Run Wild is committed to connecting young people with nature, especially those kids who don't have much opportunity to access natural environments. For 2026, we are planning to support two initiatives. First, we will continue encouraging young people to get into trail running, which we do by sponsoring free registration for those 18 and under at the Hudson Highlands Nature Center 5k trail race in October of each year. This is a perfect grassy, scenic course for someone's first trail race. We've had high school runners winning the event and kids as young as 4 walking the course hand-in-hand with parents, with participation ranging from 40-70 young runners, making this a very kid-centric and welcoming event, and we are actively recruiting coaches and kids' clubs and teams to get more young runners to this event. We are delighted to partner with Hudson Highlands Nature Center, located outside Cornwall, NY, as they are leaders in teaching children about nature.

Second, working with the Trail Conference and its volunteers, we are looking for opportunities to get high school students involved in trail maintenance activities. We plan to contribute to transportation and accommodation costs to facilitate these kinds of outings.

In an age of device and distraction, these opportunities for kids to get out on the trails -- whether doing trail maintenance work or running -- are more important than ever before. The benefits are physical, mental, spiritual, and moral. You can sponsor one young runner at the 5k for as little as $40, while the cost of busing to get students out on the trails is around $100 per child. As you think about your plans for 2026, will you add some kids to your bucket list?