SOUTHEASTERN FOOT TRAILS COALITION 

2009 Conference in Kentucky

LOCATION

The Southeastern Foot Trails Coalition will hold its biennial conference in Kentucky the weekend of May 7 - 10, 2009.  The conference will be based at Pine Mountain State Resort Park near Pineville, KY with some activities at Cumberland Gap National Historical Park in Middlesboro, KY.

ABOUT THE CONFERENCE

Members of hiking and trail building organizations from across the southeastern United States and partners of the coalition will gather in Kentucky for a weekend of hiking, education, fun and celebration of the foot trails experience. Several guided hikes of varying length and difficulty will be offered in both locations.  Simultaneously, at Pine Mountain SRP, there will be a series of educational sessions of varying length on tracks which address needs and interests of the coalition and its members.  Social activities will provide opportunities to share in fun with other participants and make new friends in the "trails community".  Finally, we will celebrate "connections" with a ceremony connecting two trails in the southeastern foot trails network.

HIKES

Follow the "Hiking Program" link to the left to see the hikes scheduled for the conference.

EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM

Follow the "Educational Program" link to see Educational Tracks and individual sessions.

SOCIAL ACTIVITIES

Time has been reserved in the evenings for social activities.  A square dance is planned at Pine Mountain SRP on Friday evening.  Bobby Fulcher, Manager of Cumberland Trail State Park will call the square dance with music by local musicians. A cookout is planned at Hensley Settlement at Cumberland Gap NHP on Saturday evening. This will be catered by Cumberland Avenue Cafe. Tours and storytelling of the settlement and Appalachian culture will be conducted by National Park Service staff and volunteers.

TRAIL CEREMONY

A ceremony will be held at The Pinnacle Overlook at Cumberland Gap NHP at 10 am on Friday, May 8th to recognize the collaborative efforts to form a system of diverse trails in the southeast.  A trail project will be performed during the conference to place an informational sign at Tri-State Knob at the point where the Cumberland and Pine Mountain trails meet.  

TRAIL PROJECTS

American Hiking Society is hosting a Volunteer Vacation in Kentucky the week ending with the conference.  A shorter duration trail project will be available during the conference for attendees who choose to participate.

MEETINGS

The Southeastern Foot Trails Coalition Leadership Council will conduct its annual meeting.  Officers for the coalition will be elected.  The Great Eastern Trail Association will conduct its Board of Directors meeting at PMSRP on this weekend.

REGISTRATION 

To register, print the form in the "Conference Registration" link, complete it, and send it along with your check per the instructions in the form.  Early registration ends on March 31, 2009.  Late registration will be accepted through April 30, 2009 if space is available.