We’re not just a website – we’re a community! One of the most rewarding parts of Tick Borne Inc. is bringing people together, whether it’s through events or our membership program. Here’s how you can jump in, have fun, and make a difference:
Join the Action!
We host and participate in a variety of events throughout the year. These events educate, raise awareness, and build community (and they’re pretty fun, too!). Everyone is welcome: kids, teens, adults, even well-behaved pets on leashes for outdoor events. 🐕
Upcoming and Ongoing Events:
Lime Green Walkathon (Annual)
From next year onwards we plan to organize every spring (usually May, around Lyme Disease Awareness Month a 5K Walkathon. It’s a family-friendly walk where participants wear lime green. We walk to raise awareness and funds. Along the trail, we have educational pit stops with quick tick trivia and tips. It’s part walking, part learning. After the walk, there’s a picnic with refreshments (limeade, of course) and guest speakers (often physicians or researchers share brief updates). The atmosphere is super encouraging – many walkers are survivors of tick diseases or family of those affected, and everyone cheers each other on.
How to join: Register on our Events page (registration is usually a modest fee or free with a suggested donation). You can also sign up as a virtual walker if you can’t attend in person – we’ll mail you an event bib and you can walk in your own area in solidarity.
School Tick Talks (Year-round)
Sofia and our youth volunteers will do presentations at schools – from elementary to high school. If you’re a teacher or student who wants us to speak at your school or club, let us know! These “Tick Talks” are interactive workshops where we teach how to do tick checks, identify ticks, and bust myths. We also sometimes run tick-safety games (Tick Trivia Jeopardy, anyone?). These events are free – funded by donors. To request a Tick Talk, go to our Events page and fill out a request form. We prioritize local (VA/DC/MD) but can do virtual sessions via Zoom for schools farther away.
Webinar Series (Quarterly)
We know not everyone can travel, so we host webinars with experts. Every few months, we will do an evening webinar on topics like “Latest Research in Lyme Treatment,” “Navigating School with Chronic Illness,” or “Tick Prevention Strategies for Summer Camp.” We feature physicians, researchers, or experienced patients. Participants can ask questions in chat. These webinars are free and open to all; we just require quick registration to send you the link. Keep an eye on announcements for upcoming webinar dates.
Community “Tick Drives”
Kind of like blood drives, but for ticks! Just kidding – no one’s donating ticks. What we mean is volunteer days where we go out and clean up parks or distribute info. For example, during summer we’ll gather volunteers to do a trail clean-up at a local park (removing trash and excess brush – beautifying and de-tickifying the environment). Or we’ll meet at a farmer’s market to hand out tick ID wallet cards and checklists. These are great ways to volunteer (see here) and often we make a fun day of it (picnic lunch or ice cream after the work).
Advocacy Day
We plan to sometimes organize a group to go to the state capital (or join virtually) for a Lyme Disease Advocacy Day, where we speak with legislators or raise awareness on a policy level. Teens especially get to have a voice here – empowering youth in civic engagement for health causes. If you’re interested in advocacy, let us know! We collaborate with other Lyme organizations for these.
Other Fun Events
We’re always brainstorming new things. Maybe a tick-themed bake sale (we debated making tick-shaped cookies but decided that might ruin appetites…), or a “Green Gala” benefit dinner one day. As a member (see here), you’ll get notified of all events and can suggest ideas too!
How to Volunteer at Events
We LOVE volunteers. At the walkathon, we need people to help set up tables, man the registration booth, hand out water, etc. For school talks, we hope that teens join Sofia to co-present or demonstrate how to do a tick check (like a skit). If you want to volunteer at an event, email us or check “I’d like to volunteer” when signing up. We’ll find a role that suits you. Volunteers get a free Tick Borne Inc. t-shirt and our eternal gratitude.