Ambassador Program

Holly Mandarich

Would you like to join us as we empower all to enjoy, share, and preserve the hiking experience? Learn more about our NextGen Trail Leader and Ambassador programs.

Two Ways Individuals Can Partner With American Hiking Society

Each year American Hiking brings together five early to early-mid career leaders in the outdoor community with a diversity of identities from across the country. American Hiking provides these Leaders with training, mentorship, networking, trail stewardship opportunities, and professional development and gear stipends. Through this partnership, NextGen Trail Leaders build and refine their advocacy and outdoor leadership experience and skills, speaking out to elected officials, serving as ambassadors to the hiking community, building a nationwide stewardship movement, and championing conservation, equity, and inclusion.

2024 NextGen Application

Apply Now

Meet the NextGen Leaders

2023 NextGen Leaders

Ron Griswell

NextGen Stories

2020 NextGen graphic overlay on a glacial mountain skyline

Third Class of American Hiking Society’s NextGen Trail Leaders Announced

American Hiking Society is pleased to announce the third class of NextGen Trail Leaders, bringing together rising stars in the outdoor community from across the country. Through American Hiking Society,…

“Does anything I do even matter?”- A NextGen Trail Leader recounts their first advocacy experience.

“Does anything I do even matter? Even as I educate community members and participate in service projects at trailheads in my own community, can I actually change things? Do my elected officials truly hear my emails, phone calls, and petitions?” These questions have been stirring in my mind for years as I have tried to be more active in advocacy for policies that protect the wild places I love.

Reality Check: National Public Lands Advocacy

I learned a lot about federal politics in just a few short days, and while I’m still trying to figure out what it means to me, I think that it’s important to keep perspective. That said, I’m not going to stop dreaming – about ways to improve trails and my community today, and about ways to advocate for change in the future.

Hike the Hill® 2019 Wraps-up with Senate Passage of Public Lands Package, including LWCF

Hike the Hill® 2019 Wraps-up with Senate Passage of Public Lands Package, including LWCF Photographer’s Name A whirlwind Hike the Hill® just concluded with major victories and breakthroughs on legislation…

Introducing the 2019 NextGen Trail Leaders

American Hiking Launches 2019 NextGen Trail Leaders The second class of AHS NextGen Trail Leaders brings together rising stars in the outdoor community from all walks of life and across…

My Journey in the Outdoor Industry (So Far)

In order to explain and emphasize the importance of what being a NextGen Trail Leader means to me, I must first take you on a journey of how I started…

Meet the 2023 NextGen Trail Leaders

Kaci Stringer

A hiker stands next to a trailhead sign.

Tamika Graham

(she/her/hers)

@blackwomenhikingdmv

Biography

Tamika Graham is an avid hiker and Organizer of Black Women Hiking the DMV, a group that gathers first-time and experienced hikers in the D.C.-Maryland-Virginia (DMV) metropolitan region for outings, outdoor education, and skills-building opportunities. The group’s mission is to inspire, educate, empower, and support women in pursuit of a meaningful, lifelong connection to the outdoors through hiking and nature immersion. Tamika is certified in Wilderness First Aid and has completed the Center for Outdoor Ethics Leave No Trace Trainer course that enables her to teach others to develop an outdoor ethic and minimize their impacts. She loves that hiking and nature-center experiences activate awe, wonder, and mindfulness. She endeavors to section hike the Appalachian Trail (A.T.) and her inaugural section began with a weekend of solo backpacking through the entire state of Maryland.

A Hiker stands on top of Mt. Whitney holding a Mt. Whitney sign.

Liz Guerrero

(she/her/hers)

@wander_lizzzz

Biography

Liz Guerrero was born in Mexico and raised in Long Beach, California from the age of one. The outdoors did not play a big part of her family as she was growing up. It's not until she was an adult that she discovered the healing power of the outdoors. Open spaces and the outdoors have saved herself and her family in more than one way, especially after losing her brother. Protecting the spaces that bring us healing, that better our mental health, and restore our well-being has become her priority; as well as learn and share the knowledge she gains along the way.

A backpacker hikes on a trail in a forest.

Thurman Hogan III

(he/him/his)

@thurm_iii

Biography

Born and raised in Fort Worth, Texas, Thurman Hogan III, A Trinity University Alumni, always had an organic inkling for the outdoors whether it was watching “Survivorman" everyday after school, roaming the neighborhood, or playing sports. When he was younger, he recalls being one of few Black kids at his school. Oftentimes when doing outdoor activities with his friends, he felt the pressure to not fail and seem as if he knew what he was doing. Those feelings led him to intern and later be hired by Black Outside Inc., a nonprofit organization in San Antonio, Texas, geared towards creating access to the outdoors for youth of color in Texas. You can find him taking zoom meetings outside, exploring the outdoors, shooting his bow, doing funny stuff for enjoyment of the kids he serves, and trying to make the outdoors a place of enjoyment for all youth of color.

A hiker stands in front of an alpine lake.

Irasema Romero

(she/her/hers)

@irasema_romero

Biography

Irasema Romero enjoys quiet Saturday mornings solo hiking in Big & Little Cottonwood Canyons near her home in Sandy, Utah. But some of her favorite memories are sharing those trails with family and friends. After growing up in Dallas - and living in both NYC and Mexico City in recent years - Irasema decided to set roots in beautiful Utah, where she gets to experience the outdoors and connect with nature more regularly. As a newcomer to the hiking scene, she is passionate about advocating and protecting the public lands that set Utah apart. A reformed workaholic, Irasema is a writer and communications professional interested in finding balance and connection beyond the day-to-day. She is the oldest daughter of Mexican immigrant parents and an aunt to 5 nieces and nephews who luckily share her love for exploring the outdoors.

Tammy VuPham

(she/her/hers)

@tammyvupham

Biography

Tammy VuPham is a Southerner who lives in the Pacific Northwest. She left flat and sunny Georgia for rain and rugged mountains in Washington. As a mountain guide and parks commissioner, she works to create outdoor opportunities for all people, whether for first-timers or seasoned recreationists. Tammy also works as a board member and grantmaker for state and national recreation organizations. She is a programs coordinator for Outdoor Asian and teaches backcountry classes for the BIPOC community throughout the Cascade range.

American Hiking Society Ambassadors

Shawnte Salabert

Hiking experts, leaders, content creators, and most importantly passionate advocates of the hiking experience.

Join the Ambassador Team

Apply Here

Wesley Trimble

Meet the AHS Ambassadors

Current Ambassadors

Shawnte Salabert

AHS Ambassadors:

Represent American Hiking Society as a voice for hiking and public lands across social media and AHS communications.
Provide content and storytelling for the AHS Blog and social media channels.
Receive advocacy and communications resources to be effective advocates and leaders.
Join or support annual National Trails Day® events in their local areas in June as a host or participant.
Have the opportunity to participate in an American Hiking Volunteer Vacation stewardship trip.
Participate in other AHS advocacy campaigns, programs, and activities.

AHS Provides Ambassadors:

Discounted registration for an American Hiking Volunteer Vacation trip.
Networking opportunities with leaders and other professionals in the outdoor industry.
Swag and gear from AHS and corporate sponsors.

AHS Ambassador Applicants should be:

Passionate about outdoor advocacy, hiking, and stewardship.
Excellent, dynamic communicators.
Available to engage regularly throughout the year on social media and AHS communications on efforts to protect public lands, hiking, and diversity in the outdoors.

Meet the AHS Ambassadors

Liz Thomas

Carolyn Hartfield

Hiker/Adventure Leader/Speaker

Biography

Carolyn Hartfield is an outdoor enthusiast who leads others on hiking, camping, zip lining, cycling, spelunking, tree climbing, whitewater rafting, kayaking — you name it — excursions. This Baby Boomer who is also a senior citizen says she is “Seasoned and savoring in the spices of life!”

Carolyn was 56 when she went on her first hike. She did not know the hike was going to be a challenging trek up Blood Mountain along the Appalachian Trail. She loved it. Being outside in nature was so exhilarating, she not only wanted to keep hiking but wanted to share her experience with others. “The decision to try something new was one of the best decisions I ever made. It completely changed my life!”

She was so inspired she felt she had to share this newly discovered adventure with others. To prepare herself, she became a certified outings leader through the Sierra Club, was trained in wilderness first aid through the NOLS Wilderness Medical Institute, became a Certified National Interpretive Guide, and selected as a community partner with REI and the Georgia Conservancy. She also works with the National Park Service in their Trails and Rails volunteer program.

As a result of inspiring others through her online monthly newsletter, she has expanded her influential voice to several thousand followers of her web-based Meetup adventure groups and is a leading voice for seniors, encouraging them to get outside and try new things. Carolyn also has a love for senior Olympic sports, earning medals in various state, national and world competitions.

In 2016 Carolyn represented AARP when she was recognized with a ‘Positive Aging Image Award’ from the Georgia Institute on Aging. She has been featured on the CNN/HLN Accent Health Network for her healthy hiking adventures, and in various other media. Carolyn is currently working on her new book, ‘The Joy of Aging’ expected to be released in Spring 2017.

When Carolyn speaks to groups, her message is simple: “Get in the great outdoors, try new activities and have fun while getting healthy!”

Learn more about Carolyn Hartfield at her website: www.CarolynHartfield.com

Michael Lanza

Author/Photographer

Biography

Writer and photographer Michael Lanza is the creator of The Big Outside, where he blogs about his outdoor adventures, including many with his wife and children. The Big Outside has made numerous top blog lists, including USA Today’s Readers Choice list of Top 10 Hiking and Outdoors Bloggers in 2014. A primary goal of Michael’s blog is to inspire and inform other parents to take their own kids on outdoor adventures—and help other families to discover the powerful emotional payoff and bond achieved through sharing outdoors experiences. That’s one of the reasons he is excited to be an ambassador for AHS.

Michael was the Northwest Editor of Backpacker magazine for 11 years and continues to write for the magazine. His book Before They're Gone—A Family's Year-Long Quest to Explore America's Most Endangered National Parks, winner of a National Outdoor Book Award honorable mention, chronicles his wilderness adventures with his wife and their young son and daughter in national parks threatened by climate change. An avid backpacker, climber, backcountry skier, and cyclist, he has hiked and climbed extensively in the U.S. West and Northeast and published stories in numerous magazines about adventure travels on four continents. His articles about global warming helped Backpacker earn a National Magazine Award for general excellence in 2008. He was previously a magazine editor, co-hosted a call-in radio program on New Hampshire Public Radio, and syndicated a weekly outdoor column in about two dozen New England newspapers.

Michael lives with his wife and their two teenagers in Boise, Idaho, where they frequently get out on local trails and explore Idaho’s mountains and rivers.

Connect

Bob and Martha Manning

Hikers/Authors/Speakers

Biography

Bob and Martha Manning are accomplished hikers and authors who write and speak about their outdoor adventures. They discovered the national parks shortly after they were married, honeymooning at Cape Cod National Seashore. They lived in California for several years, hiking and backpacking in Yosemite and many other western national parks. After graduate school, Bob became a professor at the University of Vermont, teaching and studying the history, philosophy, and management of national parks. His program of research for the National Park Service allowed him and Martha to visit and hike in national parks throughout the nation, including spending four year-long sabbaticals at Grand Canyon National Park, Yosemite National Park, Golden Gate National Recreation Area, and the Washington, DC headquarters. Martha uses these adventures as inspiration for her work as an artist.

While living in Vermont, they hiked the state’s 272-mile Long Trail, the first long-distance trail in the US. And then they were hooked! They’ve hiked dozens of long-distance trails on six continents and have written two books about these walks. The first, Walking Distance: Extraordinary Hikes for Ordinary People, offers first-hand descriptions of 30 long-distance trails throughout the world. Their second book, Walks of a Lifetime: Extraordinary Hikes from Around the World, offers first-hand descriptions of 30 more long-distance trails and multi-day hikes, interspersed with short essays on many dimensions of hiking. Both books are designed to encourage readers to walk more in their everyday lives and to try long-distance walking.

Bob and Martha are invited speakers at many venues, including the International Trails Symposium, the Walkabout International Conference, and many hiking and conservation organizations. The Mannings have a long association with American Hiking Society. Bob served on the Board of Directors and is a life member, and they are especially pleased to be named AHS Ambassadors. The Mannings take this position seriously, encouraging people to “walk the talk” and reap the many benefits of hiking.

See where the Manning’s have hiked on their website, www.extraordinaryhikes.com.

Jennifer Pharr Davis

Author/Hiker/Speaker

Biography

Jennifer Pharr Davis is a hiker, author, adventure speaker, and 2012 National Geographic Adventurer of the Year. She is the founder and owner of Blue Ridge Hiking Company, an Asheville, NC-based guiding service that strives “to make the wilderness accessible and enjoyable” for hikers of all ages, genders, and ability levels. Jennifer has covered over 14,000 miles of long distance trails on six different continents. In 2011, she completed the 2,181-mile Appalachian Trail in forty-six days, eleven hours, and twenty minutes, maintaining a remarkable average of forty-seven miles per day.

As someone who thru-hiked the Appalachian Trail as a twenty-one-year-old, completed the Colorado Trail as a newlywed, traversed the Spanish Pyrenees as an expectant mother, has hiked in all fifty states with her husband and two year old daughter, and who is currently section-hiking the Continental Divide Trail, Jennifer truly embodies her belief that “the trail is there for everyone at every phase of life.” She is thrilled to be an Ambassador for the American Hiking Society, and she looks forward to championing AHS initiatives as she continues her speaking and writing career.

Connect

Liz Thomas

Author/Hiker

Biography

Liz Thomas is a well-traveled adventure athlete most known for breaking the women’s unsupported speed record on the 2,181-mile long Appalachian Trail in 2011. She has completed the Triple Crown of Hiking–the Appalachian Trail, the 2,650 mile Pacific Crest Trail, and 3,100 mile Continental Divide Trail–and has backpacked over 10,000 miles across the United States on long distance hiking trails. Liz is among the most experienced woman hikers in the country and is known for hiking light and fast. In addition to having a lot of experience hiking, Liz also received a Masters in Environmental Science from the Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies and the prestigious Doris Duke Conservation Fellowship for her research on long distance hiking trails, conservation, and trail town communities. Liz has been featured in Backpacker Magazine, the Wall Street Journal, and LA Magazine and has given talks about her experiences at colleges, hiking clubs, and conferences across the country.