Becky Lubold, environmental education specialist at Jennings Environmental Education Center, stops to talk about forest diversity and management along Deer Trail during the 2014 First Day Hike. This year, the event will be 1 p.m. Sunday.

BRADY TWP — Forget the parades and football games and begin the new year with a brisk walk through nature.

There are two sites in Butler County where hikers can both greet 2017 in the outdoors and get an early start on that exercise resolution.

First Day Hikes will be Sunday at 1 p.m. at Jennings Environmental Education Center and Moraine State Park.

The hikes are free and pre-registration is not required.

[naviga:h3]Jennings Environmental Education Center[/naviga:h3]

Led by Becky Lubold, environmental education specialist at Jennings, and her assistants, the walk will cover just under two miles on Jennings' longest trail, Oakwoods.

“It will take about 90 minutes to two hours, and we will make a few stops along the way,” Lubold said.

The route will traverse varied terrain and pass through several different habitats, including the prairie, the forest and an area influenced by beaver activity.

The hike is rated “easy,” for those who are able to cover the distance and some sloping areas under winter conditions.

“We'll see what's going on in the winter,” Lubold said.

Participants should dress for the weather with sturdy, water-resistant footwear and layered clothing and bring a water bottle and/or snacks as desired.

“It's proven to be popular. We had 22 people for the first one in 2014. Last year we had 70 people. I had to split them into groups,” Lubold said.

The Jennings Environmental Education Center is at 2951 Prospect Road.

<h3>Moraine State Park</h3>Natalie Simon, an environmental education specialist at the park, said participants have the option of hiking one to seven miles depending on which trail they pick at Moraine.The hikers will start out on the North Country Trail and travel southwest.Points of interest will include the new bridge over Muddy Creek, the Lake Arthur dam and the trail under Route 422.There will be several opportunities to turn back and make it a shorter hike, according to Simon.Simon said, “The weather has not been a factor. This is a pretty hardy crew.”Last year, 111 people turned out for the event, with 81 hiking four miles and 30 going the complete seven-mile trek.“I would say it's definitely a tradition, I'm not sure how long it's been going on, but it's been the last five years at least,” said Simon.The hike will be conducted by the Butler Outdoor Club.<h3>First Day Hikes</h3>“The First Day Hike is just something promoted by all state parks, all across the country,” Lubold said. “It's to get people out on New Year's (Day) and promote health and enjoyment of the outdoors. I think we did (our) first one in 2014.”First Day Hikes are sponsored by state park systems throughout the country to encourage people to enjoy the outdoors throughout the year and to promote healthy lifestyles.Last year, Pennsylvania's state parks hosted 25 hikes, with over 1,800 participants hiking more than 5,000 total miles.

Seventy people participated in the 2016 First Day Hike at Jennings. The event, which is free and does not require pre-registration, is held to encourage people to enjoy the outdoors throughout the year.