If you haven’t heard the news already, you’ll be delighted to learn that the long-promised hiker’s bus from Manhattan has arrived as part of the Concrete to Trails program headed by AMC Director of Greater New York Growth, Eileen Yin.  The bus ($5 for members, $25 for nonmembers) will run every Saturday (with a few exceptions) and leave from near the George Washington Bridge Bus Terminal at 8:00 AM and head to Harriman, Minnewaska, or other favorite trailheads.  Joining Eileen on the NY Growth team are Hiking Guides Devin (Dev) Solar and Sofia Petroski, along with Outdoor Steward Tiffany Spiegel.  Tiffany will run naturalist programs at the Reeves Meadow Visitor’s Center; Dev is a licensed New York State Hiking Guide, and Sofi has significant wilderness trails experience.  The New York Growth program introduces to the chapter a hybrid staff/volunteer model for fulfilling on our Mission of offering free and low-cost outdoor activities to members and guests.  Once the program is running smoothly, the NYG team will begin recruiting and training volunteer leaders, which will ensure a prosperous future for the New York-North Jersey chapter.  Justin Bailey and Esther De Vito will also be providing staff level support and leading activities as part of the program.  Going forward, AMC staff and volunteers will coordinate and share responsibility for leading activities and managing various aspects of running the chapter, including new member outreach programs, organizing major chapter events, and developing partnerships with local organizations with a mission, values and culture similar to our own.  This is not a pilot program, but a new model will be utilized as the club seeks to build its footprint as we expand south towards Philadelphia and Washington, DC.   Reducing the administrative responsibilities of chapter volunteers will give volunteers more time to scout hiking and bicycle routes, and add more activities to the calendar.   At the March 2023 Mahwah, New Jersey chapter Executive Committee meeting, AMC President Nicole Zussman promised to address the decline in chapter operations (activities and volunteer leaders) which were brought to her attention at that meeting.  The New York Growth Program represents how the club’s Board of Directors is delivering on that promise.   The New York Growth program is a win-win-win-win for AMC employees, volunteers, members, and guests.