Since 1920, the New York-New Jersey Trail Conference has partnered with and supported parks by creating, protecting, and promoting over 2,150 miles of public trails in the New York-New Jersey metropolitan region. Over 2,400 Trail Conference volunteers donate more than 100,000 hours of labor annually to keep these trails open, safe, and free for the public to enjoy. We also publish maps and books to safely guide the public through our trails. The Trail Conference is a nonprofit organization with a membership of 10,000 individuals and 100 clubs that have a combined membership of over 100,000 active, outdoor-loving people.
Since 1920, the New York-New Jersey Trail Conference has partnered with and supported parks by creating, protecting, and promoting over 2,150 miles of public trails in the New York-New Jersey metropolitan region. Over 2,400 Trail Conference volunteers donate more than 100,000 hours of labor annually to keep these trails open, safe, and free for the public to enjoy. We also publish maps and books to safely guide the public through our trails. The Trail Conference is a nonprofit organization with a membership of 10,000 individuals and 100 clubs that have a combined membership of over 100,000 active, outdoor-loving people.
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Charting Impact
What is your organization aiming to accomplish?
The trail community in the greater New York metropolitan area is an inspiring movement. We are wanderers,hikers, runners, and riders of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities. We appreciate, respect, and deeply treasure the wealth of wild places reachable within just a few hours of home because we live in one the most amazingly cosmopolitan regions on Earth. Our life experiences may be worlds apart, but on the trail, we are united in our passion to connect with nature. The founding of this movement runs parallel with the founding of the New York-New Jersey Trail Conference. In 1920, through the spirit of volunteerism, dedicated members of local hiking clubs created the Trail Conference to work alongside burgeoning park administrations and make newly preserved public lands accessible to everyone via blazed trail systems. Nearly 100 years later, our legacy of building, maintaining, and protecting trails and stewarding parklands as a volunteer-powered organization continues. Today, we don’t just serve as the hub of this trail community, we operate as one big Trail Family.
What are your strategies for making this happen?
In 2017, a small staff coordinated and supported the work of over 2,100 volunteers across more than 180 parks. Together, we contributed more than 100,000 hours of labor. We cared for close to 2,200 miles of trails and the lands through which they pass. We advocated for the interests of trail users and nature lovers and are constantly seeking ways to improve your outdoor experience.
What are your organization's capabilities for doing this?
2,156 miles of trails maintained through 181 parks 26 counties served public and 75 private agency partners. 2,124 volunteers gave 94,010 hours to trails and parks 35 AmeriCorps members served 28,452 hours as the Trail Conference Conservation Corps 21 Trail Stewards assisted 88,329 trail users in 3 parks 8,476 members and 88 member clubs amplified your voice on issues affecting trails and parks
How will your organization know if you are making progress?
Number of volunteers engaged and trained and miles of trails improved and protected.
What have and haven't you accomplished so far?
Route Easier-to-Navigate Trail Systems The trails at Campgaw Mountain County Reservation, as well as underutilized trails in Norvin Green and Long Pond Ironworks state parks in New Jersey, were reconfigured into more user-friendly “loop trail” systems. Build Multi-Use Trails The new multi-use Hutchinson Trail officially opened in Sterling Forest State Park in March. It was built by members of the Palisades Trail Crew, including hikers, mountain bikers, and equestrians. Create Safer Trails A section of the Highlands Trail along Laroe Road in Chester, N. Y. , was rerouted through Goosepond Mountain State Park, eliminating a road walk. Reach New Trail Users The 34-mile, urban-suburban Lenape Trail in Essex County, N. J. , received numerous upgrades, including a full inventory and assessment of trail conditions, increased access with new signage in four parks, and an up-to-date map available in digital and print formats.
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This impact information is current as of March 2020, when it was provided to us by GuideStar.
At this time, Impact information published on this organization's page has no effect on its rating per our methodology.
Program names and associated costs are listed for the top programs as reported on the charity's most recently filed Form 990. The top programs displayed will include the largest three programs, or those programs covering at least 60% of the charity's total expenses, whichever comes first.
Program Name
Amount Spent
% of Program Expenses
Trail Building
$1,812,288
72.0%
Memberships
$407,375
16.2%
Publications
$190,388
7.6%
Ratings History New York-New Jersey Trail Conference has received 7 consecutive 4-star ratings from Charity Navigator.
Organization that normally receives no more than one-third of its support from gross investment income and unrelated business income and at the same time more than one-third of its support from contributions, fees, and gross receipts related to exempt purposes. 509(a)(2)
Independent - the organization is an independent organization or an independent auxiliary (i.e., not affiliated with a National, Regional, or Geographic grouping of organizations).
