Bend’s Renee Patrick hiking the Blue Mountains Trail in Northeast Oregon.

A new online event series, “Intentional Hiking: A Conversation,” founded by Bend’s Renee Patrick, aims to help the hiking community cultivate more intention about how they spend their time on trails, according to a news release.

The twice-monthly event series will cover a wide array of topics centering on five themes: “Be, Do, Create, Learn and Regional Information.” Participants will hear from a guest speaker during each event, and they will spend a portion of each session in a small group discussion with guiding conversation prompts centered around the theme.

Individuals will be asked to develop an action they plan to take on the theme during their next hike.

The first event of the series is scheduled for Monday, Nov. 20 at 4 p.m., online, with guest speakers from the Adventure Scientists about how hikers can collect data on their next hiking trip that will inform science and research.

To register and learn more, visit www.intentionalhiking.com.

“As a long-distance backpacker, I’ve long thought there was an opportunity to engage the hiking community in doing more on behalf of the landscapes that make our trails possible,” Patrick explained, “and through a survey I launched this year I learned that 98% of other long-distance hikers are concerned as well. These people explained that they want to be a part of the change to make the trail experience more accessible, educational, and want to take action.

“It became clear to me that I could help facilitate those ideas and conversations, so I created this online discussion series focused on our relationship with the environment, our trails, and each other.”

According to the release, Intentional Hiking events are centered on the belief that when hikers see themselves as part of nature, they act differently. By cultivating a deeper connection to the landscapes they are hiking through, they can develop a deeper engagement with social and environmental issues they encounter on hiking trails.

Other events planned this year include guest speaker and thru-hiker Tommy Corey on “Transforming Outdoor Spaces Through Photography” on Dec. 10, and guest speaker and thru-hiker Matt Berger on “Botany on the Trail: The Joy of Plant Identification” on Dec. 20.

“Intentional Hiking: A Conversation” is a project of Renee Patrick Consulting. Patrick is a Bend local and triple-crown thru-hiker with more than 20 years of experience planning, hiking, and improving long-distance trails, according to the release. She is an environmentalist and passionate outdoor enthusiast who believes that long-distance hiking can deepen hikers’ relationships with the landscapes and environmental issues that desperately need more advocates.

For more information, visit www.longdistancetrailconsulting.com or www.intentionalhiking.com.

—Bulletin staff report