'Reflections' Recounts 100 Years of Trail Conference History

October 19, 2021
News
New York-New Jersey Trail Conference

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'Reflections' Recounts 100 Years of Trail Conference History
Reflections Book Cover

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Centennials are always worthy of celebration. This fall, the Trail Conference finally gets to celebrate its 100th birthday— even if the party is a little late. (No one could have anticipated a pandemic, after all.) In commemoration of the milestone, a century of the Trail Conference’s volunteer-powered conservation and stewardship legacy is documented in the new book, Reflections.

Reflections includes the first four chapters of Vistas and Vision, which covered events that led to the Trail Conference’s founding in 1920 up through 1995. It adds four more chapters that recount the Trail Conference’s last 25 years of growth and accomplishments. The book is meant to be a comprehensive read on all things Trail Conference— from the organization’s formation in New York City through the dawn of its second century headquartered at the historic Darlington Schoolhouse in Mahwah, N.J.

Printed in full color, Reflections features photographs that make you wish you could meet the historical figures and visit the landscapes that grace the pages. Reflections is a must-have book for those who want to learn the story behind the wealth of outdoor recreation opportunities in the greater New York metropolitan area. It documents the Trail Conference’s impactful work both literally and figuratively blazing trails throughout the region. Just as importantly, it tells stories of the people who made that possible.

A project of this size is like a three-legged stool: It needs accurate history, good photographs, and a design that entices reading. Special thanks go to volunteer author Ron Dupont, whose research and writing make the book an engaging reminiscence through a century of service. Thanks also go to volunteer project manager Jane Daniels, who worked with designer Nora Porter to ensure the book would be a beautiful tribute to all that the Trail Conference has done in the last 100 years.

Reflections is available for purchase online.