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If you consider yourself to be a big hiking fan, there’s a good chance that you’ve heard about the American Hiking Society (AHS). For the uninitiated, the AHS is a non-profit organization that’s based in Maryland. Its main mission is to preserve the country’s natural trails, the areas surrounding them, and the hiking experience in general.
The AHS is also responsible for a yearly event that is celebrated across the country, the National Trails Day. Today, we’re going to talk about the National Trails Day and why it’s an important event for all outdoor enthusiasts.
When is National Trails Day?
Every year, the National Trails Day is celebrated throughout the United States and takes place every first Saturday of June. So the National Trails Day in 2018 will take place on June 2 – just in time for Summer.
What is the National Trails Day?
Trails are more than just for hikers and trekkers. The natural trails all over the country serve an important purpose of providing access to waterways for those who enjoy canoeing and paddling. Basically, trails provide a safe space for people of all ages to experience healthy outdoor recreation.
Trails are also important tools for ecology and conservation by preserving natural landscapes and providing links between fragmented habitats. In other words, trails are an important part of our natural resources.
The National Trails Day is a nationally coordinated program that is designed to raise awareness of natural trails and greenways. It also promotes healthy and active lifestyles by encouraging people to discover their natural local trails.
Aside from raising awareness for trail issues, the event also aims to instill excitement for all things outdoors in the current generation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Below are some of the most common questions about the National Trails Day event.
What Happens in National Trails Day?
Well, this is all up to your local area organizer. Or you can be an event organizer yourself.
If you’re looking to host your very own event, you can simply go to the American Hiking Society website and register your event. Best of all, registration won’t cost you a penny.
So Who Can Register A National Trails Event?
Any group, organization, club, business, or company who is interested in raising awareness about trail use is welcome. Once you have registered your event, it will be posted on the AmericanHiking.org website and will be searchable for people who are looking within your area.
Can You Host a Private Event?
In case you want to host a private event, you can simply enter the word “PRIVATE” in the description box of your event. Although your event will not be publicized, you will still receive “freebies.”
What Sort of Events Can I Organize?
The possibilities are endless and you’re only limited by your imagination. As an example, you can invite volunteers for trail maintenance and construction. You can organize fun runs and walks, biking events, horseback rides, wildlife exhibition, gear demonstrations, backpack trips, and more.
What Support or Promotional Items Does the AHS Provide for Organizers?
The AHS will do a local and national PR campaign for the National Trails Day. On top of that, you will be supplied with promotional support like media alerts, press releases, posters, flyers, and more. If you’re one of the first 500 registrants, you will also receive promotional freebies.
Why Host a National Trails Event?
Hosting an even during this event is a great way to engage your local community in order to gain more supporters and donors. Here are some ways that your organization can benefit from hosting an NTD event:
- Reach new audiences: Your event will be highly publicized, thanks to the AHS. Apart from seeing your event on the website, you can also see your ads in places like magazines and other media outlets. Basically, it’s all free publicity for your organization.
- Recruit new members and donors: Hosting a NTD event will surely expand your network and increase its donation potential. You can gain new members by organizing fun outdoor activities like hiking, bike riding, horseback riding, paddling trips, and more.
- Showcase new trails: If your organization has succeeded in opening or renovating a new trail, then there’s no better way to showcase it than hosting a NTD event. By hosting an event, you can easily showcase the successful trail-related work that your organization has done.
Ready to Share the Adventure?
Summer is fast approaching which means that National Trails Day is just around the corner. The event truly is a great way to meet new people with common interest in anything outdoors. It’s also a great opportunity for family and friends to experience the wonderful outdoors for a great cause.
Use #NationalTrailsDay on social media to spread the word.
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