Hikers Herald: March 2025 | |
Register for the Hiking Summit, check out a new member benefit, learn about some neat upcoming events, and groups can host a walk on NS Walk Day or host a spring-summer guided hike or walk! | |
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Hiking Summit Registration Now Open
May 30 to June 1, Bridgewater

Hike NS and the Lunenburg County Hikers co-host the 11th annual Hiking Summit from May 30 to June 1 in Bridgewater. A celebration of hiking culture, it includes workshops, hiking stories, networking, and hikes. Sponsors include O'Regan's Subaru, Dairy Farmers of Nova Scotia, Province of Nova Scotia, TrailFlow Outdoor Adventures, and Terra Beata Farms.
Learn more and register here.
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Host a Walk on NS Walk Day!
You can now sign up to lead a walk on Nova Scotia Walk Day, Wednesday, May 14! Even if you don’t regularly lead a walk, please consider leading a walk that day. We will help you. On NS Walk Day, we celebrate how walking connects us to our communities and to each other. If you have any questions, contact walk@hikenovascotia.ca.
Sign up to lead a walk here!
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Call for Spring-Summer Events
Deadline: April 14
Hike Nova Scotia invites groups across NS to partner with it on delivering guided hike or walk events in the spring and summer of 2025. Hike NS will help promote events and provide a how-to guide and trail prizes to give away. If your municipality, First Nation, or organization can organize a hike or walk event (or already plans to host one), please register your event by April 14 for events between May 9 and July 28. Learn more here.
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Walkabout: Sable Island
This month’s episode highlight is season 3 episode 12, ‘Sable Island', Andrew Younger finds himself 300km southeast of Halifax on a sand dune rising above the Atlantic Ocean and the Continental Shelf. Walkabout is a show featured on Eastlink and hosted by Andrew Younger, now available online for viewing, with new episodes releasing every Monday (Season 5). It’s all about exploring Nova Scotia’s trails (sponsored content).
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Fuel Your Hikes
Fuel your winter hiking fun with this Rustic Veggie Chili recipe from our sponsor, the Dairy Farmers of Nova Scotia. This chili is all about the seasonings, and this one is really flavorful. Serve with chopped avocado, shredded cheddar, and plain yogurt or sour cream. Find the recipe here
(sponsored post).
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Hike NS is Hiring
Hike NS is hiring two Trail Support Coordinator interns. These coordinators will support community trail groups by improving groups’ online presence and communications, promoting volunteerism, planning trail maintenance events, and providing board governance assistance. These are 15-week, full-time paid internship positions starting in late May. The deadline to apply is March 10, 2025. Learn more and apply for these positions here.
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New Member Benefit: Healthy Hiking & Journey to Wellness
If you're a paid Hike NS member, you get some pretty sweet perks, such as free access to webinars, discounts on Hike NS events and courses and discounts at various businesses. We are happy to announce Healthy Hiking and Journey to Wellness as new member benefit partners. Healthy Hiking (and its parent company, Journey to Wellness) offer Hike NS members 10% off all services, courses and workshops.
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Whether you’re looking for backpacking workshops, the 12-week intro to backpacking course, or expert-led virtual fitness programs, they’ve got your back (and your knees and hips!). To receive your discount code for online use, simply email a photo of your Hike NS membership card to Deborah at info@journey2wellness.ca. | |
Upcoming Training & Events
NS Walks Walk Leader Training
Online on Mar. 19 Learn more here
Trail Sector Capacity Building Webinars
March to May Learn more here
Intro to Backpacking Cape
Chignecto Webinar
Online on Mar. 26 Learn more here
Intro to Backpacking Cape
Chignecto Clinic
In person in Halifax Mar. 30
Learn more here
Connect with Nature Using
iNaturalist Webinar
Online on Apr. 1 Learn more here
NS Walks at Work Walk Leader Training, online
Online on Apr. 8 Learn more here
Nova Scotia Walk Day
May 14 Learn more here
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Trail Builders Network News
Trail Sector Capacity Building Webinars
Hike Nova Scotia’s Trail Builder’s Network, with the support of the NS Department of Communities, Culture, Tourism, and Heritage, is offering a series of webinars to build the capacity of trail organizations and managers in creating stronger boards, building accessible trails, recruiting volunteers, and promoting trails for mental health. Learn more and register for these webinars here.
Funding
A number of funding deadlines are coming up for trail builders. If you allow bikes on your trails, consider the Mountain Bike Trail Fund, through Cycling Nova Scotia, with a deadline of March 28. The priority for the Sustainable Communities Challenge Fund is coastal projects, such as protecting a coastal community trail. The deadline is April 22. Try applying to the Community Health Board Wellness Funds to support programming on trails (they do not fund trail infrastructure), deadline is April 30. Contact your local CHB coordinator before applying.
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Footnotes Bookclub
Our next Footnotes read is Thru-Hiking Will Break Your Heart: The Book by Carrot Quinn (CreateSpace, 2015). The club meets every other Wednesday at 7 PM and every other Sunday at 4 PM to accommodate a range of schedules.
Sign up here!
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Camino Nova Scotia Pilgrimage Walks
Camino Nova Scotia offers guided walking pilgrimages across NS, providing a spiritual and cultural experience with meals, accommodations, and transportation included. Dates and locations are: Cape Breton July 6-11 or Aug. 30-Sept. 4 and South Shore June 17-21 or July 28 - Aug. 2. Learn more here.
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Participate in a Study About Gender and the Outdoors
"Decolonizing Gender is Settler-Colonial Societies" invites people living in the United States and Canada to discuss how being an avid outdoors person influences how they understand and experience gender. The study is open to those who hunt and trap, fish, forage for wild plants, canoe, and hike or backpack. Those who participate will complete a one-hour interview, receiving a $50 Amazon gift card as compensation for their time. To participate, please email Mary Jessome at UBC.
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Donate to Summit Silent Auction
Please consider donating an item or experience to Hike Nova Scotia’s 2025 Silent Auction, taking place at the Hiking Summit. Funds generated will support Hike NS’s work.
Here is a list of donation ideas.
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Nova Scotia Pick-Me-Up
The Great NS Pick-Me-Up program is a one-time litter facilitation program. Consider registering a clean-up for your favorite trail and receiving free materials, such as bags, gloves, and safety vests.
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Quick Hiking/Trail News Hits | | | | |
