Geauga Park District’s Geauga Gems Trekking Series is entering its sixth year of attracting participants who are setting a New Year’s resolution to explore nature more or want to discover new places or get more exercise. Participants are encouraged to complete four hikes per season from a list curated by naturalists, highlighting the best and brightest the park district has to offer, including some of the Top 10 Trails that residents voted for in 2024, according to a news release. Attendance at any naturalist-led hike can also be counted, and one’s favorite trail can also be added to any season’s list. Or participants can choose to hike 80 miles on any of the 92-plus miles of trails to complete their 2025 goal instead “To accomplish the goal of the program, we simply suggest you hike roughly 20 miles each season to achieve the full effect,” the district stated in the release. Registration opens Jan. 1 at 10 a.m. for Geauga County residents free of charge online or Jan. 2 by phone or in person, and opens for out-of-county residents on Jan. 15 for just $10. Registration closes for the year on Sept. 30. Upon signing up, participants will receive a special 2025 Geauga Gems Trekking Card to track their progress. Those who complete the series and turn in their hiking cards by Dec.31, 2025, will be rewarded with a collectable “year of the topaz” hiking sticker for everyone to add to their poles, plus a collapsible trekking pole for first-timers, the release stated. Those interested can visit the Hiking webpage, located under Activities on the park district’s website, for series updates and frequently asked questions.