“Step up,” I told my 4-year old son when he looked at the rocky trail to the top of Coon Mountain. That was twelve years ago when it was one of the only local hiking trails. Now, our latest trail map lists forty-nine trails totaling over 120 miles.
Now we ask you to please “step up” and invest in the Champlain Valley by making an end-of-year contribution to Champlain Area Trails (CATS) or by increasing your donation so we can make more trails, maintain the increasing number of trails, expand outdoor education, and save land. It’s easy. Just click here to donate now.
We often hear the slogans “buy local” and “support local businesses.” Well, CATS is a “local” business that supports other local businesses. We are not a national organization with the assistance of a headquarters in a distant city. We are local and we provide outdoor activities, education, and land conservation right here in New York’s Champlain Valley where it benefits YOU, your neighbors, and the local economy. So please, “buy local” and support Champlain Area Trails.
Your support enables our staff to work full time to advance the mission of making trails and saving land. Bill Amadon and I spend countless hours in all kinds of weather to find the best location for trails. Then we make the trail, usually with the volunteers we recruit. This can take weeks or for places like the new Sophie’s Lair Trail, years. And that is just trails—coordinating land conservation projects can be long, bumpy paths to completion. Meanwhile, Gail Testa administers the office using the standards and practices that enabled CATS to earn “accreditation” with the Land Trust Alliance.
This is a critical time for CATS. Like my 4-year old son at Coon Mountain, we’ve hiked in on the trail and now we must climb to the next stage of success. Your support got us here and with your help we can meet our $47,750 year-end fundraising goal and step up to new challenges.
Please DONATE NOW to Champlain Area Trails and consider a “step-up” increase above your previous donation. If you’ve already made your year-end donation, we thank you for your support. By investing in CATS you make the Champlain Valley a better place.
Chris Maron
CATS Executive Director
Related articles
- Champlain Area Trails Honors Founding Member Bruce Klink (www.essexonlakechamplain.com)
- CATS Achieves Accreditation! (www.essexonlakechamplain.com)
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