Happy Monday 👋

Did you know that more than 24 million acres of nature have been lost in the US between 2001 and 2017 due to human development?

It’s time we learn to admire nature rather than destroy it, and hiking is one of the best ways to do that…

So, today, I would like to share an event with you that encourages us all to step outside and explore the many nature trails that surround us!

Here are the impactful insights that I have for you today:

• Exploring the great outdoors ⛰️
• The world’s largest indigenous-led conservation initiative 🇨🇦
• Energy-efficient cooling paint that works like sweat 🎨
• Discussion of the week: reducing unnecessary consumption 💬
• And more… 💚

⛰️ Event of the Week: National Take a Hike Day 

👉 Did you know that today (November 17) is National Take a Hike Day? This annual event encourages people of all ages and backgrounds to step outside and explore the natural world. 

1️⃣ The big picture: National Take a Hike Day is thought to have been established in the early 2000s by outdoor enthusiasts and environmental advocates, alongside the American Hiking Society to encourage people to get outside and explore the great outdoors. Over the years, National Take a Hike Day has grown in popularity, with more people taking to the trails each November. The day has also become a platform for environmental advocacy, with organizations using it to raise awareness about the importance of preserving natural landscapes and maintaining hiking trails for public use. 

2️⃣ Why is this important: Hiking is more than just a physical activity; it’s a way to connect with nature, reduce stress, and improve overall well-being. In an increasingly digital and sedentary world, National Take a Hike Day promotes the value of unplugging and immersing oneself in the outdoors. Additionally, it highlights the need to protect and maintain hiking trails, which are vital to environmental conservation efforts.

3️⃣ How can you get involved: You can mark National Take a Hike Day by going on a hike yourself and enjoying the beauty of nature. You can also get involved by participating in an organized outdoor event in your community or even volunteering with organizations dedicated to maintaining and protecting hiking trails and natural areas. 

Below are our favorite charities that are especially relevant for this awareness event:

• 9 Best Charities for Protecting Nature
• 9 Best Charities for National Parks
• 10 Best Charities that Fight to Protect the Environment

If you are looking for additional inspiration, you can find a wide range of charitable causes to support in our charity support blog.

📢 Three Good News

🎨 Scientists develop energy-efficient cooling paint that works like natural sweat:

• Scientists have developed a paint that regulates building temperature by mimicking how the human body stays cool. It works by reflecting sunlight and releasing water through evaporation, creating a natural air conditioning system.
• The innovation comes at a critical time when air conditioning consumes 7% of the world’s electricity supply. 
• In tests conducted in Singapore, one of the world’s most humid cities, the energy efficient cooling paint delivered 10 times more cooling power than existing commercial cooling paints and cut electricity costs by 30-40%.

🇨🇦 Canada launches the world’s largest indigenous-led conservation initiative:

• Twenty-one Indigenous governments and organizations now steward up to 380,000 square kilometers of land and inland water. This area spans nearly 30% of the Northwest Territories.
• This initiative moves beyond traditional conservation models that often excluded Indigenous voices from decision-making.
• The funding combines $300 million from the Canadian government with $75 million from philanthropic partners.

⛽ Scientists create a copper catalyst that converts CO₂ into fuel components with record speed and efficiency:

• A team of scientists in Korea has created a world-leading catalyst capable of transforming carbon dioxide into an essential ingredient for producing eco-friendly fuels.
• The innovative catalyst avoids side reactions that produce methane or other byproducts. Yet, it still maintains high activity even at a relatively low temperature of 400 °C.
• The new catalyst achieved a 1.7-fold higher formation rate and a 1.5-fold higher yield than standard copper catalysts at 400^oC, making it among the top-performing CO₂ conversion catalysts in the world.

💬 Discussion of the Week: Reducing Unnecessary Consumption

Welcome to our new section, where we spark meaningful discussions about everyday topics that can create a real positive impact in our lives!

This week’s discussion topic: What’s one way you reduce unnecessary consumption in your life?

• Have you changed your relationship to buying new things?
• What criteria help you decide whether something is truly needed?
• What’s a simple “buy less” rule or mindset others can adopt?

Let’s share our favorite ways to help make more intentional living the default!

For our founding community members, keep the conversation going in our forum here.

Want to join our community when we reopen? Just reply to this email—I’d love to personally add you to our waitlist so you’ll be the first to know all about it 💚

🤝 Three More Important Awareness Events

👶 November 17, World Prematurity Day:

• World Prematurity Day is the most important day for raising awareness about the complications of premature births. 
• As a leading cause of death amongst infants and children, prematurity is very important to raise awareness about. 

👬 November 19, International Men’s Day:

• International Men’s Day promotes awareness of men’s mental health, physical well-being, and societal roles. 
• The event is a global platform to discuss critical issues like high suicide rates among men, workplace deaths, and prostate and testicular cancer. 

🦄 November 17-21, World Nursery Rhyme Week:

• World Nursery Rhyme Week celebrates the role the nursery rhymes play in early childhood, including language skills and emotional intelligence. 
• Promoting and celebrating nursery rhymes during this week helps bring families together and support early education for children. 

Related: You can discover all the 97 most important awareness events (for the month, days, weeks) in our awareness calendar for November 2025!

📜 These Days in History

🫅 November 17, 1558: Queen Elizabeth I ascended the throne of England at the age of 25. Under her leadership, England became a world power, defeating the Spanish Armada, and witnessed a golden age of literature featuring works by William Shakespeare, Edmund Spenser and others.

🏊 November 17, 1950: German athlete Roland Matthes, one of the greatest backstrokers in the history of swimming, was born in East Germany. 

🛳️ November 17, 1869: The Suez Canal opened in Egypt after 10 years of construction.

💭 Quote of the Day

“If we still advise we shall never do.”

― Elizabeth I; former Queen of England and Ireland

Share the news with your friends to make a bigger positive impact on the world and society together!

Stay impactful 💚