In our inaugural year of the Alphabet 5K, we welcomed 75 participants and raised funds to develop several new programs including COMPASS – a partnership with Triple Play Farm and area Police Departments – where school resource officers identify youth who would benefit from nature-based and animal-assisted intervention to increase self-advocacy, empathy, responsibility and communication skills; and Spectrum Saddle Club, a holistic equestrian program for children on the Autism spectrum. Additionally, we were able to provide scholarships to six young equestrians who were identified by peers and teachers as "at-risk" in the community and have been partnered with horses as a way to give them a leg-up on education, self-esteem and relationships. We could not have accomplished any of this without the support of participants from our 2016 Alphabet 5K event!

As we embark on another year of this fun and unique event, we aim to promote awareness, reduce stigma and raise money to provide animal-assisted and nature-based therapeutic and educational opportunities for children and adults. With your participation, we can work towards the creation of several new therapeutic programs including an expansion of our nature-based and equine-assisted psychotherapy programs, an ongoing Grief + Loss Workshop, and innovative programs for Veterans. Additionally, you are supporting the development of The Discovery Trail at Rocky Creek, an equine-accessible, multi-dimensional sensory experience intended for therapeutic and educational use.

Continue reading below for registration details and ways you can support through sponsorship or volunteering!

*Family registration may include any combination of 2+ runners/hikers, adults and/or children, but all must reside
at the same mailing address. If a family includes an equestrian, all riders/horses must register separately.

You must click the link above to register for this event. Please also RSVP on our FB event so you can follow our updates!

Sponsorship

Sponsors are an integral part of the work that we do. Without the diverse support we receive, we would not be able to create and support the therapeutic and educational programming that we are so passionate about. Click HERE to download our 2017 Sponsorship Packet and learn more about opportunities for the 2017 Alphabet 5K event, as well as two unique Legacy opportunities for 2017-2018. If you have specific questions, please email Erica at equuvationinc@gmail.com.

About the course, for runners and hikers:

• A to Z - 5K {3.1 miles} in distance.
• This is a TRAIL course, with graduated terrain (hills) and natural obstacles.
• Certified Service and/or Therapy dogs are welcome!
• Silent auction and/or Raffle items; prizes and superlatives awarded.
• We are a NO SMOKING facility.

Attention equestrians!

• SCHOOLING PASS – This year we are offering the opportunity purchase a schooling pass, so you and your horse may come ride the trail prior to the 5K event! Your schooling session must be scheduled by appointment, between Aug 14 and September 25th. Contact rcdiscoverytrail@gmail.com with questions.
• This is a TRAIL course, with graduated terrain (hills), varied footing and natural obstacles, including bridges.
• There are some elements {bridges} with NO go-arounds.
• Stations contain interactive sensory elements that may affect the behavior of an inexperienced horse.
• NO BEGINNER RIDERS.
• Riders may have a leader or side-walker if desired.
• NO STALLIONS.
• There is LIMITED SPACE for rider registration due to trailer parking.

>> Don't forget! You MUST register online to participate in this event – CLICK HERE to register!

FAQ [about the Alphabet 5K]

How would you describe the course?
The course is a TRAIL that includes: graduated terrain (both uphill and downhill), varied footing surfaces (grass, dirt, gravel, asphalt, stone dust), shade, sun and lots of turns. There are several bridges along the trail with no go-arounds (bridges are horse-friendly). There are no direct water crossings, but the trail does run along a creek in parts. Any hazards along the trail are marked (roots, rocks) and there will be volunteers along the trail to guide participants.

What time does the event start?
Registration opens at 8:00am. Runners and hikers will begin the course(s) at 9:00am. Horseback riders will begin the course at 10:00am. 
 

What elements might I encounter at the sensory stations?
This question is most frequently asked by our trail rider/equestrian participants! The sensory stations are populated with a variety of interactive and stationary elements. Some elements make noise, some are very large, and some will blow in the wind. Examples of elements in the stations are: Abacus and Alligators at A; Basketball and Bridges at B; Color Wheel and Chimes at C; a giant Chess set and Drum Circle; Dinosaurs at D; Elephant at E; Flags at F; Giraffe and Gorilla at G; Hippo at H; Ice Cream at I; Jellyfish (large and free-flowing!) at J; and much more.  You may walk through the stations without leaving the main trail, and avoid interacting with many of the elements. We are working on a video to show participants the course ahead of time.
 

If I am bringing kids, can we stop and play in the stations along the way?
Yes, although there will be a time limit. Runners and hikers will hit the trail at 9:00, and will have a 1.5 hour time limit to complete the course. For those who are racing the course, we are assuming you will not be stopping in the stations; but for those who are hiking through, you must be through the finish like by 10:30am, as trail riders will start at 10:00am. To keep everyone safe, we are not allowing horses on the trail at the same time as hikers/runners.

Will there be food available on-site?
We will provide bottled water and a variety of complimentary healthy snacks, but there will NOT be concessions/meals available for purchase on-site as of right now. We welcome any food or beverage vendors who might be interested in participating.

What happens if it rains?
If we get unusually heavy rain leading up to the event, there is a chance we would postpone to our rain date of October 14 due to the trail being unsafe. However, if we receive light to moderate rain the day-of, we will still host the event as most of the trail is under cover in thick wooded areas. Not to mention, we are all outdoorsy people, right?
 

Please note: It is imperative for all participants to follow the direction of posted signs and volunteers/staff on the day-of this event. If you have any questions, please contact Erica at rcdiscoverytrail@gmail.com.