News & Events
Jingle Hike Challenge
Register Now!
Registration opens October 2, 2023 at 10:00 am!
2023 Jingle Hike Challenge
The Jingle Hike Challenge is back soon for another year! Our staff have come up with 12 very special places in southwestern Illinois to explore this winter.
About the Jingle Hike Challenge
Jingle bells are tied to 12 trees in parks throughout southwestern Illinois from Thanksgiving Day to New Year’s Day. Participants are asked to visit as many parks as they can, take a selfie with the bell, and submit the photo evidence using the QR code or link on the tag or map. #JingleHike
To learn more about sponsorship, visit https://heartlandsconservancy.org/support/corporate-giving/.
Registration is now open through December 19, 2023 at 5 pm CT. Cost is $25 per person (discounts for groups of 5 or more). Register by November 1 at 5:00 pm CT to receive the t-shirt, printed map with instructions, and chance to win great prizes.
Hoodies are available for an extra $35, and proceeds benefit HeartLands Conservancy.
Late Registration November 1 at 5:01 pm – December 19, 2023
Registering after November 1st? You are still able to register and have a chance to win prizes. T-shirts and hoodies are not available after November 1. Packets will be mailed to you.
Packet and T-Shirt Pickup:
Saturday, November 18. 2023
Noon – 3:00 p.m.
Toolen’s Running Start, 3260 Green Mt Crossing Dr, O’Fallon, IL 62269
Can’t make it to pickup? Select shipping & handling for an extra $10 during registration to receive your shirt and packet in the mail. Add an extra $5.00 for shipping the hoodie with your packet.
You can optionally decline ordering the included shirt during registration.
Can I still play if I don’t register?
Anyone is welcome to find the jingle bells, snap a selfie, and share it on social media using #jinglehike. However, you will only be entered to win prizes if you are registered.
FAQs for 2023:
Q: I’m being sent to a different webpage to register, is this correct?
A: Yes, we are using Qgiv, a secure site, to process registrations. Unlike in 2022, which was a different registration platform, you do not need to create an account. Here’s the link: https://secure.qgiv.com/for/heacon/event/jinglehikechallenge2023/
Q: I want to register, but I don’t want a shirt. What do I do?
A: There is an option to decline the t-shirt when registering. Choose “DECLINE T-SHIRT” when picking shirt size. If you decline the t-shirt, we will mail your registration packet to you at no extra cost (so you can skip the packet pick up date!).
Q: Do you have youth size shirts?
A: Yes! New in 2023, choose from Youth Small, Medium, Large or XL.
Q: What are the t-shirt & hoodie specs?
A: Click here to download a pdf of the size charts.
Q: I want to pick up my shirt in person but can’t make the November 18 pick up date.
If you cannot pickup your shirt(s) on the 18th and did not pay for shipping & handling, please contact Mallory Ketcherside, Director of Donor Relations at mallory.ketcherside@heartlandsconservancy.org | (618) 566-4451 ex 10 during business hours, 9:00 am – 4:30 pm. Monday – Friday
What are the rules?
- Visit as many of the parks as you can and find the trees with the jingle bells.
- Take a photo of yourself with the tree tag.
- Submit your photo using the QR Code on the tag or brochure. More information will be provided in your registration packet. Each bell you find and submit = one entry. The more bells you find, the better your odds will be of winning a prize.
- Correctly identify the tree species (e.g., red oak) to get a bonus entry.
Prizes:
- Coming soon!
* Must find at least 6 bells to qualify for the grand prizes.
2023 Challenge Prize Winners will be announced live on our facebook page in early January and emailed to the winners.
2023 Jingle Hike Locations – COMING SOON!
Thank you to all the host locations for participating in the challenge!
Disclaimers
HeartLands Conservancy wants you to have fun during this self-guided challenge. You, therefore, agree to participate at your own risk. Each park in the Challenge will have different conditions, terrain, rules, and facilities. HeartLands Conservancy is not responsible for the condition of parks, trails, and facilities in the challenge that are not owned by HeartLands Conservancy. Participants will likely need to drive to various locations to participate in the challenge. HeartLands Conservancy is not responsible for weather and road hazards that may occur during your participation – please adhere to all traffic laws, road closures, and weather-related alerts.
You agree to hold HeartLands Conservancy harmless for any accidents, injuries, or other problems that may arise during your participation in the Jingle Hike Challenge. By participating in the event, you – as well as anyone else in your photos – authorize HeartLands Conservancy to use your Jingle Hike photo submissions in social media and other HeartLands Conservancy publications, presentations, and marketing.
HeartLands Conservancy reserves the right to delete posts and disqualify any participant who posts what we determine to be obscene, lewd, discriminatory, or indecent photos or posts during the course of the jingle hike challenge.
Should you win a prize, HeartLands Conservancy will notify you via email. We will not share your personal information with outside entities without your permission.