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Build Community in the Outdoors on National Trails Day

June 2, 2023  |  american hiking society, california, diversity equity and inclusion, eastern sierra conservation corps, local trails, national trails day, outdoor careers, public lands, service opportunities, time outside, trail building, youth development
A person takes a selfie with a large group smiling in the background
Photo Courtesy of Eastern Sierra Conservation Corps

The first Saturday in June is National Trails Day. Organized by the American Hiking Society, National Trails Day is a day to appreciate the local trails that make the outdoors an enjoyable and welcoming place to be. It’s a great day to get outside, build community with other trail enthusiasts, and engage in service projects to make the trails you love cleaner and more resilient. One NRF grantee that embodies the mission of National Trails Day on a daily basis is Eastern Sierra Conservation Corps (ESCC). ESCC connects young people with public lands in California while also providing workforce development opportunities and supporting the infrastructure needs of public outdoor spaces. Youth in ESCC programs live and work full time on public lands. This immersive experience builds a sense of community among ESCC members and promotes a sense of responsibility for public land.

A person in an ESCC shirt kneels outside with a dog
Photo courtesy of Eastern Sierra Conservation Corps

ESCC intentionally works with young people of marginalized identities to provide pathways into careers as conservation and outdoor professionals and to break down many of the barriers that prevent marginalized communities from enjoying the recreational benefits of public lands. Agnes Vianzon, the founder and executive director of ESCC, is deeply passionate about this mission. When reflecting on the work they do with crew members, Agnes said, “We believe that access to these wild and natural spaces is a human right and a necessity that has unfortunately evolved into a luxury for privileged peoples at the expense of everyone else. We are working to shift this trend by welcoming and supporting youth in these spaces that otherwise would not have access to them and our program is successful in our alumni transitioning to jobs with public lands agencies after working with us.” 

A person walks up a rocky trail

ESCC is one of countless organizations across the country focused on making outdoors spaces more accessible, both through the physical labor of trail maintenance and invasive species removal and through the equally important work of breaking down existing systems in outdoor recreation and environmental conservation that have long excluded People of Color, people with disabilities, the LGBTQ+ community, and other marginalized groups. NRF is proud to support ESCC in these efforts.

A group of young people walk down a trail surrounded by trees

This year National Trails Day is on June 3rd. If you’re wondering how to get involved, you can find an American Hiking Society event near you or you can celebrate National Trails Day on your own terms by spending time outside in places you know and in ways you love. Even better, if you know a young person excited to get paid to work outside, 2023 ESCC crew member applications are currently open.