From the Red Rocks of Utah to the Rocky Coast of Maine
Building Trail Literacy: Julia Neumann Connects Maine Youth to the AT
For some, the "magic of the outdoors" is a hobby discovered later in life, but Julia Neumann discovered it early. Growing up in Utah, the desert and mountains weren't just scenery, they were the places where she spent countless hours with her parents from an early age. From canoeing and kayaking to cross-country skiing and backpacking, Julia spent her childhood immersed in Utah’s rugged outdoors whenever possible.
But even a lifelong adventurer can find a new kind of magic. When Julia moved to Maine for college, she discovered a unique geographical jackpot. "I used to tell my friends back home that Maine is the perfect state," she laughs, "because it has the ocean and the mountains. You get the whitewater and the coastline all in one place."
Youth leadership
While Julia found a home at Bates College, the isolation of the pandemic meant finding her own path to the Maine outdoors. Before long, she had built a network of fellow adventurers. That path eventually led her to Chewonki, where she took a position after graduation. She describes her season of outdoor youth leadership with the Wiscasset foundation as “one of the hardest and most important” experiences of her life.
Leading trips for kids aged 7 to 17, Julia found herself guiding groups through the Maine woods for up to two weeks at a time. "At first, I wondered, 'How am I supposed to lead them through the woods?'" she admits. She treated her campers like adults, chatting with them with a level of respect that fostered autonomy and trust.
Through the challenges of cooking over open fires and navigating tough terrain, Julia watched her students transform. "Many kids realized they could do hard things. It instills a confidence you just can't teach in a classroom." But the learning went both ways. "The kids taught me to slow down and be in the moment more. You can never take that for granted."
A New Mission: Accessibility and Inclusion
Now Julia is channeling that confidence into a new role as an AmeriCorps volunteer with the Maine Appalachian Trail Club (MATC). As MATC’s Outreach Steward, she looks forward to a busy year ahead. Based in Portland, she has been spending her winter months building the foundation for an impactful 2026 season.
Her mission is clear: accessibility. "I’ve been lucky to grow up in a position where the outdoors was accessible to me," Julia says. "I’m looking forward to offering free, inclusive, outdoor experiences to people who haven't had them before. To help people explore territory that may have seemed unwelcoming to them, that will be magical."
Julia is especially passionate about reaching underserved communities and people with physical differences. Inspired by her personal connections, she has already reached out to organizations like Maine Adaptive to find ways to bridge the gap between the trail and those who want to experience it but might feel discouraged.
Education Through Action
Julia isn’t just thinking about getting people to the trail; she’s focused on teaching them how to care for it. She is currently developing interactive curricula to work with kids in classrooms, enrichment programs, library events, and elsewhere. Julia offers programs that focus on:
Leave No Trace: Drawing on her Utah roots, she recalls an admonition from her childhood: "Don't bust the crust." Just as the desert's biological crust is fragile, so too are Maine’s sand dunes and alpine ecosystems.
History of Place: Exploring the history of the Wabanaki Confederacy in relation to the Appalachian Trail.
Ecology: Helping students understand more about carbon cycles and our local ecosystems.
A Shared Commitment to Stewardship
MTC celebrates the vital contributions of AmeriCorps service members across the state and values the Maine Appalachian Trail Club as a key partner in our shared work to educate the public about caring for Maine’s natural areas. We are especially glad to welcome Julia as a young leader bringing new opportunities and energy to the next generation of outdoor enthusiasts!
In late February, Julia joined us at our 2026 Trails Workforce Summit, where she contributed to the conversations and debates. Reflecting on the gathering, Julia noted, "Attending the Summit was eye-opening, seeing the breadth of expertise in Maine. I met everyone from master trail builders to land trust managers to conservationists. It reminded me that the kids I work with now will have so many ways to contribute to outdoor recreation and conservation in the future if they wish.”
Join the Journey
Though her work is currently remote, Julia is eager for spring to arrive so she can get out on the trails and meet the community in person. Whether she's passing out fliers at an expo or organizing trail work projects with fellow volunteers, she has a simple message for the Maine outdoor community: "Just shoot me an email and I’ll be there."
She is currently looking for invitations to events, conferences, and expos where she can share her passion for the AT and inclusive recreation. Armed with activities designed to help kids become comfortable with outdoor adventure, Julia is looking for more opportunities this winter and spring. Get in touch and she will work with you to provide programming to excite the kids in your class or group and leave them eager to get out on the trail! Reach Julia at americorpoutreach@matc.org
Favorite Day Trip: Giant’s Stairs Trail in Harpswell, ME. She calls it her, “favorite place to go for a day trip, picnic, walk, sit and read, you name it!”
Leave No Trace Pet Peeve: People who carelessly step off-trail in fragile environments. "Respect the ground you're standing on!"
Recently Read: Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer. "A beautiful connection between biological knowledge and Traditional Indigenous Knowledge."
