Join the HIKEhopper Community

Last year REI launched a campaign focused on connecting people to the outdoors. They challenged us all to #optoutside and encouraged nonprofit organizations, government agencies and companies of all sizes to help spread the message of the importance of connecting to our natural world.  It is an important campaign - one that can benefit our communities by enhancing our physical, mental and spiritual health.  It is a message that we would like to champion and spread at HIKEhoppers.  We are excited to create events and programs for our community that strengthen the body, calm the mind, and feed the soul.

In today's busy technological world we are seeing an increase in a disconnect between humans and the natural world.  Many of us, including our youth, are spending considerably less time in nature than decades past. The author Samuel Johnson stated, "Deviation from nature is deviation from happiness." New research is beginning to support Johnson's quote as scientists begin to link the natural world to our overall mental health and happiness.  
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We at HIKEhoppers have felt this disconnection, as many of you may have also.  As we started the MN Hiking Club and MN Passport Club we began to see the benefits of reconnecting with nature.  We felt our bodies getting stronger - we were able to de-stress faster, and we began to feel more balanced.  Hiking became a "chicken Soup" for our souls. 

As we hiked, we joined others, as we talked, others joined us. This inspired all of us to create a community of people committed to building a strong hiking organization.  We serve communities by connecting people to nature through experiences in nature.

We hope you will join us @hikehoppers  #letshikemn