The Housatonic Valley Association recently opened online registration for an Explore-a-thon event, a unique way to promote awareness and develop support for environmental health in the Housatonic River Watershed by encouraging people to enjoy the outdoors, members said in a statement.
Explore-a-thon will be held in June; there is no central gathering location. To participate, people register either alone or as a team and then enjoy the outdoors anywhere in the tri-state, nearly 2,000 square-mile watershed by doing things like walking, hiking, biking, or other activities.
Registrants are also eligible to compete in a variety of competitions: most miles hiked with a dog, most sites visited, and best bird photo, for prizes including a guided overnight experience on the Housatonic River, Patagonia gear, a private chef’s dinner for six at Troutbeck, a pair of hiking boots or an REI daypack.
In addition to outdoor activities, people can support the Explore-a-thon by making a donation or visiting a partner brewery. All proceeds from the event will go toward HVA’s critical work in protecting the waterways, lands, and wildlife in the Housatonic River Watershed.
“Everybody makes a difference when it comes to making the Housatonic River Watershed healthy. By having fun outdoors—finding new adventures or enjoying familiar ones—I’m excited to say that anybody can participate in our first-ever Explore-a-thon, said Lynn Werner, HVA’s Executive Director. “And everybody who does will be raising critical funds to help protect our waterways and lands, making the Housatonic Valley climate-ready for all.”
To learn more about the event and register, visit www.hvatoday.org and click on the “Explore-a-thon Event” tab.
HVA works with its partners to restore and protect lands, waters, and wildlife. Spanning just under 2,000 square miles, the Housatonic watershed stretches from the Berkshires in western Massachusetts and the Taconics in eastern New York through western Connecticut and south to Long Island Sound. Learn more at hvatoday.org
