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Organizing your own local event

Get inspired by
the Scottish
Tree Hugging Championships! 

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The Scottish Tree Hugging Championships will be held again this year on Saturday 20th July 2024 in the woods around Strontian in Sunart, in the Scottish Highlands.

 

The event will be run in association with the World Tree Hugging Championships held annually in the HaliPuu Forest in Levi, Lapland, Finland.

The event will start at 2pm with registration opening at 1:30 pm.

This event is FREE to take part in or to watch.

This year we will again be hosting an Adult Category (over 16 years old) and a Young People's Category for those up to 16 years old.

The Mission Statement of the Event

  • To raise awareness of nature in the local and global community

  • To promote understanding about the benefits of trees for health

  • To increase appreciation of nature, near and far

  • To host a friendly, shared experience that can bring people together

To organize your own competition you need:

- an organizing team
- a piece of forest/park/any space with trees
- participants
- a jury
- social media accounts and contact with local press
- necessary local permits etc. for organizing an event


Once you have these you’re pretty much set.

Here are the basic guidelines for the contest:
Atmosphere, mood, values:

• happy, friendly, fun & funny but not ridiculous
• based on science, creativity and community building
• Inclusive, safe for people and the nature, sustainable, low carbon footprint, accessible
• no politics, no violence, no racism, sexism etc.
The three main events:
• Speed hugging: Most trees hugged in one minute.
In a clearly marked area, hugging as many trees as possible in one minute, each hug lasting minimum five seconds

• Dedication: Most dedicated hug (showing presence, intention, love, respect etc.) of a specific tree of the contestant’s choice, lasting maximum one minute

• Freestyle: Most creative hug. Style open to contestant’s own interpretation, one tree only, lasting maximum one minute

• Event points are multiplied by a factor, so that the importance of speed hugging is less then that of the other two events.

Judges:
• Three judges with a connection to forests. Preferably professionals, such as scientists, people from national parks, journalists, artists etc.
Versatility is a plus.

• A couple of people who help with timing and counting the speed hugging etc.
Duration:
• Depends on the number of participants, around 2-3h

Communication:
• In your communication about the event, please comunicate our mission and clearly set a
mood/atmosphere according to our guidelines.
• please have your first press releases checked by the WTHA to make sure that the communications are in line with our values

contact information:
World Tree Hugging Association, hugs@worldtreehuggingassociation.org

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