July 21, 2026 Jane gave us her reasons for hope; here are our reasons for hiking Photo: Juan Barbosa This October marks the start of something that’s never been done before — the first-ever Jane Goodall Hike for Hope. Years from now, people are going to talk about who was there at the start. That could be you. That should be you. Inspired by Dr. Jane and how she often spoke about her top reasons for hope — the resilience of nature, the energy of young people, the indomitable human spirit, and the incredible human intellect — we’ve created our top reasons for hiking. Read them here: 1. Hiking brings people together. When you walk side by side — instead of, say, sitting face to face — conversation can flow more easily, and you can form deep connections. Grab your family, your coworkers, your neighbours, and your book club friends, and find out how much you can learn about each other! 2. The challenge is yours to choose. Nobody is making you summit the nearest mountain, but if you need some sort of goal to stay motivated, consider setting a fundraising target — or choose how far you want to hike, and let your supporters hold you accountable. 3. Nature is calling. Jane spent years quietly watching, listening, and simply being present in the natural world. And although you may not have the jungle near you, you can nonetheless head outdoors and enjoy the world around you. Consider the Hike for Hope an excuse to trade your screen for the sky, breathe the fresh air, and remember why you are fundraising for conservation in the first place. 4. You can get exclusive merch items. Honestly, we love this swag. Anyone who raises more than $100 gets special stickers; anyone who raises more than $250 gets an exclusive water bottle; anyone who raises more than $500 gets one of our Hike for Hope hats, and so on. You won’t want to miss out on these merch items! 5. The rewards are real, too. On top of the swag you can get, Hike for Hope participants can enter to win a trip for two to Borneo through our Official Adventure Sponsor, G Adventures. Participants can also redeem one free trial pass for GoodLife Fitness – which you can use at any of their 200+ clubs across Canada as you train for your hike! 6. FOMO! We’ve never done this. This year marks the first-ever Jane Goodall Hike for Hope — which means those who take part this year are part of the “founding class” of hikers. If you hike this year, you get to say that you were here when it started. And years from now, when this is an annual tradition beloved by people across the country, you can say you were part of the fun from day one. 7. For Jane. Jane spent years and years reminding us that we have an important role to play — that “every individual matters, every individual has a role to play, and every individual makes a difference.” This hike is your opportunity to prove her right, and to honour her legacy. 8. For the planet. At the end of the day, every step taken — and every dollar raised — helps the Jane Goodall Institute of Canada advance its mission, protect rescued chimpanzees, restore critical habitats, support community-led conservation, empower young leaders, and more. The ripple effects are immense. With that in mind, are you ready to sign up? You can start fundraising immediately, and then you can lace up your shoes or boots on October 3rd or 4th and head out into your community for the Jane Goodall Hike for Hope. Together, let’s honour Dr. Jane’s remarkable legacy — and continue to support all living things. Explore Related Content Dr. Jane, News and Updates First-ever Jane Goodall Day announced worldwide July 21, 2026 Read more Dr. Jane, News and Updates From the Desk of Dr. Jane: Statement for the International Day of Peace July 21, 2026 Read more Hike for Hope, Other Content Get trail-ready with these top tips for new hikers, from our very own Chief Hiking Officer July 21, 2026 Read more
