Pocahontas State Park Receives $30,000 for New Trail System

ANDY THOMPSON@RICHMONDOUTSIDE

JULY 19, 2018 7:32AM

The Friends of Pocahontas State Park has been awarded a $20,000 grant from REI Richmondalong with a $10,000 grant from Dominion Energy. The combined $30,000 was given with the express intent of adding more hiking-specific trails to Pocahontas State Park’s already flourishing trail system.

Grant Smith, Store Manager from Richmond REI, presented a check to Friends member Jeff Samuels and Park Manager Joshua Ellington Thursday, July 5. Samuels, who has been with the Friends group since 2007 and is currently serving as the Director of Hiking Trails, explained the funding would go toward the construction of a new trail on the north shore of Swift Creek Lake.

Ellington has been park manager at Pocahontas State Parksince 2015 and is extremely grateful of the community support. Opening new trails is a labor intensive process, says Ellington, “We couldn’t do it without our volunteers, the friends group and corporate beneficiaries…Thank you for continuing to make Pocahontas State Park a better place for this whole community.”

Development for the new trail system is scheduled to begin in August. Completed sections of new trail will open to the public as early as September 2018.

Webmaster Note:  We are so proud of Jeff who is an active member of Old Dominion Appalachian Trail Club.  Thanks, Jeff for all you do for Pocohantas and the AT.  

ODATC Tee Shirt Contest is On!!!!

Where will you be on October 26, 2019?

We hope you will be joining fellow members of the Old Dominion Appalachian Trail Club to celebrate our club’s 50^thAnniversary at the Richmond Country Club. 

With plans underway for anniversary-related activities throughout 2019, the club is in need of a new tee shirt. The current goal is to have the shirt ready for purchase in January, or maybe December as it will surely make a great gift, so that folks can wear their new shirt on the special anniversary hikes.

But first, we need a design for this new tee shirt and a bandana too! 

So how do you fit in?!? We are holding a contest! The individuals whose designs are selected for the 50th Anniversary T-shirt and bandana will win 2 free tickets to the anniversary dinner.

Designs will be due by September 30, 2018. They can be submitted electronically to ODATC50th@gmail.com or mailed to ODATC P.O. Box 25283 Richmond VA 23260-5283. Include your name, email address, phone number, and mailing address with your submittal. Participants must be current club members. The winning designs will be chosen by a 3-member committee comprised of Board, club, and anniversary committee members.

If you are interested in submitting a design or 2, please keep the following guidelines in consideration.

For the T-shirt: design will be on front of the shirt; limit 2 colors to a design; must include wording of either ODATC or club name spelled out, and 50th Anniversary, but not necessarily the year 2019. You can suggest a t-shirt color that would complement your design, however, the final decision will be made by the anniversary committee.  

For the bandana: design should be such that it would cover the entire square; limit design and wording to 1 color or black with suggestion of color to complement your design; must include wording of either ODATC or club name spelled out, and 50th Anniversary, but not necessarily the year 2019.

Any questions, please send to ODATC50th@gmail.com and someone will get back to you as soon as possible.

We look forward to your awesome designs!!

50th Anniversary Committee

A.T. VISTA 2020

SAVE THE DATE!

July 31,2020 - August 3, 2020

Location:  Ramapo College, Mahwah, NJ

What is an A.T. VISTA?

To provide a forum for the engagement of activities on and near the Appalachian Trail, offering hiking, educational, cultural, and historical learning programs, working with trail clubs, local communities, and nearby partner organizations.

A.T. Vista aims to be recognized as THE forum for engagement of all who cherish the future of the Appalachian Trail’s protection, stewardship, and connection of the human spirit with nature while increasing participation from younger and diverse members.

Hike, Learn, Play. 

• Hike - hiking and other trail-related excursions, such as bird watching
• Learn - educational opportunities of A.T. Vista at workshops.
• Play - meeting new friends, seeing old acquaintances, and engaging in evening entertainment or excursions.

For more Information, visit www.atvista.org