roles and requirements.
Activity Planning Resources
Now that you’ve reviewed the basics, it’s time to plan your activity. Below are the resources that will help you plan the perfect AMC trip to explore the outdoors.
Ok, you’ve planned your activity or event and now it’s time to share it with the world and gather participants. Use the resources below to guide you through using the AMC’s Activities Database (ActDB).
Before leading your activity, ensure all participants have filled out and returned the applicable forms below.
- Volunteer Release Agreement: This is the release agreement for volunteer-led activities—to be printed out, read, signed, and returned to AMC.
- Release Agreement for AMC’s Volunteer-led Camps & Cabins
- Release Agreement for AMC’s Adventure Travel
- AMC Photo Release Form
- AMC Group Photo Release Form
Use these resources to get your activity off on the right foot.
Safety is AMC's number one priority. Use the resources below to know who to contact if something goes wrong and how to properly report the incident.
- AMC Incident Report: Use this form to report any incidents encountered during an AMC-led trip.
- AMC Crisis Communication and Emergency Action Plan: AMC Volunteer Leaders should use this chart in cases involving potentially life-threatening or disabling injuries, or in the case of a fatality, to enable staff to provide post-incident support.
Path to Leadership: How do I become an AMC leader?
In addition to being familiar with all of AMC's policies, procedures and activity leader documentation provided above, there are two steps to become an AMC leader:
Pair with a mentor at your local Chapter to co-lead at least 2 trips under supervision to demonstrate leadership skills and receive feedback. Then, have your supervising co-leader fill out the Leader in Training Co-Lead Evaluation Form.
Adopting a Trail
As a trail adopter, you'll check trail conditions, clear drainage, cut vegetation, and complete small projects. AMC provides training, tools, and safety equipment. Your one-year stewardship, with a recommended three maintenance visits annually, helps our Trails department with planning and addressing trail needs.
Use the resources below to understand your role as a trail adopter and report the work critical work you've done.
Not a trail adopter yet? Apply to adopt a trail here.
AMC Help Center
Didn't find what you're looking for? Access more information and ask questions via our AMC Help Center