September 11, 2026

“We believe kids can make a real difference in the world:” Why eight-year-old Evelyn and her friends signed up for the Hike for Hope

Across Canada, hundreds and hundreds of people are coming together for the Jane Goodall Hike for Hope. One of the people who has signed up — and one of the top fundraisers — is Evelyn.

Just eight years old, Evelyn describes herself as “passionate about birds, animals, and the planet!” She says that “she loves bird watching on hikes, writing and performing songs about animals, and learning about our amazing planet.”

Evelyn discovered Jane and her work when she watched her documentary. “I think it was really cool how she fed and cared for the chimpanzees,” she says.

As for why she then decided to take part in the Jane Goodall Hike for Hope, that part was easy: “I wanted to raise money for the animals.” Plus, she says she wants to raise funds in support of wildlife, nature, and environmental programs — and the Hike for Hope does just that.

From day one, Evelyn knew how important the Hike for Hope was. “It saves chimpanzees and nature,” she says, “and we need to protect plants and animals, because they make the world a better place.”

To raise funds for her hike, Evelyn created resin bookmarks and keychains with dried flowers. She also created plaster turtles that can then be painted. She told our team how she “sold them at my driveway, at my dad’s work, and on Instagram” and that “all money that is donated goes to my fundraiser.”

Evelyn isn’t doing this work alone. The team that she and her friends have made for the Hike for Hope, The Trilliums, are near the top of the leaderboard — and have been for some time now. “I thought it would be fun to do the hike together,” she says, “and that they would like to fundraise for it, too.”

(On the team name, Evelyn says: “My friend and I were going to name our band The Trilliums, but we liked it for our fundraiser. Our band is The Wildflowers.”)

Evelyn and her teammates are “excited to take part in the Hike for Hope with the Jane Goodall Institute of Canada because we care deeply about animals, nature, and protecting the planet for future generations.”

And inspired by Jane and her thinking, “we believe kids can make a real difference in the world — especially when fuelled by trail mix, curiosity, and an enthusiasm for frogs and fungi.”

Between now and October 3rd and 4th, when the Jane Goodall Hike for Hope takes place across Canada, Evelyn and The Trilliums say that “you can fund us hiking trails, spotting birds, searching for cool mushrooms, and admiring all creatures — big and small — along the way.”

Want to learn more about the Hike for Hope, and see how you can lace up with Evelyn and others across the country in support of Jane Goodall’s mission and legacy? (As Evelyn says, “it feels good to do the Hike for Hope because every donation is saving chimpanzees and the world.”) Go to HikeForHope.ca to sign up.

When you sign up for the Jane Goodall Hike for Hope, we’ll send you our exclusive Adventure Package — presented by G Adventures — with even more tips to support you on your hike. Plus, you can enter to win a trip for two to Borneo with G Adventures. You can also claim your free 7-day trial pass for GoodLife Fitness, which you can use at any of their 200+ clubs across Canada.