***UPDATE 10/19***
Join us on Saturday, October 21, 2023 for our Airington Law Hike for Kids!
VIRTUAL REGISTRATION IS STILL OPEN
Can't attend in person but still want to support? You can still sign up for a virtual registration!
ONLINE REGISTRATION FOR IN PERSON ATTENDANCE IS CLOSED
Want to join us in person? While online registration for in person attendance is closed - walk up registration will be available on Saturday, October 21st at the Virignia War Memorial at an increased price. Please arrive 15 minutes ahead of your intended hike start time.
Hiker Start Times
9:00am 14-mile hiker waves begin
11:00am: 8-mile hiker waves begin
12:30pm: 3-mile hiker waves begin
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Join Blue Sky Fund at the Airington Law Hike for Kids on Saturday, October 21st and explore our local park systems on a 3, 8, or 14 mile hike.
At this event, we will host hundreds of hikers to celebrate our annual fundraiser - the Airington Law Hike for Kids. This year, we aim to raise over $100,000 at the event to fund our outdoor education programs. Each year, Blue Sky provides more than 40,000 hours in nature for 2,000 Richmond area youth, many of whom experience the city’s natural spaces for the first time through Blue Sky Fund.
Participants can register for the event by visiting BlueSkyFund.org/HikeforKids.
Date: Saturday, October 21, 2023
What: “Choose your own adventure”
3-Mile Loop: 1 hour to 1.5 hours
8-Mile Loop: 2.5 to 4 hours
14-Mile Loop: 5 to 7 hours
Time: 9:00AM to 4:30PM
Hiker Staggered Starts: 9AM to 12:30PM
Post-Hike Celebration: 1:30PM to 4:30PM
Location: Virginia War Memorial
621 S Belvidere St, Richmond, VA 23220
Registration Fees: $40 per adult / $15 per child*
(*youth age 3 & under are free)
Fundraising Goal: $100,000
*Raised $85,000 in 2022
Why: To Support Outdoor Education in RVA
Blue Sky is on a mission to provide transformational experiences for Richmond area youth through outdoor education. Hike for Kids is our largest fundraising event supporting our programming. We invite our community from the Richmond metro area, along with Blue Sky Fund supporters across the country, to participate and fundraise for Blue Sky.
Thank you so much for supporting Blue Sky through our fall fundraiser Hike for Kids! Our goal is to have over 250 hikers register and to raise $100,000 in support of Blue Sky. We hope this tool kit makes it easy to rally your network to support by:
> Registering to Hike on Saturday, October 21st
> Donating to your personal Hike for Kids fundraising page
> Raising awareness of our event via text, email, or social media
Scroll down to download graphics and/or copy paste sample messaging. You can also access our2023 Hike for Kids Tool Kit via our Google Drive Folder
Event Page Link: blueskyfund.org/hikeforkids
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Here are a few best practices to ensure success in your Hike for Kids journey:
- Sample Messages: Copy, paste, send!
Scroll down to find templates for text, social media, and email communications
- Add a Personal Story
- Share with your network your WHY behind supporting Blue Sky Fund
What makes the outdoors meaningful to you?
What experience with Blue Sky led you to support?
- Share with your network your WHY behind supporting Blue Sky Fund
- Use Your Own Photos
Include photos of your own experience outdoors or with Blue Sky!
- Social Media: Follow and share our #BlueSkiesAhead journey
Other ideas or questions?
Contact Diane Brown
Email diane@blueskyfund.org
Cell (804) 410-4265
Text 1: Short & Sweet
Hey! Have I told you about Blue Sky Fund? They are a local nonprofit that provides RVA youth access to outdoor education & adventure. I have signed up to participate in their Hike for Kids fundraiser on Saturday, October 21st. Would you join me by registering today at blueskyfund.org/hikeforkids?
Text 2 - Join Me / Donation Ask
Hey [first name]! Have I shared about Blue Sky Fund with you? I have signed up to participate in their Hike for Kids fundraiser to help connect RVA youth from under-resourced communities to the outdoors. Through their three programs, Blue Sky provides over 40,000 hours of outdoor time for 2,000 Richmond youth grades 3rd to 12th.
Would you join me by registering to hike on Saturday, October 21st? Or donate to support my personal goal of raising $[add your goal here].
You can donate here [ add your link here ].
Text 2 - Social Media / Awareness Ask
Hey [first name]! Favor to ask - would you help me spread the word about Blue Sky Fund’s Hike for Kids? Blue Sky is a local nonprofit focused on connecting RVA youth from under-resourced communities to the outdoors. Through their three programs, Blue Sky provides over 40,000 hours of outdoor time for 2,000 Richmond youth grades 3rd to 12th
While a donation or registering for Hike for Kids is always welcome, so is sharing their posts! You can find them @BlueSkyFund on IG & FB or Blue Sky Fund on LI.
Dear ,
What are you doing Saturday, October 21st?
I’ll be joining Blue Sky Fund at their annual Hike for Kids fundraising event and I hope you’ll support me. Here are a few ways to join me:
Register to join me on the Hike at blueskyfund.org/hikeforkids
Donate to my personal fundraising page
Share about the event with your network by sharing a post from @BlueSkyFund
Why support Blue Sky? I believe in the positive impact of the outdoors - but did you know that youth spend half as much time outdoors vs. 20 yrs ago? Blue Sky is working to change that.
That’s why plan to #TakeAHikeForKids to support Blue Sky Fund, a local Richmond nonprofit that provides transformational experiences for youth through outdoor education.
Your support goes directly to Blue Sky to help them as they provide over 40,000 hours of outdoor time for 2,000 Richmond youth, 79% of whom come from under-resourced communities and a majority identify as youth of color. Through resilience building, leadership development, and outdoor science education, they work to advance equity in the outdoors by developing diverse groups of environmental stewards and leaders in our community.
Hope to see you on the trails!
Best,
NAME
Hey friends and family! Will you join me in supporting @blueskyfund through their annual Hike for Kids event?
There are a few different ways you can join me - here is how…
🌿 Register to join in person or virtually on Saturday, October 21st
💙 Donate to my personal fundraising page
🌟 Share about the event and tag @BlueSkyFund
Why support Blue Sky? I believe in the positive impact of the outdoors - but did you know that youth spend half as much time outdoors vs. 20 yrs ago? Blue Sky is working to change that.
That’s why on Saturday, October 21st, I plan to #TakeAHikeForKids to support Blue Sky Fund, a local Richmond nonprofit that connects youth to the outdoors.
Your support will go directly to Blue Sky who provides over 40,000 hours of outdoor time for 2,000 Richmond youth, 79% of whom come from under-resourced communities and a majority identify as youth of color. Through resilience building, leadership development, and outdoor science education, they work to advance equity in the outdoors by developing diverse groups of environmental stewards and leaders in our community.