AMC’s Maine Wilderness Lodges win national travel award

    GREENVILLE — The Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC) has announced that the Society of American Travel Writers (SATW) has presented its coveted 2013 Phoenix Award for conservation and preservation to AMC’s Maine Wilderness Lodges. The award recognizes AMC’s efforts to attract new nature-based tourism to the Maine Woods over the past decade as part of its innovative approach to land conservation, called the Maine Woods Initiative.

    In its official announcement, SATW recognized AMC’s investment in resource conservation and recreation management on its 66,500 acres of forestland in the 100-Mile Wilderness region, as well as its management of three wilderness lodges and an 80-mile network of backcountry trails.
    Gorman Chairback Lodge and Little Lyford Lodge offer unique outdoor adventure experiences, ranging from lodge-to-lodge cross-country skiing and dog-sledding in winter to paddling, hiking, fly fishing and family camps. Guests enjoy private cabins with gas lamps and wood stoves as well as freshly prepared meals. AMC also operates Medawisla Lodge on Second Roach Pond, but it’s temporary closed for renovations.
    The Phoenix Awards were created by SATW in 1969 to recognize conservation and preservation efforts of individuals and organizations as they relate to travel. Five tourism projects were honored with the 2013 Phoenix Award. SATW honored AMC as an organization with the Phoenix Award in 1975.
    SATW members were invited to nominate individuals, communities, businesses or organizations that have contributed to a quality travel experience through conservation, preservation, beautification or environmental efforts. Nominations describing the evolution and positive impacts of worthy projects were considered by the SATW Phoenix Committee and were submitted with recommendations to the SATW Board of Directors for approval.
    With more than 4,000 members in Maine, AMC offers educational programs for children, adults, and families; operates its Maine Wilderness Lodges for the public in the 100-Mile Wilderness region; operates Knubble Bay Camp and Beal Island Campground in Georgetown and Echo Lake Camp in Acadia National Park, and maintains offices in Portland and Greenville.
    Founded in 1876, the Appalachian Mountain Club is America’s oldest conservation and recreation organization. With more than 100,000 members, advocates, and supporters in the Northeast and beyond, the nonprofit AMC promotes the protection, enjoyment, and understanding of the mountains, forests, waters, and trails of the Appalachian region. The AMC supports natural resource conservation while encouraging responsible recreation, based on the philosophy that successful, long-term conservation depends upon first-hand enjoyment of the natural environment.