The Green Mountain Club hosts events, workshops, and occasional community outings. Check the upcoming schedule below for introduction to hiking workshops, panels from experienced thru-hikers, Wilderness First Aid training, trail maintenance training, and more. Check the calendar of events and outings to see what the volunteer sections have planned. We host both in-person and virtual events.
Find recorded sessions below, or on YouTube.
All Summer Long: Guided Hikes on the Short Trail
Green Mountain Club Headquarters, Waterbury Center
Join the Green Mountain Club’s Visitor Services Manager, Emily Mosher, for a hike on the Short Trail! Learn more about hiking in Vermont, the Long Trail and the Green Mountain Club, and tips to have a successful hike as we explore the 0.5 mile loop at GMC’s headquarters building in Waterbury Center. These hikes are open to hikers of all ages, from beginner day hiker to seasoned backpacker. Hikes take place on the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays at 10am, and on the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays at 2pm. Allow about an hour with plenty of stops to explore.
Wednesday, July 2
Tuesday, July 8
Wednesday, July 16
Tuesday, July 22
Wednesday, Aug 6
Tuesday, August 12
Wednesday, August 20
Tuesday, August 26
Wednesday, Sept 3
No RSVP necessary; for questions, email [email protected] or call 802-244-7037.
Backpacking 101
Saturday, June 28, 2025 10a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Green Mountain Club Headquarters, Waterbury Center
Are you interested in backpacking, but not sure where to start? With so much information about gear, food, trails and more, it can be easy to feel lost before you ever step outside. Come learn how to hit the trail safely from the Green Mountain Club! This in-person workshop, taught by GMC staff, is an introduction to backpacking – from gear selection and trip planning to first aid and nutrition, at the end of which you’ll be ready to hit the trail for 3 nights or 3 months.
Hiking with Kids
Saturday, July 19, 2025 | 9-10:30 a.m.
Green Mountain Club Headquarters, Waterbury Center
Join the Green Mountain Club for an introduction to Hiking with Children and learn the basics of adventuring on the trails with your elementary-school aged youngsters. In the first half, we’ll help you discover the joys of sharing the trail with your children, how to find appropriate hiking trails with child friendly “destinations”, what to wear, what to pack and where to go along with some easy to follow trail safety rules. Then, we’ll head out on our Short Trail behind the Visitor’s Center to start your hiking adventure.
You are never too young (or too old) to get into the woods and make some lifelong family memories!
Program is designed for families with children between the ages of 5 and 10 years old, and children are encouraged to attend!
Wilderness First Aid
Saturday, August 9 – Sunday, August 10, 2025 |9 a.m.-5 p.m.
Green Mountain Club Headquarters, Waterbury Center
This sixteen-hour, hands-on course will prepare you for backcountry medical emergencies. The focus is on the prevention, recognition, and treatment of injuries and illnesses. Wilderness First Aid (WFA) certification or SOLO Wilderness First Responder (WFR) recertification is provided upon completion. CPR certification also available and will take place from 5-7pm on Saturday evening.
Essentials of Map and Compass
Sunday, August 17, 2025 | 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Green Mountain Club Headquarters, Waterbury Center
Taught by GMC volunteers, learn to use a compass & topographical map to navigate and practice orienteering around GMC’s campus.
Summer Wild Mushroom Foray and Tasting
Saturday, August 23, 2025 | 10 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Green Mountain Club Headquarters, Waterbury Center
Join Ari Rockland-Miller of The Mushroom Forager on a tour of summer’s wild flavors. This program will feature a colorful presentation introducing Vermont’s top gourmet edibles, providing tips on how to safely, ethically and fruitfully pursue wild mushrooms. Then, join us on a guided foray as we explore the woods around Green Mountain Club with an eye towards finding and identifying seasonal favorites. Stick around for a tasting after the hunt!
Recordings of Recent Events
Setting the Overall Speed Record on the Appalachian Trail
Thursday, March 13, 2025 | Zoom
No More Pits: A New Era of Waste Management on the Long Trail
Thursday, March 6, 2025 | Green Mountain Club Meeting Hall
48 by 4: Hiking New Hampshire’s Highest Peaks with a Toddler
Thursday, February 13, 2025 | Zoom
Paved Paradise: Highways, Wildlife Crossings and the Future of our Roaded Planet
Thursday, January 30, 2025 | Zoom
Wide, Open Spaces: Why Trails and the Outdoors are Vital Places for Processing our Hardest Emotions
Thursday, January 23, 2025 |Green Mountain Club Meeting Hall
The Triple Tiara: Thru-hiking the Long Trail, Colorado Trail, & Nüümü Poyo
Thursday, January 16, 2025 | Green Mountain Club Meeting Hall
The History of the VT Civilian Conservation Corps
Thursday, January 11, 2024 | Zoom
Long Trail End-to-Ender’s Panel
Friday, May 5, 2023 | 6 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. | Zoom
Hiking 101 (Online)
Wednesday, April 19, 2023 | 5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.| Zoom
Airplane Crashes Along the Long Trail in Vermont
Thursday, March 2 | 7 p.m. – 8 p.m.| Zoom
The ‘American Alps’ in Washington’s North Cascades (Online)
Thursday, February 16 | 7 p.m. – 8 p.m.| Zoom
A Woman Alone in the Woods at Night (Online)
Thursday, January 26 | 7 p.m. – 8 p.m.| Zoom
Secrets of Aging Well: Why Hiking is the Closest Thing We Have To The Fountain of Youth (Online)
Thursday, January 19 | 7 p.m. – 8 p.m. | Zoom
Introduction to Winter Hiking
December 16, 2022 | 5:30pm – 6:30pm | Zoom
The Art of Race and Leadership with Melody Walker Mackin
June 10, 2022 | 7pm – 8 pm | Zoom
Long Trail End-to-Ender Panel
May 6, 2022 | 6pm | Zoom
The Long Trail End-to-Ender Panel is an informative Q&A, show-and-tell style panel intended for folks to learn about backpacking in Vermont from experienced Long Trail Thru-Hikers. Wondering about the best lightweight tent or how to not get bored with PB&J’s? Sign up to learn the ins and outs of a long-distance hike and get answers to all your questions about food, equipment, and planning.
Backpacking 101 Webinar
April 18, 2022 | 6pm | Zoom
“No Other Lake” Short Film – Sneak Preview
March 17, 2022 | Zoom
In Search of Imaginary Peaks: The Riesenstein Hoax and Other Mountain Dreams
March 10, 2022 | Zoom
The Northeast Kingdom Meets the American Southwest
March 3, 2022 | Zoom
Breaking it down to build it back: A story of rediscovery in the outdoors
February 3, 2022 | Zoom
Moving Mountains: Overcoming obstacles in 2022 and beyond
January 27, 2022 | Zoom
Long Trail Family Thru-Hike
January 20, 2022 | Zoom
Join Matt Krebs and his three children, Charlie (16), Ruth (14) and Joe (8), as they share the challenges and joys of thru-hiking the Long Trail together.
This presentation is part of the 30th annual James P. Taylor Outdoor Adventure Series — bringing adventures to you through stories, photographs, and videos. It is sponsored by Sunset Lake CBD.
Arizona: Day Hikes and Other Adventures
January 13, 2022 | Zoom
Long time Green Mountain Club volunteers, Rich and Sheri Larsen share photos and stories from their adventures in Arizona. Enjoy this presentation and the beautiful imagery.
This presentation is part of the 30th annual James P. Taylor Outdoor Adventure Series — bringing adventures to you through stories, photographs, and videos. It is sponsored by 802 Cars.
Crosscut: A Trail Builder’s Memoir
January 6, 2022 | Zoom
Author, poet, trail builder, and professor Sean Prentiss shares stories and poems from his memoir Crosscut: Poems, inspired by his time leading trail crews for the Northwest Youth Corps.
This presentation is part of the 30th annual James P. Taylor Outdoor Adventure Series — bringing adventures to you through stories, photographs, and videos. It is sponsored by Lenny’s Shoe & Apparel.
