The Karthaus Center for Active Living, in cooperation with Scott McKenzie, will be presenting a program about McKenzie’s adventures hiking the Appalachian Trail on May 20 at 11 a.m. at the Center located at Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church, 3637 Main St. Karthaus.
Everyone is welcome to attend the program, which is free. Lunch will also be available that day for anyone wanting to stay for the meal. The cost for anyone 60 years or older is a donation and for anyone under 60, it is $3.50.
Reservations are required for the lunch and can be made up until 9 a.m. by calling the center at 814-263-7277.
McKenzie’s 2015 Appalachian Trail hike preparation started many years ago as he developed a love for walking/hiking. When he joined the U.S. Army in 1985, he went to Basic Training at Fort McClellan, Ala., where they “ruck marched” to and from the different ranges that taught them the necessary combat skills to be effective soldiers.
He enjoyed these “ruck marches” and at the completion of Basic Training, they covered over 420 miles in eight weeks. He then performed monthly 12-mile “ruck marches” carrying a minimum of 80 pounds of gear while deployed in Bosnia in 2001.
He has also completed the 100-mile Diabetes Walk from Erie to Pittsburgh for the last five years. He trained for the Appalachian Trail by hiking on trails in the Quehanna Wild Area, and then in March of 2015 he set out on his 2,189.2-mile hike of the Appalachian Trail.
The program is being presented as part of a celebration of Older Americans Month in May. May is a month of fresh beginnings.
Perennials bloom once again, blazing a trail of bright color. May is also the celebration of Older American’s Month (OAM), acknowledging the perennial contributions of older adults to this nation.
The 2016 OAM theme is Blaze a Trail. The Administration for Community Living, the Pennsylvania Department of Aging, the Clearfield County Area Agency on Aging Inc., the Karthaus Center for Active Living, plus all the centers throughout Clearfield County will use this opportunity to raise awareness about important issues facing older adults.
They will also highlight the ways that older Americans are advocating for themselves, their peers, and their communities.
Everyone is invited to be a trailblazer and to join in promoting activities, inclusion, and wellness for older Americans in the community.
The center welcomes anyone to come in and enjoy lunch and socialization plus the many varied and interesting programs and opportunities that the center offers.
Hours of operation are Mondays, Wednesday, and Fridays from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. The center is operated by the Clearfield County Area Agency on Aging Inc. To hear more about McKenzie’s amazing journey, contact the Karthaus Center for Active Living to make your reservation.
Programs and services of the agency are funded in part by the Pennsylvania Department of Aging, the Clearfield County Area Agency on Aging Inc., Mature Resources Foundation, and local and consumer contributions.