On the first day of the new year, many people around the country kick off a new start by heading outdoors. Dia Hitt, National Coordinator for First Day Hikes says this initiative began in 2012.

“The original idea was started in one state and the state was Massachusetts. And they said, “You know what? Everybody on the first days is always talking about the resolutions and what they're going to do. And so, they said, why don't we take advantage of that and get people to come back out to state parks in a time of year that most people don't think of visiting state parks. Don’t think of going in January because it's cold. So, they said, let's start an event called First Day Hikes and see how it goes. And from there it's grown.”

This yearly event takes place in all 50 states. Each state park system decides what that event looks like.

“So, it might be a hike, it might be snowshoeing, it might be horseback riding, it might be canoeing, it might be kayaking, it might be a lot of different things. We call it the first day hikes an umbrella. But there's little literally something for everybody. I'm not a hiker. I don't like getting called and just staring at trees in wintertime. But you give me a kayak and I'll go do anything you want me to. It is the first day hikes were intended to get people to come back to state parks at a time of year. They don't think of it. And it was also intended to really give people to go outside, enjoy the world that we live in.”

Around 171,000 people participated this year, which has had the highest number of participants since 2012.

“We're seeing families do this year after year after year. We're also seeing people who wouldn't think of going to a park. Maybe they're scared of bugs, maybe they don't like dirt. Or maybe they have an assessed ability issue where they don't really think that this is something they can do. And we're seeing people really realize that they can do it. And this is even if they don't ever do it any other time of the year, which, of course, we hope they do. This is a day that they are at least willing to try it.”

Support WITF: https://www.witf.org/support/give-now/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.