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NTD FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is National Trails Day?
Why celebrate trails?
How do trails make you healthy?
Why celebrate National Trails Day?
How successful is National Trails Day?
Who are the leaders of National Trails Day?
How can others get involved in National Trails Day?
Does National Trails Day have to be the first Saturday in June?

What Is National Trails Day?
National Trails Day is a celebration of trails that evolved from the report of President Ronald Reagan's President's Commission on Americans Outdoors. In 1987, the report recommended that all Americans be able to go out their front doors and within fifteen minutes, be on trails that wind through their cities, towns or villages and bring them back without retracing steps. The recommendation, dubbed Trails for All Americans, became the impetus behind several public and private parties joining American Hiking Society in launching National Trails Day in 1993. NTD was started to both increase the awareness of community trails but also provide a helping hand for the hundreds of volunteer trail clubs for which every day is National Trails Day.

With 1,210 registered events in 2006, the awareness of trails was brought to thousands of people through dedications, hikes, nature walks, bikes, paddles, horse rides, trail maintenance trips, and many other activities. Event hosts include local hiking clubs, federal agencies, municipal parks, retailers, land trusts and many other businesses and organizations.

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Why Celebrate Trails?
America's 200,000 miles of trails allow us access to the natural world for exercise, study, photography, camping, relaxing or solitude. Trails take us to good physical and mental health by providing us with a chance to breathe fresh air, get our hearts pumping, and to escape from our daily challenges and stresses.

The Outdoor Industry Association's annual Outdoor Recreation Participation Study for the United States 2004 reports that 71.6% of all Americans 16 and older (or 159 million people) participate in at least one of the 22 outdoor activities they track, which include: 75.3 million hiking; 13.3 million backpacking; 39.5 million trail running; and 9.8 million cross country skiing.

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How do Trails make You Healthy?
Trails give you the opportunity to get your heart pumping, lungs expanding, and muscles working at various levels of ease or difficulty; improving your mental as well as physical well being. By walking to the store, library, or any errand, instead of using a gas-powered vehicle, keeps the air pollution level down which benefits everyone. With the obesity rates skyrocketing, exercise is becoming increasingly important and trails provide a wide variety of opportunities for being physically active. Download and print for distribution the Center for Disease Control and Prevention's Trails for Health and other fact sheets.

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Why Celebrate National Trails Day?
Trails do not just appear for our enjoyment, it takes many hours of planning, labor, and negotiating, to develop them. National Trails Day, the only nationwide celebration of trails, is a day that brings awareness to trails and thanks the many people for their support and hard work, including volunteers, land agencies, and outdoor minded businesses. It is also a day to introduce people to the many enjoyments and benefits of trails.

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How Successful Is National Trails Day?
Since 1993, National Trails Day has grown to inspire nearly a million people to enjoy trails on the same day nationwide. All 50 states have participated in events, as well as the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Canada, Guam and the Virgin Islands. National Trails Day is now a permanent fixture on the calendars of trail clubs, businesses, and government agencies. For National Trails Day 2005 a record 1,132 events registered with American Hiking Society for national sanctioning and to receive special updates, promotional items, publicity tips, and listings in local media.

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Who are the Leaders of National Trails Day?
NTD 2006 was made possible thanks to the volunteer efforts of American Hiking Society's individual and Alliance members as well as our generous corporate sponsors: Adventure Medical Kits, Backpacker, Eastern Mountain Sports, Merrell, REI, Royal Robbins, and Thorlos; and our committed federal partners: Bureau of Land Management, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Federal Highway Administration, National Park Service, USDA Forest Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

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How Can Others Get Involved In National Trails Day?
If you are interested in organizing an event but would like a partner, contact local organizations such as hiking clubs; outdoor retailers; local, state or federal park, forest or other public land agency; or contact American Hiking Society at (301) 565-6704 ext. 208 or ntd@AmericanHiking.org. Then, register your event on our web site early in the year to ensure it is promoted to the thousands of outdoor enthusiasts that visit the American Hiking Society Web site each month. You will also find helpful advice and ideas for making this year's event the best one yet.

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Does National Trails Day have to be the first Saturday in June?
If your organization has a conflict with the first Saturday in June, plan your National Trails Day event for a day or weekend that works best for you. No matter what day you choose, be sure to register your event with American Hiking Society; the national attention will draw more participants and media, and American Hiking Society will help you throughout the entire planning process.

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