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Run for the Trees: Happy Little 5K

Every Step You Take Helps Conserve and Enhance our Parks and State Natural Areas!

Run for the Trees: Happy Little (Virtual) 5K is a fun, inclusive, and flexible way to support and celebrate the beauty of our natural spaces! Whether you choose to walk, run, or roll, this event is designed for everyone—no matter your pace or location. 

This unique virtual event takes place from April 19-27, 2025, allowing participants to complete their 5K at their convenience. These dates were chosen to honor Earth Day (April 22) and Arbor Day (April 25), two important celebrations of nature and conservation. 

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The stately bald cypress trees at Reelfoot Lake State Park, sunlit limestone glades adorned with cedar trees and rare wildflowers at Flat Rock Cedar Glade State Natural Area, and the misty spruce and fir forests of Roan Mountain State Park are just a few examples of Tennessee’s state parks and natural areas that boast some of the most diverse forests in the nation.

The Conservancy collaborates with these parks and natural areas to support their conservation efforts and making these breathtaking landscapes even more accessible to visitors. Park conservation activities include planting trees, reintroducing controlled fires to fire-adapted forests, and repairing storm-damaged trails. By participating in the Happy Little Trees 5k, visitors can help protect and preserve the natural beauty of Tennessee for generations to come.

Every participant will receive a Happy Little T-shirt, a commemorative bib number, and a finisher’s medal to celebrate their achievement.

T-Shirt

Race Bib

Finishers Medals

After completing your 5K, we encourage you to submit your photos and results to celebrate your accomplishment! Submissions will be open the weekend before Earth Day and the weekend after Arbor Day for those completing their 5K outside of the workweek. Get outdoors, move at your own pace, and help support the places that make outdoor adventures possible!

Bob Ross, the beloved painter and TV host of The Joy of Painting, had a special fondness for trees. One of his famous quotes about trees is:

“I think there’s an artist hidden in the bottom of every single one of us. Here, we’ll put a happy little tree in there. And let’s give him a friend. Everybody needs a friend.”

Bob had a gentle way of reminding us that every tree, like every person, has its own personality and place in the world. His philosophy wasn’t just about painting but about life itself—embracing imperfections and finding joy in the simple, everyday moments.