Footpath revenue model?

[ki0eh]

Many of the other trails that don't attract continuing government support or big donations, are kept up by all- or mostly-volunteer organizations. Blaze paint and trail tools aren't too expensive but still do cost something.

Many of these groups have supplemented dues-paying memberships (always small compared to the numbers who hike the trail), by selling maps and guides.

Trouble is, many are now facing competition on two fronts - one, from professional cartographers who in many cases can make maps nicer looking than the volunteers, and two - from folks sharing and downloading GPS tracks, making all maps obsolete as GPS receivers get better.

It was observed recently on another site that "The [revenue] model ... was OK before the advent of the P.C. but now it is antiquated and broken. It’s up to those organizations to replace it."

Many hikers are pretty darned cheap (to put it mildly), and many are also disinclined to join this association or that club. Tax support from state and federal governments come with many strings and even in boom times is easier to get for one-shot projects rather than continuing operating support. Pluse there's something to be said for the hiking community to essentially support itself, it's always easier to get permission from land managers than anything involving cash outlay.

Any ideas how the small volunteer- (not cash-) based footpath groups can find the modest but essential financing to keep going, once map and guide sales dry up? I'm on the strategic plan committee for the PA MST (http://www.hike-mst.org/) that will be considering this issue. Many see the problem, but few solutions have yet been offered. So I'm wondering what wisdom the forum can offer.

[JustaTouron]

This is going to get very strong objection from many but naming rights.

Convention center and sports stadiums (often over the strong objection of traditionalists) sell name rights.

For example instead of the Appalachian Trail for a good chunk of money it could be the EMS Trail.

Maybe naming the entire trail after a corporation is too distasteful, how about just selling name rights to shelter or sections. The Ben & Jerry's leanto on the GoLite.com section wouldn't be quite as bad.

Outfitters or other businesses might not only offer financial support but labor and supplies after all if Wafflehouse leanto looks like crap but the campmor.com is well maintained that is going to reflect on the respective businesses.

Even if it is just adopting a mile of the trail and comes with a sign letting folks on the trail know that the soapy suds laundry mat is a 1/4 mile off the trail, that is worth spending ad money by the business and will result in revenue for the trail support. Individuals might even be willing to buy a mile of the trail to celebrate their accomplishment or to honor a deceased family member who loved hiking.

The objection of course is the destroying of tradition and over commercialization. But really, it isn't like renaming a shelter is the same thing as paving it Its a sign and a few different letter in a guide book. The hike remains the same.

[sasquatch2014]

This is going to get very strong objection from many but naming rights.

Convention center and sports stadiums (often over the strong objection of traditionalists) sell name rights.

For example instead of the Appalachian Trail for a good chunk of money it could be the EMS Trail.

Maybe naming the entire trail after a corporation is too distasteful, how about just selling name rights to shelter or sections. The Ben & Jerry's leanto on the GoLite.com section wouldn't be quite as bad.

Outfitters or other businesses might not only offer financial support but labor and supplies after all if Wafflehouse leanto looks like crap but the campmor.com is well maintained that is going to reflect on the respective businesses.

Even if it is just adopting a mile of the trail and comes with a sign letting folks on the trail know that the soapy suds laundry mat is a 1/4 mile off the trail, that is worth spending ad money by the business and will result in revenue for the trail support. Individuals might even be willing to buy a mile of the trail to celebrate their accomplishment or to honor a deceased family member who loved hiking.

The objection of course is the destroying of tradition and over commercialization. But really, it isn't like renaming a shelter is the same thing as paving it Its a sign and a few different letter in a guide book. The hike remains the same.

I don't know if the Waffle House shelter looked like crap but they did a Waffle breakfast, think Upper Goose Pond, I'd still stay there.

Grants. Learn to find them and apply for them. Lots of folks need to give the money away to something they like rather than the morons who would get it in tax form and then spend it debating on wether there should be a debate to debate something which 90% of the tax payers don't give a crap about anyway.

[AggieAl]

We are going to need a long term ongoing cash flow to support our trails. Corporate sponsorships from outdoor equipment companies and businesses close to a specific trail will probably be necessary,not desirable, but necessary. Those of us who use the trail need to pay for it. JustaTouron is right.

This might be a good time to be thinking about standards for such sponsorships. No solar powered neon lights for example. This is something the ATC should be considering.

Grants are usually for one time expenditures. They are not dependable sources of ongoing revenue.

Glad to see that you guys are doing some long range planning. Keep up the work.

[ki0eh]

This is going to get very strong objection from many but naming rights.

The PA state bureaucrats bitched when we put up license-plate size signs at trailheads that said "This Trail Maintained by Volunteers, Contact Keystone Trails Association" and made us tear them down. So I don't think we'll be able to get away with this one.

[JustaTouron]

The PA state bureaucrats bitched when we put up license-plate size signs at trailheads that said "This Trail Maintained by Volunteers, Contact Keystone Trails Association" and made us tear them down. So I don't think we'll be able to get away with this one.

Here is what you need to do.....(will require a couple of friendly state reps or state senators)

1. Have a bill proposed sending thousands of state tax dollars to support the trail.

2. Have another senator propose an amendment wiping out the funding but allowing the KTA to sell name rights to parts of the trail.

Bill passes and every senator can tell his constituents how the trail was supported and while saving the taxpayers money.

[DAJA]

The intent of tax dollars is to provide services and resources to the general public who paid the taxes. Nowadays, taxes are handed over to corporations as corporate wellfare while services and resources are cut from the public. Take away the corporate wellfare and there would be plenty of money for schools, roads, parks, hospitals, and trails etc. Misplaced priorities and media fed misguided public. Truely sad!

[Alligator]

Maybe take the focus away from the map and provide more interesting information in the form of guides or even interactive media. Provide engaging information about what you see and tie that in better with the maps. Your guides don't have to be paper, they can be electronic media. Provide examples of local flora and fauna and where specifically they can find them. Throw in some digital pictures of plants, audio files of birds, and make it into some pdf or mp3 file. Set up an easy web page or way to accept inexpensive donations for the downloads. Get away from the print media and move to more electronic forms.

You could tie the above information into map files when appropriate so that users can locate items of interest. Naturalist Geocaching.

A related idea is perhaps a Parents guide to the ABC trail I like to try to teach my kids about ecology but not all parents have naturalist training.

Just some ideas.

[Rocket Jones]

Maybe take the focus away from the map and provide more interesting information in the form of guides or even interactive media. Provide engaging information about what you see and tie that in better with the maps...

Just some ideas.

Fine ideas too.

Geology and history (both recent and ancient) of the area. History of the trail itself. Descriptions of the water sources and destinations. Area flora and fauna, with plenty of pictures. Tree and bird identification. Larger-scale maps to show where the trail sits within the region and counties. Blue-blaze descriptions (you know what I mean, even if they aren't blue). Cell-phone coverage. Bus schedules.

Whether it's paper or electronic media, sell local business advertising. Diner's, motels, B&B's, sporting goods, markets, even gas stations and taxi or bus services. Churches.

[Appalachian Tater]

In the long run it is going to take a reliable, steady flow of income. The best way to assure that is by creating endowments and getting people to donate money to them. The easiest way is to attract big donors (individuals and corporate) and have people include the endowment in their wills. If you don't have the infrastructure in place, people can't contribute. Getting big dollars from evil polluting corporations into such funds would be easy.

Weary or the AMC could probably give a lot of good advice about this sort of thing.

[Jester2000]

Here is what you need to do.....(will require a couple of friendly state reps or state senators)

1. Have a bill proposed sending thousands of state tax dollars to support the trail.

2. Have another senator propose an amendment wiping out the funding but allowing the KTA to sell name rights to parts of the trail.

Bill passes and every senator can tell his constituents how the trail was supported and while saving the taxpayers money.

That sort of thing might be possible on the Mid State Trail, but not on the AT. I say "might" because a volunteer trail maintaining organization doesn't own the trail they work on, or the land that trail is on. You can't sell what you don't own. I suspect this will be particularly true of any stretch of land that crosses private property by virtue of easement agreements.

On the other hand, there's a shelter in Maine on the AT that has a plaque mentioning that it was built by LL Bean. It's a nice shelter, but obviously this isn't the kind of ongoing revenue stream they're looking for.

The bigger issue might be revolt from within the organization concerning selling advertising on the trail itself. The MSTA Vision Statement says:

"The Mid State Trail Association seeks out remote, quiet natural corridors for placing the Mid State Trail, constructs and maintains only foot paths, and acts to protect the quiet, wild and scenic, natural and cultural resources of the corridor through which the trail passes."

In selling naming rights, it might be violating its own vision statement.

[JustaTouron]

That sort of thing might be possible on the Mid State Trail, but not on the AT. I say "might" because a volunteer trail maintaining organization doesn't own the trail they work on, or the land that trail is on. You can't sell what you don't own. I suspect this will be particularly true of any stretch of land that crosses private property by virtue of easement agreements.

On the other hand, there's a shelter in Maine on the AT that has a plaque mentioning that it was built by LL Bean. It's a nice shelter, but obviously this isn't the kind of ongoing revenue stream they're looking for.

The bigger issue might be revolt from within the organization concerning selling advertising on the trail itself. The MSTA Vision Statement says:

"The Mid State Trail Association seeks out remote, quiet natural corridors for placing the Mid State Trail, constructs and maintains only foot paths, and acts to protect the quiet, wild and scenic, natural and cultural resources of the corridor through which the trail passes."

In selling naming rights, it might be violating its own vision statement.

You are right you can't sell what you don't own.

But I am not suggestion selling the trail or the land to the trail.

Let's say the AT decided to sell the naming rights to each of the 2178 miles of the trail in one mile increments for $50 per year.

Let say you decide to buy one of those miles. It could be on land the ATC doesn't own.

Here is what they definately could do.....

.....Say on the ATC website that mile 176 is proudly owned by Jester.
.....Mail you a certificate of appreciation for buying that mile.

What they probably could do is put up a sign on the land they have an easement to saying "the next mile is proudly owned by Jester" but it is possible that their easement doesn't allow that.

As for the LL Bean example you gave, LL Bean probably paid for the construction of that shelter.

What I am talking about is for $100 per year instead of it being refered to as the Hurd Brook Leanto it is refered to as the Golite.com Leanto, the ATC changes the sign on the leanto and in the official ATC guides and website it is refered to as the Golite.com leanto. Just like with the stadiums people on whiteblaze or non-official trail guides can call it whatever the heck they want, but I am willing to bet most unofficial guide books will use the new official names (maybe also mentioning the old names)

If fact I could legally set up a web page naming each mile of the AT and telling people I would name a mile of the AT for them. Being I have no real connection to the AT my selling this would be pretty meaningless to the buyer, but given the success of http://www.starregistry.com/ and http://www.globalstarregistry.com/ and http://osr.org/ all three who are selling naming rights to the exact same thing of which they don't own either maybe some fools would actually buy it from me. I could send you the certificate of apprecation and included your name on my website. I probably could not put up a sign on the trail.

If the ATC coulld get $25 per year sponserships for each mile of the trail and $100-$500 for each shelter that would be a decent chunk of change.

[Jester2000]

I think a distinction needs to be made between local maintaining clubs and the ATC. If local clubs started putting up signs, the ATC and NPS would tell them to knock it off. They're not even supposed to put up non-standard directional signs (arrows and such).

But what might work for local clubs would be an adopt-a-highway sort of thing, without the signs (or the work). There are plenty of people who don't have the time or live close enough to do maintenance. Maybe list them on their website, and give a certificate, as you mentioned. I know it's a fine point, and seems much like naming rights, but there's a bit of a difference. Without more than a mention on a website, though, businesses probably wouldn't want to get involved.

As for the ATC, they might run into the same outcry from their own membership that I mentioned regarding MSTA if businesses were involved. People have gone bonkers about as small a thing as putting business cards in shelters, and in fact that's not allowed by ATC. ATC might also be running afoul of NPS & USFS rules, which prohibit advertising. And they might also be violating their own Local Management Planning Guide (which is what local clubs would be violating with signs):

"Both the National Park Service and Forest Service prohibit advertising on federal lands. ATC and the clubs should take steps to ensure that those longstanding prohibitions in federal regulations are clearly disseminated, implemented, and understood by hikers, Trail neighbors, and affected area businesses or individuals. In order to maintain the natural character of the A.T. corridor, it is the policy of the Appalachian Trail Conservancy that advertising is incompatible with the Trail and should not take place within the A.T. corridor."

So insofar as putting "golite.com" on a shelter might be considered advertising for golite, it might not be allowed without changing the rules & regs of NPS & USFS.

But what you've suggested with the website and a certificate would definitely be doable, and also a mention in AT Journeys, as they do with regular donations.

[JustaTouron]

I am kinda merging the local clubs and the ATC.

Changing NPS and USFS rules is probably beyond the scope of reasonable. However, changing ATC rules imposed on the local clubs if doing so is necessary to keep the local clubs viable should not be dismissed. Afterall the ATC has vested interest in having those clubs remain viable.

Another option would be to have an official whatever of the the AT.

For example in exchange for providing all the local orgs with sufficient blue and white paint and/or some cash Sherman Williams become the "official paint of the AT." (often it is easier to get stuff then money)

As for miffing off existing members...depends on how many and how much those existing members donate....if five $25 per year folks are upset over $50,000 worth of advertising revenue you take the $49,875 gain.

[Jester2000]

I don't think the ATC rules are so much imposed on the clubs as they are guidelines that help keep clubs in line with NPS regs. It's not exactly as if ATC has enforcement power -- but NPS does.

I think it more likely that membership (of both clubs and the ATC) would go for the "official" idea, but only if it were companies that could supply what's needed for maintenance rather than money, and only companies that made sense to membership -- the paint example you gave makes sense. Something like a chainsaw company for sawyer maintainers, etc. The official 4 door sedan of the AT would not fly. I doubt Fontana Village will ever be allowed to say it's the official resort of the AT, nor will Long Trail Brewing be allowed to claim to be the official beer of the AT. And not just because it would be confusing.

This might work because ATC already has corporate partners -- LL Bean & REI, for example, but also Bank of America and even our very own whiteblaze.net.

I think the outrage over advertising would be significant. And that would be if the idea actually got past the Senior Staff (and I seriously doubt that Dave, Steve, or Laura could be convinced), AND the fifteen officers and directors of the board. And I don't think it's a simple math problem to figure out if it's worth it.

Now, making the whole "official" thing work for clubs might be easier to get past club members, and wouldn't really run afoul of anyone nationally.

You could have an official chainsaw company of KTA; it might be easier to get donations from local companies for whom the association would have more meaning. Allentown Brew Works could be the official restaurant of Allentown Hiking Club. Just not the official restaurant of the AT. Again, I know the distinction is fine, but I don't think ATC can really object to whom clubs choose to promote, as long as it isn't done physically on the trail.

[ki0eh]

I kinda like the "adopt-a-kilometer" or if you will "star registry" approach (this is the MST that prompted my posting after all, plus we get more money that way ;) ), although it seems more like a membership campaign than a real replacement for map buying as support.

And it's correct that we don't want to litter the woods with crap either - PA MST doesn't maintain any shelters, for one. (One that was purpose built for MST is corporate sponsored and maintained to the point of being patrolled by corporate security - kind of a non-replicable case there though.)

I do hope there will be a more politically effective approach to the trailhead signs. They were put up initially without specific authorization, in those dark days before KTA had actual staff to resolve such issues in Harrisburg. It was an effective recruitment tool when they were up - hopefully someone could eventually convince DCNR that more volunteers helps them more than somebody's snit.

[GGS2]

The oldest public footpath in Canada, The Bruce Trail, has been very successful in raising endowment and operating funds. They have used everything from celebrity endorsements and donations (like Robert Bateman, a founding member of the Bruce Trail Conservancy) to membership appeals, merchandise sales, accreditation and support from national and international organizations, and grants from government and other partners. They also have a campaign for legacies from members and property owners. The goal is to OWN the whole right of way, plus some adjacent buffer zones, and they are a good way to achieving that. The whole optimal route is designated a world heritage area, the Niagara Escarpment. The south part of the trail passes near the densest populated region in Ontario, if not Canada, and the northerly part is in what we call the near-north, and quite remote in places. The whole optimal route is over 800km long plus there are another 10-20% blue trails and connectors to other trails, such as the Waterfront Trail, the Oak Ridges Trail, the Grand Valley/Avon/Thames Valley/Elgin Trails and the Ganoraska Trail, to name the most prominent. The northern terminus is intended eventually to connect to the southern terminus of the Voyageur Trail system, whenever that gets built. The Bruce Trail is part of the National Trail, which is under construction, and will span the whole of Canada one day.

Anyhow, the Bruce Trail people would probably be happy to assist with advice and information. They benefited from the fine example of the AT when they began, and I'm sure they would be happy to pay the debt forward, so to speak.

[Jester2000]

That sounds like a great trail!

Again, though, the inquiry comes from a local club level rather than ATC, which does have more and greater revenue streams than the local clubs -- not just membership fees, but grants, endowments, corporate partnerships, merchandise sales, returns on investments, and more.

I don't know that a local club is likely to get a celebrity endorsement, or have access to the kinds or corporate partners the ATC has, but then again, local club overhead is lower.

As for signs, if a sign noting who maintains a section is at a trailhead, I can't imagine what the objection would actually be. I would think that if a sign there interfered with someone's wilderness experience, it would pale in comparison to the offensiveness of the parking lot and road. But no one pisses and moans about those.

I suspect that was more a case of someone feeling like their toes were stepped on because they didn't get to be the one who made the decision.

[JustaTouron]

Couple more thoughts....

MSTA might have an easier time getting members if you could join via the website with a credit card or paypal instead of the only option involving printing out a form filling it out long hand with a pen or pencil, writing out a check, and sending it via pony express. (at least you didn't list what telegraph office you are near if I had question :p)


Don't think of the adopt a km as a membership drive....Here is where it is different....

1) Odds are the MSTA having a membership drive is hardly newsworthy..... an opertunity to have a kilometer of PA's longest trail named after someone is newsworthy and if you play your cards right it could hit all the state newspapers and your directors could wind up doing several morning radio shows, etc.

2) Not only hikers will be forking over cash to adopt a mile. E.g. "Have deceased family member that loved to hike, what better way to honor him or her than to have a KM of the MST named in his/her honor?" Or Grandma (who has never hiked in her life) buying 2 sections one named "Becky" the other named "Jonny" after her two hiking grand kids age 7 and 9. Mom and Dad may already be members of MSTA but I doubt that is gonna make anyone an embassor for the trail in elementry school, having a section of a trail named after a kid will. Granted in some cases it will be members, but if someone switches from being a $10/year member to having KM named after himself/herself for $25/year that is still a revenue enhancement. Likewise businesses might join for the publicity. You could charge them extra if they also want a hot link to their website on your webpage or a blurb about them (directions, hours etc)

3) You can say, "Hurry! Act now! Supplies are limited!" While MSTA doesn't limit the number of members, there will be a limited number of km that can me named.

[Jester2000]

There could be a bidding war for particularly cool miles.

[Yahtzee]

What exactly does the AT need money for? Land conservancies have done a phenomenal job purchasing the land around the AT to the point that nearly the entire trail is protected and buffered. It seems to me what the AT needs is more volunteers to maintain the trails. Apart from the costs of maintenance (i.e. chainsaws, shelter building, blowdown removal, etc.) what are the costs? Not trying to be obtuse, I just don't see it. Funding will only bring more construction of bridges and shelters.

Those involved in protecting the AT have done an amazing job of it thus far and I trust them in the future. But anyone with more money than necessary to maintain something will invariably add the unnecessary.

[max patch]

I certainly don't want to see a sign every mile "This mile sponsored by Joe Blow" and a sign in front of every shelter "This shelter sponsored by the Comittee to elect Sarah Palin for President 2012" or a sign in front of a scenic overlook "This waterfall sponsored by Salem Cigarettees -- the refreshing smoke."

I'm shocked that this is even being discussed.

[Jester2000]

I'm shocked that the discussion has been rational.

Were you so shocked that you didn't notice the posts that mention signs not being used as a way to acknowledge the adoption of a section of trail?

[JustaTouron]

I certainly don't want to see a sign every mile "This mile sponsored by Joe Blow" and a sign in front of every shelter "This shelter sponsored by the Comittee to elect Sarah Palin for President 2012" or a sign in front of a scenic overlook "This waterfall sponsored by Salem Cigarettees -- the refreshing smoke."

I'm shocked that this is even being discussed.

How do you feel about about needing to pay trail fees and having a permit system?

Would your rather have a footbridge over a stream too treachous to wade accross with a sign next to it saying, "this bridge paid for by the Ben & Jerry's icecream" or woud you rather not have the bridge at all?

Would you rather a sign saying Home Depot donated the white paint for the blazes or not have the blazes?

While the AT probably has less money problems than other trails many trails have a hard time raising needed funds. And the cost of supplies is growing a lot faster than donations. Particularly with trails that are in the process of being built and need to aquire land such as the "eastern coast greenway." I would rather see a sign that says "the next five miles of the trail was donated to the ECG by the generous folks at GE" than spend the next five miles walking on the road cause ECG didn't have land to put a trail on.

A couple of signs here and there aren't gonna ruin a hike.

Plus most of the discussion has been about ways to raise money without put up signs.

Do YOU have any ideas for helping MSTA raise the revenues it has lost do to declining book sales (if so please share) or do you just want to knock down ideas that you don't like?

[ki0eh]

I think there's some appeal to the idea of self-reliance in the hiking community - that we ourselves do the volunteer work, we ourselves pay the memberships or buy the maps. Seeking outside sponsorships, whether advertised virtually or in real space, seems to take away somewhat from that ideal.

Hunters, fishermen, ATV-ers, snowmobilers, etc. buy tags to support their activities. We don't need the kind of money that sloshes around some of these alternative recreation pursuits, but we do need some.

I'm just wondering if there are any ideas out there that don't involve begging from others - that continue our self-reliance in the footpath community. My self-reliance, I tend to think that the "other trails" tend to meet the incremental costs of having trails - certainly not of buying land to have trails on, if that's the model of trail development of choice.