All Out: AMC Action Plan 2025-2030

Since 1876,  the Appalachian Mountain Club  has been a leading voice for conservation while connecting people to the joy of the outdoors. We’ve led the charge on landmark legislation like the Weeks Act in 1911 and the Highland Conservation Act in 2004. We’ve served as hands-on stewards of nearly 2,000 miles of trails and protected more than 114,000 acres of the iconic 100-Mile Wilderness through our Maine Woods Initiative. Our community of 90,000 members from Maine to Virginia make use of our vast recreational network of outdoor program centers, lodges, huts, and camps—but our aspirations are even bigger.

AMC’s reach, scale, and expertise put us in an ideal position to advocate for the lands we love and create more meaningful outdoors experiences for all. However, the trail ahead isn’t without challenges. Unprotected land and outdated trail infrastructure threaten the places where we work and recreate. Barriers to access prevent many people across the region from enjoying the benefits of time spent outdoors. There has never been a greater or more urgent need for a plan of action that will shape a better future for people and the land.

Everything we do is about connecting people to the outdoors. Our plan will help ensure that the region’s mountains, forests, waters, dark skies, and trails remain available for recreation. We’ll create more opportunities to enjoy these spaces through experiences that match everyone’s skill and comfort level. We’ll serve more people by expanding our community of members, volunteers, leaders, donors, and staff. And we’ll make good on our belief that everyone has the right to enjoy the outdoors.

AMC is a dedicated champion for the conservation of critical landscapes and a committed advocate for outdoor access. The region we serve is home to 42 million people and a vast range of plant and animal species. That’s why we developed these strategic priorities: to build on our legacy of working at the intersection of people and the outdoors, and prepare for a new chapter in our history.

Something special happens when you go outdoors. Fresh air fills your lungs and lifts your heart. The sound of leaves crunching under your boots speaks louder than words. A wave under your kayak urges you forward like a supportive friend.

All Out is about helping everyone experience the joy of the outdoors, whether on a multi-day hiking adventure or a stroll in the park close to home. Tailoring experiences to each adventurer’s needs and wants allows all of us to form deeper, more meaningful connections with the lands, waters, and people around us.

I've loved the New Hampshire mountains since I was a wide-eyed toddler being hauled up to Mizpah Springs Hut in 1984. This is a special place, and I am utterly delighted that I get to steward these extraordinary places and help others experience them. My job lets me use my love of the outdoors to facilitate the experiences of others who find joy in these beautiful places.

— Bethany Taylor, Huts Manager

AMC’s membership has grown to encompass a wide range of backgrounds, abilities, and interests. As a leader in the conservation and recreation space, we need to foster a community that embodies the variety of experiences and perspectives in our region.

All Out will spark the largest membership growth in AMC’s history. To support this growth, we will invest in our volunteers with improved training, system management, and communication, so the experience of being a volunteer is as joyful as the activities they lead.

One of the most rewarding parts of being a leader is meeting people who are in the same position I was. They never expected to find themselves outdoors, but once they do, something magical happens.

— Chao Xie, AMC Volunteer Leader

If we want the next generation to enjoy the outdoors like we do, then we need to act fast to protect these lands and waters. While the planet faces many serious challenges, we approach our conservation work from a place of optimism and hope. We know that by working together, we can create a more sustainable world that benefits both people and the landscapes they love.

For nearly 150 years, AMC has championed the conservation of the Appalachian corridor. Sometimes that work takes the form of direct ownership and management of precious lands. Sometimes we bring together organizations with aligned goals and train them in hands-on conservation. And sometimes our cause takes us to statehouses and the halls of Congress, where we advocate for the policies and legislation that serve as nature’s first line of defense. All Out will take those efforts to a new level, helping to ensure that the region’s outdoor spaces are protected and treasured for generations.

While our focus remains on the Appalachian region, AMC’s work is part of a worldwide conservation effort. All Out contributes to the 30x30 initiative, an international commitment to conserve at least 30 percent of the planet’s lands and waters by 2030 in an effort to minimize the catastrophic effects of climate change.

All Out includes both region-wide goals and targeted priorities that reflect the unique landscapes and conservation challenges and opportunities of the major geographies in which we work. 

AMC strives to give every person the opportunity to be outdoors. Protecting important landscapes—both large tracts in remote areas and spaces closer to millions of potential visitors—addresses the imperative need to create climate resilience, repair the effects of centuries of human intervention, and create a more hopeful future. AMC is uniquely positioned to accomplish this.   

— Marty Wallace, AMC Board of Advisors

As anyone who’s been rejuvenated by a walk in the woods knows, spending time outdoors is enormously beneficial to our mental and physical well-being. But economic and physical barriers have kept outdoor experiences out of reach for many communities. Even finding basic gear for safe adventuring is difficult for large numbers of people.

Exploring the outdoors is a right, not a privilege. All Out will help break down the barriers that keep people from immersing themselves in nature, and defend the natural resources that surround our homes.

I cannot thank AMC's Outdoor Journey Fund enough for making this possible for us. We had an absolutely transformative experience. I wish I had opportunities like this when I was their age!

— Amye Follett, Project U.S.E, a private, nonprofit education organization that works with youth from Newark, New Jersey to create outdoors educational experiences.

Our action plan will create lasting impact throughout the region AMC serves. We’re embarking on this bold new chapter with a clear vision of what success looks like in 2030.

From members who have been visiting our lodges since they were young, to new adventurers stepping onto the trail for the first time, AMC is one club where everyone’s welcome. We believe that All Out gives us a blueprint for helping shape a brighter future—but we can’t build that future alone. As our community of supporters grows, AMC will become stronger and better equipped to preserve the outdoors for all to enjoy.