Appalachian Mountain Club to host Family Fun Week Aug. 6 to 9Date: 7/25/2012 By Lori Szepelak
lori@thereminder.com
RUSSELL — The Appalachian Mountain Club is offering a unique program titled Families with Kids Fun Week Aug. 6 to 9 at the Noble View Outdoor Center.
Gary Forish, Noble View's volunteer registrar, noted during an interview with Reminder Publications that the four days and three evenings are designed for "like-minded, outdoorsy families."
Activities planned are recommended for individuals ages 10 years old and older, however, all ages are welcome. Noble View features more than 15 miles of moderately easy to intermediate trails for exploring the surrounding woodlands and old farmsteads while hiking or bird watching. Special programs include naturalist activities during the day with evening campfires and S'mores for dessert.
The Appalachian Mountain Club unveiled its final renovations to the site last June, following an eight-year volunteer-led project to improve guest lodging and build a new bathhouse featuring "foundation-to-rooftop" green technologies. Additionally, the club secured a conservation easement to permanently protect nearly 360 acres of land at Noble View that are open to public use.
"Permanently protecting the land from development and renovating Noble View ensures that future generations will enjoy this area for outdoor recreation and as a close-to-home family getaway," Forish said.
Noble View is managed by Appalachian Mountain Club volunteers, and also hosts school groups and Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts activities throughout the year. The site is also open year-round for self-service stays.
Forish noted that Noble View is perched on a hilltop overlooking the Connecticut River and Pioneer Valley, with expansive views east to Mt. Wachusett.
The family fun week includes lodging in cottages with private bedrooms, kitchen facilities, wood stoves, large common rooms, and a "green" shower building. Evening meals are prepared; participants are responsible for their own breakfast and lunch. All buildings comply with Americans with Disabilities Act accessibility requirements.
The cost is $114 for adults and children younger than age 18 are $84. For reservations, contact Forish at 519-3251, or by email at forgary@comcast.net.
For more information about the center, including a trail map, suggested hikes and walks, visit www.nobleviewoutdoorcenter.org. Noble View is located at 635 South Quarter Road.
For families unable to attend the special "fun week," day visits are encouraged, and lodging options are available. Forish noted, however, that because Noble View is a volunteer-managed facility, visits are self-service, with no staff on site unless visitors are part of a scheduled event.
Founded in 1876, the Appalachian Mountain Club is America's oldest conservation and recreation organization. With more than 100,000 members, advocates, and supporters in the Northeast and beyond, the nonprofit group promotes the protection, enjoyment, and understanding of the mountains, forests, waters, and trails of the Appalachian region. Additionally, the club supports natural resource conservation while encouraging responsible recreation, based on the philosophy that successful, long-term conservation depends upon first-hand enjoyment of the natural environment.
The Noble View Outdoor Center Committee, comprised of volunteers, is responsible for maintaining and improving the property. Work days are organized throughout the year, and volunteers are always needed. Contact Forish for more information on volunteer opportunities.
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