Together, we're powering environmental education one mile at a time.
This spring, lace up your shoes, grab your paddle, hop on your bike, or roll with us to take part in NAAEE’s 5K (about 3 miles) for environmental education! However you move, challenge yourself to go at least 5 kilometers! Whether you run, walk, roll, swim, bike, or paddle, every move you make helps support educators who inspire the next generation of environmental leaders. In this time of deep funding cuts to environmental education, your participation directly powers NAAEE to support the educators who are cultivating tomorrow's changemakers.
Taking place May 14 through June 18, this challenge is designed for individuals and groups nationwide wanting to support the future of environmental education. Share your journey and dedication with #NAAEEGoTheDistance and help us celebrate and sustain the power of education. Register today on Givebutter, our campaign platform, and receive your digital participant kit with training tips, fundraising tools, and shareable social media graphics.
Every mile moves us closer to a sustainable future. Let’s go the distance—together! Register Today >
Join Our Campaign
Here’s How to Participate:
Run, walk, wheel, bike, swim, or paddle for at least 5 kilometers (about 3.1 miles) in a public location near your home (or explore parks near you!) from mid-May to mid-June. Choose to move one day, every Saturday, or as many days as you want to cover 3 or more miles. How much and when is up to you!
Ask your friends to sponsor your 5K by donating to NAAEE through your own Givebutter page. As participants, please aim to secure at least 10 people to sponsor your activity. You may also join as teams! The sky/road/trail/sea is the limit.
Ways to Engage
Make it personal: Dedicate your 5K to the environmental mentors who shaped your journey or to anyone whose future you hope to secure, and invite friends, family, and sponsors to donate in their honor. Their names and stories will fuel your miles!
Make it collective: Invite your network to sponsor you—you'll all be part of a nationwide movement. Participate at your own pace or meet up with a group you form in your area.
Make it visible: Share your training, inspiration, and 5K journey with #NAAEEGoTheDistance and help us showcase the power of environmental education.
FAQs
How will the participants raise funds?
Use the link to Givebutter to join the NAAEE fundraising page as a team member and use its tools to share your activity on social media and via email to engage your colleagues, friends, and family. View the instructions for a step-by-step guide on how to join.
How does fundraising work?
Any participant can visit our Givebutter campaign (or you can send them your personal link) and click on the team member they would like to support. When they are on your page, they can click “Donate” at the top right to share their support on your behalf.
How do I set up my fundraising page?
- Create a Givebutter account, or sign in to an existing account.
- Join as yourself. Follow the prompts to register. Once finished, you'll be directed to your campaign profile page.
- Share a fundraising goal and add a note about why supporting NAAEE is important to you and why people should donate to and/or sponsor you. If comfortable, share when and where you plan to put in your miles.
- Add a picture that captures the spirit of the activity. This could be a photo of you and your buddies or colleagues getting outdoors, an image of your favorite outdoor spot, an image of your favorite animals, plants, and more.
- View the full set of instructions for how to join or donate here.
How can I help encourage my friends to donate?
Once you’ve set up your Givebutter page and like the way it looks, you can click on the link to “Share,” which offers options to directly post on Facebook, LinkedIn, and What's App, or get a link that you can copy and paste directly into an email, text message, or social media post. We've also provided a promotional toolkit with tips for outreach and customizable graphics and copy for social media and more!
We encourage you to start sharing your participation in April, ahead of the May 14 5K start date. For example: “I’ll be joining NAAEE’s Virtual 5K: Go the Distance for the Planet campaign starting May 14 to raise funds to support NAAEE and environmental education. I plan to walk at least 3 miles and hope my friends will each donate and support NAAEE’s work. We really need your help!”
As a participant, do I have to pay any fees or donate?
We don't want a registration fee to be a barrier to participation. Signing up to participate is free, however, please consider kicking off your page by donating $25 or more to the campaign!
Please note: Most forms of payment require a 2.9% & 30¢ payment processing fee. Please consider paying this fee to help maximize the dollars that go to NAAEE. We've also enabled an option to tip Givebutter, the company allowing us to use their platform at no cost to us. If you have the means, also give them a little love in the form of a tip for this service! Thank you so much for your support!
When will the fundraising take place?
The NAAEE 5K: Go the Distance for the Planet campaign will start on May 14, 2025, and conclude on June 18, 2025. We encourage participants to set up and begin sharing their fundraising page in April and start encouraging peers to contribute.
Do I need to track my miles?
- You have the entire challenge duration (May 14—June 18, 2025) to accumulate your miles.
- You can track your miles on your own. We trust you! And life happens. Can’t fit your miles into May? There’s always June.
- Participants are encouraged to tag @theNAAEE in a selfie on social media (Facebook, Instagram, Bluesky, LinkedIn) at the end of their 5K so we can share their accomplishments.
Are you selling t-shirts or bibs for this campaign?
Our promo toolkit includes a free digital bib that you can download, print, and customize for your activity.
If you’d like a t-shirt to wear during your activity, you can purchase one in our online store. More details will be added on our campaign page soon!
How will the funds raised be used?
Your participation will help NAAEE raise unrestricted funds, which are critical to the success of our organization. Your support enables us to:
- Foster a global network of changemakers equipped to address complex challenges
- Produce research-backed resources like the Guidelines for Excellence series and our research library
- Expand conference access so that cost is not a barrier
- Support our Affiliate Network, strengthening EE at local and national levels through the power of this network of organizations
- Provide free resources like eeWEBINARS and eeJOBS, ensuring educators have the tools they need to make a difference
- Expand access for all communities, empowering everyone to have a voice and lead the way
- Strengthen local and national networks that create real, lasting change in communities across the globe
- Support policies that strengthen environmental education at all levels
- And nimbly respond to needs and opportunities in the field.
Join us in creating a more healthy and sustainable future for all.
Do I need to sign a release form to participate?
Yes, when you sign up through Givebutter, you'll be prompted to read and accept the terms of the release form. Thank you for your participation!
What if I have more questions or need help with the Givebutter platform?
View the instructions for how to join or donate.
Please email Stacie@naaee.org with general questions about the campaign, and email Jimena@naaee.org if you need help with the Givebutter platform. We will do our best to respond within 24 business hours.
Thank you!
