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In 2010 and beyond, families in America face a new frontier—one that will take them from sedentary, hectic lives to healthy, happy outdoor experiences. Hiking is a terrific way for families to spend time together, close to home on local trails. Family hiking is a fun, cost-effective outdoor activity that can improve individual health and well-being as well as improve family communications across all generations. American Hiking’s Families on Foot(FoF) Initiative sees the ‘family’ as all-inclusive and welcoming. There’s a hiking trails near you, so get your trail family out on a trail and enjoy the adventures – and the physical benefits - the great outdoors has to offer today!

What is the Families on Foot Initiative?

American Hiking Society’s Families on Foot Initiative provides Americans from all walks of life with information, resources and close-to-home opportunities to get their families outside and hiking on trails. American Hiking works with local, state and federal agencies who create and manage parks and forests with trails of all kinds to expand urban and suburban (a.k.a. frontcountry) hiking opportunities for your trail family. We hope that through your hiking experiences you will develop a deeper connection with the land and become advocates for our nation’s parks, forests, and other public lands.

Our Goals for the Families on Foot Initiative

Reconnect children and families with nature and make hiking and outdoor recreation an enhanced part of family life in America.
Help families on the path to healthier living by increasing the amount of physical, outdoor activity through hiking.
Provide resources to aid families in finding and enjoying local nature trails.
Establish youth and family-oriented opportunities for promoting, protecting, maintaining, and building hiking trails and for developing trail mentors and stewards through American Hiking’s National Trails Day®, Volunteer Vacations/Alternative Break programs, National Trails Fund, and Hike the Hill: Trails Advocacy Week.
Build a growing voice across the country and on Capitol Hill to promote family and youth-oriented hiking and advocate for the support of family-friendly and youth-oriented hiking and trail opportunities.

Find Your Trail Family!

American Hiking is hard at work so you can play! We advocate for families and youth, and communities who are creating new opportunities for your trail family – kids, parents, grandparents, guardians, neighbors, or pets – everyone should have a chance to enjoy hiking and experience the great outdoors. All of our signature programs and initiatives provide opportunities for families of all kinds to explore their own communities and trails, to teach their children about the wonders of nature, and to become stewards of their favorite trails and landscapes.
Check out how you and your trail family can connect with American Hiking's Family of Trail Programs.

American Hiking offers you and your hiking family Hiking “How-Tos” and Tips on Safety, Gear, and Outdoor Skills and Preparedness.

Check out our Resources for Parents for events, programs, reports and more to help your trail family.

Families on Foot Partnerships

American Hiking is proud to partner with local, state and national organizations who believe that the future of our trails and special wild places lies in hearts and hands of our children. Toward that end, we work across the country with like-minded individuals and groups who want to lend a helping hand to families and communities intent upon preserving quiet natural places and promoting adventures for kids and their families within them.

Join the national family of individuals and organizations who care about our nation’s kids, their health and well-being, and the preservation of our favorite parks, forest, trails and waterways.