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First Day Hikes 2017
Join the movement that gets larger every year and participate in our annual First Day Hikes. An initiative of America's State Parks, this year will be bigger and better than ever.
Visit any of our 37 Virginia State Parks on January 1 and participate in one of our guided hikes and programs or create your own adventure. All of our parks are free to enter that day as a way to encourage everyone to start the New Year right. The hardest part may be deciding which park to visit and some of our past First Day Hike participants have visited more than one.
Oh, and we use the term "Hikes" but also count strolling, biking, horseback riding, rambling, wildlife viewing ...
For a complete list of scheduled hikes and programs for Jan. 1, 2017, click here.
After you decide WHERE you plan to visit to participate, be sure to participate in our two contests for a chance to win some great prizes.
New Year Challenge
We are switching the participating contest up this year and making it an individual challenge. However, it is certainly more fun to get a group together to participate in a First Day Hike. To participate in this contest, you need to "Resolve" or "Pledge" to participate using our online signup tool here. You must do this before midnight on Dec. 31 to participate in the contest. After you visit the park on Jan. 1, you will need to enter the fact that you completed the Challenge before midnight on Jan. 1. You go back to the same web page to register your participation. Prizes will be awarded based on a drawing of folks who complete the Challenge. It's not every year you can make and complete a New Year's Resolution on the first day of the year.
First Prize: Virginia State Parks Naturally Yours Passport (good for a year of parking/admission at all Virginia State Parks)
Second Prize: 10,000 Virginia State Parks Loyalty Points
Photo Contest
Take a photo on Jan. 1 at one of our Virginia State Parks and upload the photo to the contest site or the contest tab on our Facebook page before 11:59 p.m. ET on Jan. 1. You can enter up to 3 photos and must abide by the rules of the contest.
Use of winner's Photo with Photo Credit for our February 2017 social media covers and eNewsletter photo
First Prize: $250 Virginia State Parks Overnight Stay Gift Certificate
Second Prize: $100 Virginia State Parks Overnight Stay Gift Certificate
Third Prize: Virginia State Parks Naturally Yours Passport (good for a year of parking/admission at all Virginia State Parks)
This year we will allow voting, commenting and sharing of the contest entries to add additional excitement. You can vote and/or comment once per entry every hour beginning 10 a.m. ET on Jan. 1 and ending 10 p.m. ET Jan. 2. Winners will be selected by our marketing staff and not the results of the voting but the votes may influence that decision. All decisions are final.
Questions? Email me. I only ask that you read the information before emailing.
If you have read the article and have a question, please email nancy.heltman@dcr.virginia.gov.
Happy Hiking, everyone! :)
Thank you,
Happy New Year,
Christopher Hibben
ENJOY.
To sign up for the challenge you have to follow the link listed in the article http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/other/1st-day-hikes. Posting a comment here will not enter you in the contest. Details of the hikes can be found here. http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/park-events-list?action=detail&srchloc=all&eventtype=115&BDate=01/01/2017&EDate=01/01/2017 Each listing will let you know if you have to sign up in advance.
Thank you for your offer "Hiking on the first day of the New Year." We would like to take part in a walking tour in this day with you. Our company is 4 persons. Could you write, where it will begin our journey where we can meet with the leader of the group. Thank you for your response to me.
All the best . See you in the New Year. Best regards, Olga.