As part of their 100-year celebration of Girl Scouting in the United States, Girl Scouts from all over the country plan to hike the A.T. in sections, starting on March 12, 2012 (the anniversary of the first Girl Scout meeting) to October 31, 2012 (Girl Scout USA founder, Juliette Gordon Low's, birthday).  The goal is to have every section of the A.T., from Maine to Georgia, hiked by Girl Scouts "in bits and pieces."

"2012 is the Girl Scouts of the USA's centennial birthday! And what better way to celebrate our 100th anniversary than with a hike of great proportions. We're marking the occasion by hiking the Appalachian Trail" stated Jennifer Pfister, Marketing & Communications Director of Girl Scouts of Virginia Skyline.

The Kick-Off Ceremony will begin at 11:30a.m. outside the ATC's headquarters and visitor center. In case of inclement weather, the ceremony will be held at Curtis Freewill Baptist Church, half a block away on Storer College Place.

Three Girl Scout Troops from across Virginia will be hiking into Harpers Ferry to be a part of the ceremony.  The ceremony will include speakers from the Girl Scouts, the ATC, and the National Park Service. The event is open to the public.

Angie Sheldon, Education and Outreach Coordinator of the ATC, stated, "The Appalachian Trail Conservancy is so excited with the amount of interest the Girl Scouts have in getting out and enjoying the Appalachian Trail.  It's important, now more than ever, to encourage the youth to connect with their natural environment. What better place for them to have an adventure celebrating their anniversary, than along the Appalachian Trail!"

The Great Girl Scout Hike's Honorary Chair, Mary "Mama Boots" Sands, inspired this celebratory hike. As a Girl Scout Leader in Kentucky (Girl Scouts of Kentuckiana), she began hiking and backpacking the A.T. in the early 1970s. Over the course of nearly 20 years, accompanied by groups of current and past Girl Scouts, she eventually section hiked the estimated 2,180 miles of the A.T.

Event: Great Girl Scout Appalachian Trail Hike Kick-Off Ceremony
Date: Sunday, March 11, 2012
Time: 11:30a.m.
Location: Appalachian Trail Conservancy's Headquarters and Visitor Center
799 Washington St., Harpers Ferry, West Virginia 25425

To learn more about this event or to get involved, visit www.gshike.org.

About the Appalachian Trail Conservancy

The Appalachian Trail Conservancy mission is to preserve and manage the Appalachian Trail - ensuring that its vast natural beauty and priceless cultural heritage can be shared and enjoyed today, tomorrow, and for centuries to come. For more information please visit www.appalachiantrail.org.

Contact: Javier Folgar
Appalachian Trail Conservancy
Tel: (304) 535-2200 ext. 117

Fax: 304.535.2667
Email: jfolgar@appalachiantrail.org
Web: www.appalachiantrail.org

About the Girl Scouts

Founded in 1912, Girl Scouts of the USA is the preeminent leadership development organization for girls with 3.2 million girl and adult members worldwide. Girl Scouts is the leading authority on girls' healthy development, and builds girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place. The organization serves girls from every corner of the United States and its territories. Girl Scouts of the USA also serves American girls and their classmates attending American or international schools overseas in 90 countries. For more information on how to join, volunteer, reconnect, or donate to Girl Scouts, call (800) GSUSA 4 U or visit www.girlscouts.org.