Accredited & Provider Organizations
Northeast Mountain Guiding
National Rescue & Response Institute
National Rescue & Response Institute
Full Program Provider.
National Rescue & Response Institute
National Rescue & Response Institute
National Rescue & Response Institute
Full Program Provider
Upstate Hiking Adventure
National Rescue & Response Institute
Stay Rad Adventure Guides
Hiking Guide Program Provider
Stay Rad Adventure Guides
Stay Rad Adventure Guides
Stay Rad Adventure Guides
Full Program Provider
National Park Service
Stay Rad Adventure Guides
National Park Service
Hiking Guide Program Provider
Texas Survival School
Stay Rad Adventure Guides
National Park Service
Hiking Guide Program Provider
Becoming an approved provider and/or accredited
Initial Information
This process is a great step for any business looking to run trail discipline programs and trips. This process takes 1-2 months and includes insurance verification, credential auditing of owners/staff/managers, business structure, permits/land use authorizations and much more. Becoming an accredited business puts a full stamp of approval on your programs relating to the trail discipline. Email us at ahga.usa@gmail.com to start the process or follow the steps below.
Difference Between Provider & Accredited
An accredited organization has gone through an arduous process of business verification, insurance, credential auditing, staff checks and much more. The organizations programs are managed by an AHGA certified guides and all staff are certified or in the process of becoming certified in the trail discipline. Their programs also meet not only guiding standards, but experiential and outdoor education based standards.
An approved provider is an organization that can offer AHGA programs under direct supervision of an AHGA certified guide.
Who Accreditation is For
Our accreditation program is for outdoor guiding businesses, interpretive centers, nature centers, outdoor clubs, university or institutional based outing clubs, scouting organizations and many more! Email us at: ahga.usa@gmail.com to see if you organization qualifies.
Who Provider is For
A provider can offer AHGA courses under supervision of an AHGA certified guide. This is for businesses who would like to offer our programs in their organization. All accredited businesses are approved providers.
Costs & Fees
The initial application is $125 along with necessary documentation. To become an approved provider is $550 annually. To become an accredited organization is $850 annually.
How to Start the Process
Scroll to the bottom of this page for submittal information. You can also email us at: ahga.usa@gmail.com
Instructors & Program Providers
Declan Faulkner
Katharina Merchant
Katharina Merchant
Declan is based in Northern Ireland and is a Mountain Leader in Ireland and the UK, and earlier this year qualified as an
IML (International Mountain leader). His background and love of the mountains comes from his passion for trail running and
ultra marathons having completed UTMB (Ultra Trail Mont Blanc) Western States Leadville 100 the
Declan is based in Northern Ireland and is a Mountain Leader in Ireland and the UK, and earlier this year qualified as an
IML (International Mountain leader). His background and love of the mountains comes from his passion for trail running and
ultra marathons having completed UTMB (Ultra Trail Mont Blanc) Western States Leadville 100 the past 15 years.
He loves guiding people in the Mountains of Ireland, England Scotland and Wales and now in the French and Swiss alps, and giving them an all round positive experience through environment, nature, geology and navigation. He also guides for Wilderness Ireland on trekking and cycling trips on the Wild Atlantic
Way of Ireland. Declan is a Rock Climbing Instructor (RCI) and loves to climb locally and all over!
Katharina Merchant
Katharina Merchant
Katharina Merchant
BIO COMING SOON!
Ray McKee
Katharina Merchant
Tara Spear
Ray is the founder and owner of Dallas based Hike-ALOT, where the mission is to help the hikers of Arkansas , Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Texas safely and confidently make the transition to overnight backpacking. Additionally he co-owns the Texas Survival School, the premier wilderness survival school in the region for both modern and primi
Ray is the founder and owner of Dallas based Hike-ALOT, where the mission is to help the hikers of Arkansas , Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Texas safely and confidently make the transition to overnight backpacking. Additionally he co-owns the Texas Survival School, the premier wilderness survival school in the region for both modern and primitive survival. Between the two, he has helped a multitude of students progress on their outdoor journey.
As a AHGA certified hiking guide with a keen focus on outdoor safety and stewardship, Ray is a SAR volunteer and instructs on Leave No Trace, Stop The Bleed, CPR, as well as Wilderness First Aid for both the Red Cross and the National Rescue & Response Institute. At Hike-ALOT they even have a veterinary professional teach canine and equine wilderness first aid for your trail companions because hikers can have 4 legs too. Additionally he has current applicable certifications in Swift Water Awareness from Texas A&M, Avalanche Fundamentals from the American Avalanche Association, Outdoor Ethics and Fundamentals from Tread Lightly, and is a official Bear Safety Resource.
Tara Spear
Katharina Merchant
Tara Spear
Tara completed a thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail from Georgia to Maine in 2016 and the Northville - Lake Placid trail in 2018. She's been an active volunteer on her local Search and Rescue team for over 10 years. Tara is a licensed social worker and therapist to youth and families. Her goal is to connect people with nature in a safe a
Tara completed a thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail from Georgia to Maine in 2016 and the Northville - Lake Placid trail in 2018. She's been an active volunteer on her local Search and Rescue team for over 10 years. Tara is a licensed social worker and therapist to youth and families. Her goal is to connect people with nature in a safe and meaningful way. She enjoys camping, backpacking, trail running, kayaking, snowboarding, and crafting with nature in her free time.