Stay in touch with American Trails!
Your membership supports American Trails' work to advance the development of high-quality trails, greenways, and blueways.
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Thank you for joining us in Portland!
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American Trails would like to thank everyone who joined us in Portland for the 22nd International Trails Symposium (ITS). We were pleased to welcome over 760 attendees from 48 states--plus the District of Columbia--and 18 countries who came together for an educational and inspirational conference in the beautiful State of Oregon! There is no doubt that communities across the globe will benefit for years to come from the "Solutions for Success" shared in Portland.
We are grateful for our generous sponsors, including over 100 exhibitors, 190 presenters, and 76 volunteers who contributed their time and resources to make each aspect of the Symposium possible. We especially would like to thank our primary Planning Partners, the Professional TrailBuilders Association and Metro, who, through dedication and inspiration, made the Symposium a success.
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We value your feedback
about the Symposium!
Please take a few minutes to complete the survey and consider providing a testimonial about how the Symposium is helping improve upon the good work you do for trails.
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Answer the survey by July 31 to be entered into a drawing where 5 lucky winners will be chosen at random to win 1 of 3 prizes with the Symposium logo (Klean Kanteen co-branded water bottle, ChicoBag, or Symposium t-shirt).
If you are interested in purchasing Symposium items, email [email protected] or call 530-605-4395530-605-4395.
Water Bottle: $10.00 ChicoBag: $8.00 T-Shirt: $12.00
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SOME SYMPOSIUM HIGHLIGHTS
Take a trip down memory lane...
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Educational Sessions
View presentations online
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The program at the International Trails Symposium featured 120 cutting-edge presentations with over 190 presenters, including concurrent sessions, in-depth core tracks, Sustainable Trails workshops offered by the Professional TrailBuilders Association, and 15 mobile workshops throughout the Portland region. National and international experts provided training on a variety of issues including planning, building, funding, and managing trails -- all that tied into the Symposium theme "Solutions for Success." Thank you to our presenters for sharing their knowledge and expertise, as well as their presentations online. Many concurrent and core track presentations have been made available to us in PowerPoint or PDF format. View presentations available online or view presenter bios and contact information.
To add your presentation to those available online, email [email protected].
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National & International Trails Awards
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The National and International Trails Awards program is one way American Trails recognizes exemplary efforts to create and enhance a national system of trails to meet recreation, health, and travel needs. American Trails would like to thank REI for sponsoring the Awards Banquet at the International Trails Symposium.
To read about the 2015 recipients, including 3 international recipients, and learn about their innovative projects, programs, and solutions to build, promote, and advance trails, click here...
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We were excited to welcome to Portland presenters, exhibitors, award winners, and attendees from 18 countries:
- Australia
- Brazil
- Canada
- Chile
- China
- Denmark
- Greece
- Ireland
- Israel
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- Japan
- Lebanon
- Nepal (in spirit)
- Nicaragua
- Norway
- Panama
- Russia
- South Africa
- Turkey
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Due to the massive earthquake that hit Nepal just three weeks prior to the Symposium, seven Nepalese delegates who planned to attend and present were no longer able to. They were all in our thoughts and prayers!
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Emerging Leaders
Young trail professionals
attending on scholarship
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Thanks to the support of the nationwide trails community, American Trails brought 16 young trail enthusiasts to the International Trails Symposium through the Hulet Hornbeck Emerging Leaders Scholarship Program. These aspiring trail professionals came from four countries (including Nicaragua, Canada, and Russia) and ten states, with interests ranging from trail building to urban planning to conservation.
During their time in Portland, they learned from experts, interacted with a mentor, participated in a hands-on field day and hiking/bicycling excursion, received diversity training, and presented a panel session: 20/something Vision. Over the course of the trip, the scholarship recipients took a big step forward on the path to their career goals.
Thank you to all sponsors, donors, mentors, and committee members who made the 2015 Emerging Leaders Program a success! We would also like to thank each attendee who took the time to interact with an Emerging Leader, provide advice, and encourage them in their interest in trails.
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The Intertwine Alliance
Business as "un-usual"
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The Intertwine Alliance is an innovative coalition of over 140  nonprofits, government agencies, and for-profit companies working to mobilize resources behind parks, trails, and natural areas. Presenters from The Intertwine opened the Symposium by sharing about their efforts to move these vital community resources out of second class status and give them their rightful place as a central element of our civic infrastructure.
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Trails for Heroes
View closing presentation online
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Hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding trail therapy programs for our nation's wounded veterans are proving to be among the most successful methods of helping our injured service members overcome the ravages of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). At the Symposium closing luncheon, a panel of experts, including Jan Hancock with Hancock Resources, LLC, shared about their military veteran on-the-trail programs and success stories.
Read more about how you can be involved and view the presentation on the Trails for Heroes webpage...
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Voices from the Trails
Attendees share their dreams for the future of trails
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Everyone who attended the International Trails Symposium was invited to share their thoughts and dreams about the future of trails. At the Opening Luncheon, attendees were given a handout to write their vision for the future of trails and asked to hand it in the day before the Closing Luncheon. We included many of these dreams and big ideas as the "Voices" at the Closing Luncheon.
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Thank you to our Sponsors & Exhibitors!
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Share memories in the ITS Photo Gallery!
- We're creating an online photo gallery to share all of the best moments from Portland. To add your photos to the gallery, email [email protected] or share on Facebook and Twitter using the hashtag #2015ITS.
Interested in hosting the International Trails Symposium in the spring of 2017?
- Email Candace Mitchell at [email protected] to request a bid packet (available in August).
Have additional questions?
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