Welcome to Sparky's Turkey Trot and Mile Gobbler virtual races! These virtual races are fundraisers for Dog Scouts of America, a national 501(c)3 non-profit. ANYONE can participate in these events; they are great family and Scouting fun, and DSA membership is not required for participation (although your miles may be counted towards future DSA badges and titles if you're fulfilling the title/badge **requirements while walking, running, or biking with your dog[s]).
Sparky's Turkey Trot is a virtual race that you can walk, run, or bike with your dog(s) on your own time, during the week of Thanksgiving. Human participants will receive a medal for supporting this great cause!
The FIVE Mile Gobbler is a virtual five-mile run, walk, or bike, (or any combination of those) that you complete with your dog(s) on your own time during the month of December. Your dog will be rewarded with a special Mile Gobbler patch to show off his/her hard work (repeat gobblers will receive a rocker patch noting the year to add to their previously received patch). This virtual race is completed "on your honor", there is no need to send in a mileage log to receive the patch and all five miles do not need to be completed on the same day.
You can receive a $10 discount by registering for both when you select the "Trot & Gobble Combo" option.
Medals and patches will be mailed out after the race. The race organizer (a Dog Scout volunteer) typically receives the medals and patches in late December. They will be packed up and mailed after they are received. All proceeds from these events will go to furthering the mission of Dog Scouts of America.
A virtual fundraiser allows people from all over the world the opportunity to participate while providing the convenience of working to your own schedules. That could mean you walk at lunchtime or after work, on the weekend, or even on Thanksgiving day; it could be just you and your dog or you can make plans to enjoy this time with others. You might find a new trail, a park, a dog-friendly beach, head downtown, plan a route that includes stopping 1/2 way at a dog friendly restaurant, or just walk your neighborhood.
We'd love to share a picture of you and your dog(s) participating in this event, please email your pictures with relevant names, dog breeds, (troop affiliation if applicable) and locations to our newsletter editor at thescoop@dogscouts.org, or provide to your troop leader to include with their next Troop Update.
If you're interested in earning DSA Trails Titles and/or Merit badges, be sure to read the Trail Dog Titles Guidebook and the Trails & Outdoors Badges information available on our website: dogscouts.org.
**The registration form is set up so you can register multiple family members under your name for each and any event. (The Trot/Gobbler combo is the default selection, be sure to DESELECT it if you only wish to register for one of the events.)
If you are a single registrant participating in the Five-Mile Gobbler with multiple dogs you may order patches for all your participating dog(s) (either adding a new dog who needs both a patch and rocker patch or adding returning dogs who just need rocker patches). Additional patches will only be sent to those registered in the Gobbler and/or the Trot & Gobble combo.
REFUNDS ARE NOT ALLOWED FOR THESE EVENTS. ALL REGISTRATIONS ARE FINAL. Please check your registration before submitting!