ABOUT TURTLE TROT CAMPAIGN

Turtle Trot

Family friendly activity to encourage people to step up for the wild!

 

Overview

The Turtle Trot is designed to help keep you active and inspired to support animal wellness and conservation. This program unites us in support of vital causes to keep both animals and humans safe, healthy, and happy.

The Zoological Society of New Jersey is the non-profit arm of Essex County Turtle Back Zoo. Proceeds will be instrumental in retaining staff and resources to ensure leading animal welfare and conservation efforts in a time where revenue is desperately in need.

Once registration is completed, participants will record daily step counts to achieve a goal of their choice to be completed by the end of the program. These goals range from a 5K to an ultra-marathon completed over the life of the program. Steps are calculated by integrations with today’s most popular smartphones, watches, and apps. Participants are encouraged to raise funds in association with challenge achievements.

You can complete your fitness activity anywhere - visit to the Zoo, circle the South Mountain Reservation, trot around your neighborhood or even on a treadmill! If trotting outside be sure to practice social distancing from others while participating in the Turtle Trot!

For the last 58 years, Essex County Turtle Back Zoo has brought people together as a leading tourist attraction in New Jersey. Today, we continue to leverage this unique ability to inspire our communities to come together in a safe and responsible manner.

 

THANK YOU TO OUR GENEROUS SPONSOR!

 

 

 

Join As An Individual

Joining is easy! Participants will be asked to contribute or raise $25 to register for the challenge. Once registration is completed, participants will record daily step counts to achieve a goal. These goals range from a virtual 5k to an ultra-marathon completed over the duration of the Turtle Trot. Steps are calculated by integrations with today’s most popular smartphones, watches, and apps. Participants are encouraged to raise funds in association with challenge achievements.

 

Join Or Form A Team!

Motivation is always best in groups! Start your own nest by creating a fundraising team. Register your family, school, class, business, friends’ group, or organization and enlist your connections to participate. There are added incentives for team achievements. Round up your people for a great cause.

Step up for the wild! In addition to our fundraising goals, Turtle Trot aims to keep our participants active and inspired to support animal wellness and conservation! Each year, Scientists follow a Pacific leatherback turtle in waters off the U.S. West Coast. The endangered turtles migrate 7,000 miles across the Pacific Ocean to feed on jellyfish off the coast of North America. While certainly not to that scale, our participants will be rewarded for step challenges of their own design. Our collective goal is to virtually traverse the perimeter of New Jersey (480 miles) multiple times!

 

FITNESS GOAL
COMPLETED: 14,260,919 steps
TARGET: 1,000,000 steps
FUNDRAISING GOAL
RAISED: $ 3,748
TARGET: $ 50,000
You must go on adventures to find out where you truly belong. ~ Sue Fitzmaurice
Come join us and leave your footprints by walking around New Jersey!
HOW IT WORKS
Register for the campaign and set your fitness & fundraising targets.
Click here to set-up your devices (Fitbit, Garmin, Apple Watch, Google Fit, Misfit, Strava), or download our iOS or Android apps.
Share your story and raise funds & awareness.
Track workouts anywhere & anytime and complete goal.
ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION
ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF NEW JERSEY
Conserve. Educate. Inspire.

Read more about the organization >>

HOW YOUR PARTICIPATION HELPS
The Zoological Society of New Jersey is the non-profit arm of Essex County Turtle Back Zoo. Proceeds will be used to support animal wellness and conservation.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is Charity Footprints?

Charity Footprints is a social enterprise that connects fitness and charitable giving. We empower people just like you, to get fit & give back.

Our Virtual Races allow non-profits to challenge their patrons to run, walk or ride and raise funds just as they would in a fundraising walkathon. The best part - charities save over 45% in event and logistical costs. So, the dollars that you pay to register or fundraise, go farther.

What is the campaign registration fee?

Campaign registration fee is the amount that you'll need to pay to enroll in this virtual race. This fee (less transaction charges) will go to the non-profit running this campaign as a donation.

The registration fee along with the funds raised through your individual fundraising page will enable the non-profit to fund various programs and pursue their organization's mission.

How can I create my fundraising page?

Well, you wouldn't have to create a separate fundraising page. Once you register for this campaign, we'll give you the link to your fundraising page.

How will I track my distance?

You can track your workouts by setting up your devices (Fitbit, Garmin, Apple Watch, Google Fit, Misfit, Strava), or download the Charity Footprints' iOS or Android app and track your workouts toward this campaign. ?>

If you workout indoors (treadmill, elliptical, stationary bike etc.), you can upload your workouts here.

How do I join a team on this campaign?

While registering for the campaign, select the team you'd like to join or create a new team and invite others to #GetFitGiveBack with you. If you want to join a team (or create your team) after registration, login to the campaign site and you would find a link to edit "My Team" in the menu under your profile in the header.

I am an international donor (non-US), what are my donation charges and tax-deductibility?

All donations are made in US dollars, so the donations may be levied an exchange rate fee via your bank. Donors will want to connect with their bank to determine exactly what that fee may be. Additionally, international donors will need to reach out to a tax professional to discuss if and how tax deductibility will apply to their donation.

Who can sponsor my fundraising efforts?

The short answer is - everyone. The fundraising research shows that the number one reason for people not donating is that they weren't asked to.

That said, there are things you can do to attract people to sponsor you. Adding a picture to your fundraising page, telling potential donors why this cause is so personal to you, sharing your fundraising page on social media, email, and chat groups.

Last, if your employer has a gift matching program, check with the human resources department to support your favorite cause as well.

Who can I contact if I need help?

You can contact us any time if you need help. We love hearing from our users so please don't hesitate to write to us about issues, suggestions, or to just say hi. You can also contact the non-profit administrator directly if you would like.

How do I change or switch my team?

If you want to join a team (or create your team) after registration, login to the campaign site and you would find a link to edit "My Team" in the menu under your profile in the header.