Do you often spend your days like us – surrounded by screens, coding away, or crunching data? If so, you are in good company! Here at the Eppley Center for Parks and Public Lands, many of us are self-proclaimed geeks who spend a good chunk of our days in front of screens – but we are deeply passionate about our work because we know it helps make parks and public lands high quality and accessible spaces for all.
But even geeks need a break! That is why we are excited to celebrate National Hike with a Geek Day! National Hike with a Geek Day was planned for Thursday, June 20, 2024, and although the date has passed, the concept is solid. It is the perfect opportunity to trade pixels for poplar trees and analysis for alpine views. Not only is hiking a fantastic way to disconnect from our digital lives, but it also offers incredible health benefits. The research, probably done by a data geek, shows that regular hiking can improve cardiovascular fitness, strengthen muscles, reduce stress, and even boost mental clarity. Plus, we know – as well as many of you – that there’s something inherently lovely about the sound of rustling leaves and babbling brooks that a keyboard simply cannot replicate.
At Eppley, we are incredibly proud to support partners like the Bureau of Land Management, the US Forest Service, the National Park Service, American Trails, and non-profit organizations who help make recreation (and especially hiking trails!) accessible to both geeks and non-geeks.
So, grab your fellow geeks, take a hike with a geek, or if you are one, take a hike soon. And be sure to mark your calendars for National Hike with a Geek Day on Thursday, June 20, 2025. Schedule the day, leave the laptops behind, and head out to your nearest park or trail. Let us celebrate the joy of hiking and the incredible benefits it brings to our lives. And who knows? You might even produce your next big idea while taking in a breathtaking view from an amazing vista.
Happy hiking from all of us at the Eppley Center!
