Stewardship Trail Challenge

Every mile you run, ride or paddle between August 15 and October 11 can help protect the river and trail you love. The Stewardship Trail Challenge invites runners, walkers, bikers, and kayakers to log miles along the Schuylkill River and Schuylkill River Trail while raising funds that go directly toward the Schuylkill River Greenways Stewardship Fund.

Here’s how it works: participants join the challenge with a donation of any amount through GiveCloud, then track their miles on the SRT throughout the challenge. After donating, participants will establish their own fundraising page through GiveCloud to multiply their impact, by sharing their fundraiser with family, friends and social networks. Every mile logged and every dollar raised fuels the large-scale maintenance projects that are needed to keep the trail passable and enjoyable for all for years to come.

Join the challenge today!

What is the Stewardship Fund?

The Schuylkill River Greenways Stewardship Fund powers the on-the-ground work that keeps the Schuylkill River and Schuylkill River Trail well-maintained and safe for generations to come. This is the final year of a $5 million campaign to create a fund that will provide a sustainable source of revenue for projects such as bridge repairs, improving trail surfaces, and fixing damage after storms.

Every dollar raised during the Stewardship Challenge goes directly into this fund — turning your miles into a more accessible and enjoyable trail and river for the whole community.

Read more about the Stewardship Fund and what it supports.

How to Participate

Joining the Stewardship Trail Challenge is simple. Follow these steps to get started:

1. Register with a donation in any amount. Visit our Stewardship Trail Challenge fundraising page and make your entry donation (no donation is too big or too small!) to officially join the Stewardship Challenge.
2. To multiply your impact, create your P2P fundraising page to share with your network. You will see the option to create this page on the “Thank You” screen following your donation. Instructions for creating your P2P fundraiser:
   • After submitting your donation, click the “Start a Fundraiser” button.
   • Customize the name of your fundraiser with your name and goal. Suggested Page Name: “Your Name’s Trail Challenge Fundraiser to bike/walk/run XXX miles to benefit the Schuylkill River Greenways Stewardship Fund.”
   • Set a realistic individual fundraising goal. $500 is a suggested starting point, but feel free to choose whatever goal you think is achievable within the two-month time frame. Click “Finish”.  You will be e-mailed your fundraising link to share with your networks.
   • That’s it, congratulations – you’ve created your own individual fundraising page! Now, share your fundraising page widely! Post your P2P link on social media and/or e-mail it to family and friends to invite them to sponsor your miles and support the Stewardship Fund. Amounts you raise through your P2P page will automatically be added to the Stewardship Challenge total.
   • Need help with making a pitch for donations? Use our suggested text:

Hi everyone! I’m participating in the Trail Challenge to Benefit the Schuylkill River Greenways Stewardship Fund, and I need your help to reach my goal! Every mile I log on the Schuylkill River Trail and every dollar I receive between now and October 11 will go directly toward supporting the Stewardship Fund, a sustainable source of revenue to maintain the trail for generations to come. Read more about the Stewardship Fund here (https://support.schuylkillriver.org/stewardship-fund), then support me using this link: <<insert your fundraising link here>>. Thanks for your support!

1. Next, get moving…and share your progress! Between August 15 and October 11, log your miles running, biking, walking, or kayaking on the Schuylkill River or Schuylkill River Trail through a fitness tracker app of your choice. Share your progress with family and friends and on social media to encourage them to participate or donate! Tag @schuylkill_river_greenways on Instagram or @Schuylkill River Greenways NHA on Facebook for a chance to be featured on our social media!
2. Keep tracking your progress, and don’t forget to join our events! Record your mileage as you go and log even more miles by joining our Ride for the River bike ride on September 19 and the Schuylkill River Trail Shuffle run on October 10.
3. Celebrate at the finish! After October 11, top mileage and top fundraising participants will be recognized and awarded prizes.
   
   

Questions? E-mail Alex at events@schuylkillriver.org

Top Finisher Prizes

Prizes will be awarded to top finishers in the following categories: total mileage logged and total donations received. (At the end of the Challenge period, you can share your SRT mileage with whichever tracking app you use during the fundraising time frame to receive prizes.) Send your results to ashandera@schuylkillriver.org with subject line “Trail Challenge Results.”  Winners will be notified by October 18 and will be celebrated online!

PRIZE	AWARDED FOR
One-of-a-kind Vintage SRT Retired Trail Sign	Top finisher (cycling mileage)
One-of-a-kind Vintage SRT Retired Trail Sign	Top finisher (running mileage)
One of-a-kind Vintage Retired Water Trail Sign	Top finisher (paddling mileage)
Tickets to ALL 2027 SRG Events – Sojourn, Ride for the River, Pedal & Paddle, Art Reception and Run	Top fundraiser