Submitted by Bill Saunders.
Children’s Festival and Hall of Fame Induction on National Trails Day weekend:
GARDNERS, PA – On Saturday, June 4th, 2016 (National Trails Day) the Appalachian Trail Museum is proud to celebrate the opening of its newest exhibit area. The museum’s new Children’s Area located on the lower level of the Old Grist Mill will feature an exhibit that shows all the states the trail travels through, including interesting trail-related information about each state.
The day starts with a ribbon cutting at 10:00 am for the new area. The ceremony will be followed by a Children’s Festival beginning at 11:00, with intriguing events and activities for children of all ages. The festival will include story-telling sessions, a nature scavenger hunt, activities related to Leave No Trace principles, and a survival activity including how to build a shelter. A special appearance and demonstration will be made by Nan ‘Drag N’ Fly’ Reisinger, who is the oldest woman ever to hike the Appalachian Trail in its entirety.
The event will feature mountain music by Brian and Nancy Lockman and friends. In addition to a bake sale, there will be a cookout and a ‘make your own trail mix’ table
Details of the day can be found at http://www.atmuseum.org/uploads/5/5/8/1/55813761/2016postersaturday_screen.jpg.
The sixth class of Appalachian Trail Hall of Fame honorees will be inducted on Friday, June 3, at the annual Appalachian Trail Hall of Fame Banquet at the Allenberry Resort in Boiling Springs, Pennsylvania. The 2016 Appalachian Trail Hall of Fame class honorees are Maurice J. Forrester, Jr. of Williamsport, PA; Horace Kephart of Bryson City, NC; Larry Luxenberg, of New City, NY; and Henry Arch Nichols, of Ashville, NC. . The latest inductees to the Hall of Fame will be available at the Children’s Festival to speak about their adventures and work on the A.T.
Located on Rt. 233 in Pennsylvania’s Pine Grove Furnace State Park, very close to the midpoint of the Appalachian Trail, the A.T. Museum tells the story of the trail.