On the first Saturday of June, the American Hiking Society invites the trail community of all ages and abilities to discover the many trails throughout our beautiful country. The American Hiking Society hosts National Trails Day, the only nationally coordinated event designed to unite new advocates and all trail activities. With more than 200,000 miles of trails in the U.S there must be a collaborative effort between trail clubs, organizations, and the government agencies. What do these three groups have in common? Passionate advocates for trails and our environment.
June 5th is also World Environment Day. World Environment Day is the United Nations day for encouraging worldwide awareness and action to protect our environment. Since 1974, World Environment Day has been celebrated on 5 June, engaging governments, businesses, and citizens in an effort to address pressing environmental issues. Each year it is hosted by a different county, with this year’s host being Pakistan.
Get involved with National Trails Day and World Environment Day:
- Take American Hiking Society’s National Trails Day Pledge and commit to taking at least one action in 2021 to preserve trails and fight for equitable access to quality green space.
- Register and attend World Environment Day online events.
- Leave a trail better than you found it by committing to take a trash bag with you whenever you hike or go for a walk. You can also collect trash at a local natural space, trail, or even along your neighborhood sidewalk.
- Commit to a Trail Work Project in 2021. Now that restrictions are being lifted around the country, check with the American Hiking Society for local volunteer projects or go on a Volunteer Vacation.
- Give a gift to a local trail nonprofit such as Rails to Trails Conservancy, the NY/NJ Trail Conference, and American Trails or to a nonprofit that works to protect the environment such as The Nature Conservancy or the Environmental Defense Fund.
- Share the reasons why trails and natural spaces are important on your own social media platform. Make sure to use #NationalTrailsDay and @AmericanHiking in your posts. Plus, if you share a photo from a favorite trail experience on Instagram, you will be entered to win a Gear Prize Package. The contest ends June 6, so start tagging.
- Use #GenerationRestoration by sharing how you’re growing trees, greening cities, rewilding gardens, cleaning up rivers and coasts.
- Plan a hike with your family, on June 5th or any day to educate future generations about the beauty and wonder that Mother Nature has to offer and the importance of protecting it.
Gear up for National Trails Day and World Environment Day with Ramsey Outdoor!
