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Left to Right: Rosanne Lovely, Sheri Selmeyer, Hilary Higginbotham, Brenda Stein, Renee Wall, Barry Kolar, Phillip Vest, and Willi Honegger of the Chasing Waterfalls team. Together, their team completed 112 outdoor adventures and logged more than 387 miles during the 2024 Hike-a-Thon.

Hike-a-Thon logo

GET OUTSIDE AND EXPLORE NATURE

The Hike-a-Thon is a month-long competition in April that supports the protection of our lands and waters—where people and nature can thrive. This event is free to register, and you can participate from anywhere in the world.

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SPONSORSHIP
OPPORTUNITIES

By sponsoring the Hike-a-Thon through monetary or in-kind contributions, you’ll have the opportunity to amplify your brand and engage with TennGreen’s passionate community of outdoor enthusiasts.

Learn more about sponsorship here.

THANK YOU TO ALL WHO MADE THEIR MILES COUNT DURING THE 2024 HIKE-A-THON!

759 adventurers explored the great outdoors and raised funds in April to support TennGreen Land Conservancy during its fourth annual Hike-a-Thon. Through the month-long competition, Hike-a-Thoners raised more than $206,000 and hiked, paddled, climbed, ran, and biked more than 12,970 miles. Hike-a-Thoners completed 2,694 outdoor adventures, exploring everywhere from neighborhood parks to the seaside bluffs of Yorkshire and the mountains of southern Thailand. The outstanding effort of this year’s Hike-a-Thoners shows the power of our outdoor community and its dedication to conserving land where people and nature can thrive.

Visit the Hike-a-Thon 2024 Hall of Fame

Frequently Asked Questions

Why be a part of the Hike-a-Thon?

To enjoy the outdoors in April while raising funds and awareness to protect the lands that you love.

How do I participate in the Hike-a-Thon?

Anyone and everyone can participate in the Hike-a-Thon! No vigorous activity or expertise required. Want to compete in multiple categories? Do it! Don’t want to participate alone? You don’t have to! The Hike-a-Thon offers a variety of individual and team competitions.

Please remember: The spirit of this event is to be off concrete and onto water or soil… thriving in nature. 
Think local, State, or National Parks—not golf courses, amusement parks, water parks, or airparks. Steps/miles from daily activities, walking around your neighborhood, or walking around festivals/events do NOT qualify in this competition.

  • “Hiking” means exploring parks or trails in nature
  • “Paddling” means paddle boarding, kayaking, rafting, or canoeing
  • “Mountain biking” ≠ cycling, rollerblading, or skating
  • Trail running” = running outside on a nature trail (not on a treadmill, track, paved city street or sidewalk, etc.)
  • “Climbing” can be done indoors OR outdoors to allow for greater accessibility

What are the competition categories?

To view a full list of the Hike-a-Thon competitions, please visit the 2024 Hike-a-Thon Hall of Fame.

Do I have to fundraise to participate?

While fundraising isn’t required to participate, it’s highly encouraged and required to qualify for grand prizes. The dollars you raise during the Hike-a-Thon will go far to protect the places that provide us all well-being and an unrivaled quality of life. Click here for some helpful fundraising tips!

  • Participants qualify for individual competition grand prizes once they’ve raised at least $100* (this may include your own gift).
    *These requirements are waived for sponsors’ team members due to their generosity.
  • Teams qualify for team competition grand prizes once they’ve collectively raised $250.*
    *These requirements are waived for sponsors’ teams due to their generosity.
  • Only donations made through the Hike-a-Thon website (including individual fundraising pages or team fundraising pages) will count toward Hike-a-Thon fundraising competitions and totals. Donations made through Instagram or Facebook fundraising tools will not count toward Hike-a-Thon competitions and totals.

How do I register for the Hike-a-Thon?

When registration is open, follow the link on this page and select how you’d like to participate (as an individual, on a team, or on a sponsor team). Once you register, you’ll receive a Hike-a-Thon T-shirt to wear on your adventures!

Do my adventures have to be in Tennessee?

Nope! This event is managed virtually, meaning you can participate from any location in the world. Whether you’re hiking the Grand Canyon, kayaking the Cumberland River, or climbing in Kentucky’s Red River Gorge, simply log your adventures online and keep moving!

What do you mean "log my adventures"?

After EACH of your adventures, please be sure to log your completed miles (or feet for climbing comp.) by filling out and submitting the Adventure Log form. Please be as detailed as possible when filling out the Adventure Log, and submit a completed Adventure Log after EVERY adventure. To ensure our leaderboards reflect participants’ standings more accurately and to keep the competitions as fair and transparent as possible, please try to log your adventures within 48 hours of activity completion. Please submit a separate form for each adventure.

Team members should log their completed miles or feet INDIVIDUALLY. For example, if four team members complete five miles each in one day, each person will submit a completed Adventure Log form for five completed miles. They will not submit one form for 20 completed miles.

Can my employer match my gifts?

Absolutely! All donations to TennGreen’s Hike-a-Thon are fully tax-deductible, so check with your Human Resources department if your company matches gifts or gifts of time.

Can my company sponsor the Hike-a-Thon?

Yes! Sponsorship opportunities offer an array of benefits, including waived team fundraising minimums, partnered adventures, and significant brand awareness. Click here to learn about sponsorship opportunities!

Should I take photos during my adventures?

Yes! One of our favorite things is to see all the fun you’re having out in nature—especially when you’re wearing your Hike-a-Thon T-shirts! If you post adventure photos on social media, please tag us @tenngreenlc and use the hashtag #Hikeathon24. Doing so will enable TennGreen to share them and encourage others to join in on the fun!

Participating for my second year has provided a wonderful opportunity to step outside and take a breather. The Hike-a-Thon holds a special place in my heart. Last year, it brought my family closer together. After I haven’t been able to visit home in Korea for four years, I was finally able to during the event. Discovering my parents’ love for hiking, we spent countless hours exploring the outdoors together that I have never visited, creating cherished memories.

Youngeun Joung, 2024

What better way is there to get out and show up for nature? This is how we share our love of the outdoors, by getting out there together and exposing others to why these things matter along the way.

Mike Smith, 2024

Participating in the Hike-a-Thon was an absolute joy. The hiking and fundraising reconnected me with people I hadn’t been in touch with in years! There are a hundred more miles on my boots, most added with friends I love. During these times of environmental havoc, a deepening political divide, and seen and unseen suffering, the Hike-a-Thon has been a healing balm in my heart. Together, we’ve made a lasting impact that will benefit us all and protect the natural world we need to survive and thrive.

Brenda Stein, 2022

I competed in TennGreen’s Hike-a-Thon because I can’t think of a more enjoyable combination of pursuits: getting outdoors to exercise and appreciate our natural beauty, having a healthy little competition among like-minded folks, and all while, most importantly, raising funds to protect and conserve vital Tennessee lands.

John Ponzio, 2022

We got into the Hike-a-Thon as something our company could participate in, and it’s been a great team-building thing. We formed a team, and that got so big we had to form a second team and then a third. We started spreading the news a little wider, and we let several of our business partners know about it. I was blown away by their generosity. It kind of hit a cord with some of the folks.

Bob Sarratt, President and Co-owner of The Parent Company, 2023

Loved it! My first time to participate, and I really enjoyed the motivation to be active outdoors, try new trails, play Tennessee Treasure Hunt, and raise money along with awareness. Thanks for a great month!

Wendy Sadler, 2023

Bailey is deeply invested in TennGreen Land Conservancy’s work and mission to conserve land where people and nature can thrive. Our team at Bailey always loves participating in the Hike-A-Thon—it’s a great way to get outside, make connections with co-workers, and explore all of the incredible places that TennGreen has protected throughout the state.

Ryan Bailey, VP of Finance & Operations, 2023

TennGreen Land Conservancy’s Hike-a-Thon has been a life-changing event for me, and all for a great cause! The Hike-a-Thon gave me motivation to lengthen my daily hike and explore new trails. I found the more time I dedicated to hiking, the better I felt. My energy levels increased, my stress levels decreased, my general mood improved, I was more focused and productive at work, and more motivated in general. I loved my invigorating solo hikes, and I also really enjoyed catching up and bonding with friends and family on group hikes. I was sad to see Hike-a-Thon come to an end, but I’m determined to keep hiking. I can’t wait until next year!

Susan Hager, 2023

We’re a yearly sponsor of the Hike-a-Thon and love how the initiative gives people an opportunity to connect firsthand with the beautiful Tennessee outdoors that TennGreen works so hard to protect.

Bearded Iris, 2024

Cumberland Kayak & Adventure Company loves supporting TennGreen Land Conservancy, and the Hike-A-Thon is our favorite way to do it! We’re outside exploring Tennessee’s beautiful rivers, waterfalls, hills, and mountains every single day, which constantly reminds us how fortunate we are that TennGreen has worked tirelessly for over 25 years to protect these amazing natural resources forever.

Cumberland Kayak, 2023

I ended my Hike-a-Thon this year with 55.9 miles, 8,506’ of elevation gained, and $1,042.16 raised. I take a sense of accomplishment in those numbers. It was a substantial undertaking and it was good for heart and soul and soles! I had many hours of enjoyment. I also take a sense of humility in them as well. I’m grateful for family and friends who are willing to give to something about which I’m passionate; it was a successful team effort. My plan is to do the Hike-a-Thon again next year—maybe even for years to come. It did me good and will hopefully do good for others as well.

Les Rust, 2023

Jackson Kayak is proud to support TennGreen Land Conservancy. Our mission at Jackson Kayak is to help individuals pursue joy through kayaking. We feel engaging in nature is the best way to remind ourselves that we are connected to something larger than ourselves. Which is why organizations like TennGreen, whose focus is on preserving, conserving our natural resources, and empowering people through events like the Hike-A-Thon, are of utmost importance. We are grateful for the opportunity to partner with such an amazing organization, and we hope it inspires you to help protect our wonderful home, Tennessee!

Jackson Kayak, 2023