Runners and walkers of all ages can register for the Audubon Community Nature Center’s Wild 5K Run/Walk on Saturday, July 29. Registration by July 18 earns a free event t-shirt.

Now is the time for runners, walkers, and anyone who would like to enjoy the great outdoors for a good cause to put the Saturday, July 29, Audubon Community Nature Center Wild 5K Run/Walk on their calendars.

The Wild 5K travels through shady hemlock forests and fields, past ponds, and over boardwalks. Well-marked with white arrows, Audubon’s trail system is in a glacial valley, which makes the trail flat. The course starts out on a 12-foot-wide maintenance road before narrowing to 6-foot-wide trails further on. To receive a free event t-shirt, register by Tuesday, July 18 through the link at AudubonCNC.org.

Money raised in the Wild 5K supports the trail system that the race takes place on, as well as Audubon’s vision of creating real and healthy connections to nature for every child within the local community. Prizes are awarded to the first three overall male and female walker and runner finishers. Age group awards are given to the top three finishers in each division for runners and top finisher in each division for walkers.

Wild 5K volunteers are needed for set up, runner check-in, snack station, route monitoring, and clean-up. If you are interested in helping out, contact Audubon at (716) 569-2345.

The 2023 Wild 5K is sponsored by Shults Auto Group and Vitality Natural Health and Wellness Center.

Other community partners include Carnahan-Jackson Foundation, Chautauqua Region Community Foundation, Curt and Susie Westrom, Holmberg Foundation, Hultquist Foundation, Jessie Smith Darrah Fund, Lenna Foundation, Ralph C. Sheldon Foundation, Bob Frucella’s Tax Service, Bush Furniture/A Brand of eSolutions Furniture, Hal and Mary Conarro, Weinberg Financial Group, and Whirley Drinkworks.

For information on how to become an Audubon Community Partner, contact Leigh Rovegno at LRovegno@AudubonCNC.org.

Audubon Community Nature Center is located at 1600 Riverside Road, one-quarter mile east of Route 62 between Jamestown and Warren. Visit the nearly 600-acre nature preserve, check in on the live birds of prey, view the native tree arboretum, gardens, picnic area, and natural play space, and hike more than five miles of trails dawn until dusk daily for free. The three-story Nature Center building houses interactive displays, a collection of live animals including the Hellbender exhibit, winners of the 2022 Nature Photography Contest, and the Blue Heron Gift Shop. Visitors are welcome Mondays through Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Sundays, 1 to 4:30 p.m. Nature Center members and SNAP/EBT cardholders have free building admission daily. Building admission is also free every Sunday for non-Nature Center members.

To learn more about Audubon and its programs, call 716-569-2345, find Audubon Community Nature Center on Facebook, or visit AudubonCNC.org.