Events

Hike for Kids is Blue Sky’s annual fall fundraiser where we invite our community to join us on a hike around the James River Park System. The event will begin and end at the VA War Memorial (621 South Belvidere Street) and lead participants through a 3, 8, or 14-mile scenic hike in the heart of Richmond. Hiking will begin as early as 9am, with staggered start times course-depending.

All donations from hikers and supporters will directly support Blue Sky’s core programming for 3rd - 12th grade students in the Richmond area. The beneficiaries are these students that Blue Sky teaches, mentors, leads, guides, and inspires. This year, we aim to raise over $85,000 at Hike for Kids to fund our outdoor education and outdoor adventure programs that annually serve 2,000+ students from Richmond Public Schools and the surrounding area.

We will begin and end each distance in the outdoor amphitheater (adjacent to 2nd Street) of the VA War Memorial (621 South Belvidere Street). The after-party will also take place here.

Each route leads hikers throughout the James River Park System. We will provide exact maps and directions to all hikers. If you are not able to be there on event day, you can hike any route of your choosing in October!

Our Hike for Kids event page is now live! Click here to sign up for registration.

Interested in joining as a sponsor? We'd love to have you! Email Diane Brown at diane@blueskyfund.org or call (804) 410-4265. 

We would love to have your support during any (or all!) of the shifts listed below. There are a variety of things to support during the event. A small list of potential roles is listed after each shift timing.

Email izzy@blueskyfund if interested in volunteering. More details below:

Date: Saturday, October 19th

Location: Virginia War Memorial Amphitheatre

Timing: Choose one or multiple

Shift A - 8:00am - 10:30am

Shift B - 10:30am - 1:00pm

Shift C - 1:00pm - 3:30pm

Shift D - 3:30pm - 5:00pm

Volunteer Descriptions:

Shift A: Event Set Up & 14 Mile Hiker Check In

Unload and Event Set Up: Help us unload our Blue Sky mini bus and get items into place to set us up for success

Hiker Check In / Registration: Help us check in our 14-mile hikers between 8:45am - 9:15am

Shift B: Hiker Check In Tables

Hiker Check In / Registration: Help us check in our 7 mile hikers at 11-11:30am and 3 mile hikers at 12:00-12:30pm

Post-Hike Party Prep: Help us get ready for the post-Hike party by setting up tables, display materials, and reorganizing elements between hiker check ins.

Shift C: Post-Hike Party Hype Crew

Finish Line Hype / Swag Table Handouts: Cheer on our hikers as they return from the 14, 7, and 3 mile hiking distances. Encourage them to take a picture with our mini bus as a background, then hand out our fun swag!

Virtual Auction Informer: Share about our 2024 Hike for Kids Virtual Auction with attendees as they wait in line to check in or to start their hike. Volunteers will be training on how to check in, place bids, etc

Family Fun Play Area Support: Encourage our post-hike party attendees to engage with some fun dancing to bluegrass music in the stage area or over in the play area with bubbles, hula hoops, Can Jam, and more!

Shift D: Post-Hike Party Clean Up / Tear Down

Help us clean up as the post-hike party comes to a close at 4:30pm

#BlueSkiesAhead is our annual 36 hour crowdfunding campaign during which donations are doubled or tripled thanks to our Blue Sky Matching Fund.

The Blue Sky Matching Fund is a group of donors who give gift amounts ranging from $1,000 to $25,000 to allow us to offer a 2x and sometimes 3x match during the 36 hours of fundraising. 

Want to join the Blue Sky Matching Fund? Email Diane Brown; diane@blueskyfund.org

#BlueSkiesAhead is our spring fundraising and typically occurs every April.