Point Reyes National Seashore Association (PRNSA) in partnership with the National Park Service announced the 2012 Point Reyes Trails Challenge today. The program is a fun and exciting way to inspire novice and experienced hikers to explore the Point Reyes National Seashore while raising funds to support critical trails and wildlife projects. This self-paced challenge is a rewarding way to both celebrate and support the park during the Seashore’s 50th anniversary.
“This is a wonderful opportunity for people to get up close and personal with Point Reyes National Seashore,” said Superintendent Cicely Muldoon. “The Trails Challenge will restore habitat, improve the trail system, and introduce a whole new generation to this amazing national park.”
The Trails Challenge will run from June 2nd through November 1st and support the Point Reyes Trails Trust, a long term effort to restore and enhance the park’s trail network. The Trails Challenge will officially begin on June 2nd, when PRNSA and its sponsors will host a celebration at the Point Reyes National Seashore Headquarters at Bear Valley. Activities will begin at 9 am, with Challenge participants and guests invited to hike, or volunteer to join trail stewardship work with National Park Service trails staff. From 2 – 4 pm all are invited to enjoy music, refreshments, and celebrate the Point Reyes National Seashore’s 50th anniversary.
Registration is free and participants begin earning a Trails Challenge T-shirt and other premiums with a minimum of $50 in pledges. Individuals and teams can register at www.ptreyes.org or call 415.663.1200 x 310 or e-mail trailschallenge@ptreyes.org for information about the program and help registering.
The Trails Challenge will encourage participants to register for one of five challenge tracks and raise money from their families, friends and colleagues, much like a “walkathon,” or in this case a “hike-a-thon.” Over five months, registered Challengers will raise money online as they participate in one of the following challenge tracks:
- All Park 150-Mile Challenge
- 50 Miles for the 50th Challenge
- Family Challenge
- Five Habitats Challenge
- Equestrian Challenge
Trails are the way most visitors connect with the park’s unique landscapes, wildlife, and vistas. Point Reyes National Seashore Association, in partnership with the National Park Service, is establishing the Point Reyes Trails Trust with an initial five-year plan for raising $2 million. The 2012 Point Reyes Trails Challenge is the inaugural event raising funds for the Trails Trust. By improving the park’s trails and protecting wildlife habitat, we will enhance how people experience and explore this wondrous place and preserve it for generations. PRNSA has received $50,000 in sponsorship that will serve as matching funds for money raised through the Trails Challenge. Our goal is to raise over $100,000 through the Trails Challenge.
PRNSA Executive Director Deb Callahan said, “We’re thrilled to offer this new program giving people of all ages the opportunity to have fun, get active and help support Point Reyes National Seashore – one of the Bay Area’s natural wonders.”
She also stated, “We’re proud to have sponsors like REI, National Parks Conservation Association, California State Coastal Conservancy and the National Park Service…our sponsors include businesses, foundations, government agencies and individuals, it really is fantastic to see so many people and organizations coming together to support the trails in Point Reyes.”
Point Reyes National Seashore was incorporated into the national park system in 1962 as a symbol of our coastal heritage. Today, the Seashore needs continued support to help care for the unique natural, cultural, and recreational resources found here. This coastal gem is made up of over 80 miles of undeveloped shoreline, extensive historic pastoral lands, magnificent wildlife, and the greatest avian diversity of any National Park. It is an unparalleled outdoor classroom and playground for visitors of all ages.
Point Reyes National Seashore Association (PRNSA) was created in 1964 as a nonprofit partner to support the park. Our ongoing activities include operating three bookstores in the park and conducting environmental education programs that reach nearly 4,000 participants a year. PRNSA also raises funds for numerous restoration and enhancement projects like the Giacomini Wetland Restoration Project. With the support of friends, members, and donors, PRNSA continues the legacy of good stewardship so that future generations will enjoy the legacy we were fortunate enough to receive.
