If you’re not already an outdoor enthusiast, the elk bugling phenomenon could quite possibly call you into the forest this month. That’s what our friends at the Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation are hoping, anyway.
For the next two weeks, Pennsylvania residents and outdoor enthusiasts will bike, hike, kayak, canoe, stroll, and generally gallavant through the state’s 117 state parks and 2.1 million acres of forests, taking in the autumn scenery and participating in The Great Pennsylvania Outdoor Challenge. Participants can create and register their own individual or team challenge and then create a Firstgiving.com fundraising page in support of the PA Parks and Forests Foundation. And yes, it’s elk mating season, so elk bugling is on the list of attractions.
Flickr photo courtesy of GreerAz
The Foundation’s president, Marci Mowery, developed the event because she wanted the Challenge to be “something anyone could participate in, regardless of age or outdoor interests.” So between September 12 and 30, the Challenge will take place in any park, on any date, at any time, with anybody.
We’d like to point out that the Foundation has really tapped into the power of online fundraising with the Great Pennsylvania Outdoor Challenge. Here’s how:
1) The Challenge is a virtual event–virtually anyone can participate! Participants choose the date, time, location and type of activity, allowing more people to participate.
2) Registration for the Challenge is fast and easy. Details and instructions are listed on the Foundation’s website and the Firstgiving landing page. Registrants also receive a t-shirt and are entered to win prize drawings.
3) When participants create fundraising pages, they can connect their network of friends and family to the event by asking for donations for a great cause. Fundraising pages provide a secure and easy way to donate.
4) The Foundation provides additional support for the event through their website. A downloadable brochure is available as well as contact info. for the Challenge’s organizer.
5) The Challenge invests in the Pennsylvania community by inviting it to take advantage of the great Pennsylvania outdoors and to honor the late Dr. Maurice K. Goddard, whose “visionary leadership set the goal of a park within 25 miles of every Pennsylvania resident.”
Intrigued by the idea of a virtual event? Are you a runner, Pennsylvanian or otherwise? World Run Day is coming up on November 9th! Anyone, anywhere, can run any distance and raise money for any charity on this worldwide day of running and charity giving.
Not a runner? Create your own virtual event with Firstgiving.
