The Buckeye Trail Association (BTA) News Section is the hub for stories, updates, and resources that connect members, partners, and trail enthusiasts with the people, places, and programs that make the Buckeye Trail special.

We welcome submissions from members and partners. Please review the guidelines below before submitting.

Submit your story

What to submit

We are looking for stories that are engaging and useful for BTA members, volunteers, outdoor enthusiasts, and the wider community.

Story guide:

  • Trail experiences and activities: hike stories, backpacking journals, cycling or bikepacking trips, seasonal flora and fauna, trail photography.

  • Volunteer and community impact: trail work recaps, volunteer profiles, outreach activities, partner event recaps.

  • Events and gatherings: fundraisers, event previews and recaps, Circuit Hiking Group updates. (Note: for event announcements, please use our event submission form. (Note: as a courtesy, consider letting others know you’re submitting a recap.)

  • Education and inspiration: history, scholarship updates, National Scenic Trail milestones, preservation efforts, health and wellness connections.

  • Media and publications: The Trailblazer highlights, book or film reviews, Emma “Grandma” Gatewood stories.

  • Places and special projects: Buckeye Trail Association Century Barn updates, Pretty Run programming, moving trails, partnerships.

  • Other: trail poetry, local business partnerships, or other relevant ideas.

Submission guidelines

  • Length: Suggested 400–500 words (shorter is fine). Longer pieces may be edited for clarity and space.

  • Photos: Up to three high-resolution images with captions and credits. See our [Photo Policy]. Not sure how to capture your story visually? See our [How to Take Storytelling Photos] guide.

  • Style: No emojis, memes, or GIFs. Please view our Website Style Guide to make editing quick and easy.

  • Limits: To keep things fair and balanced, contributors may submit up to two posts per month.

  • Content fit: This is not an editorial/opinion page. Posts should share information, stories, and updates relevant to the BTA and its partners.

How to submit

1. Complete the submit your story form. You will be asked to select a News category. Category guidelines are below.

2. Attach or link your documents and images. Image details are below.

3. Click submit!

What to expect

  • You’ll receive a confirmation email after successful submission.
  • An editor will review your submission within 5–7 business days.
  • We may contact you with questions or suggested edits.
  • Not all submissions will be published.
  • Published posts may also be shared through BTA emails and social media, as capacity allows.

News category guidelines

When submitting, you will also be asked to select a News category:

  • BTA News: Organizational updates, awards, partnerships, staff changes. These will primarily be provided by Trustees and staff.

  • Advocacy and governance: Legislative updates, advocacy campaigns, governance news, National Scenic Trail updates. These will primarily be provided by Trustees and staff.

  • Trail Towns: Stories from Trail Town designations, events, partnerships, visits to Trail Towns.

  • Volunteer Stories: Volunteer profiles, awards, chapter updates, recruitment.

  • On the Trail: Gear guides, safety and hiking tips, member perspectives, thru-hike journals, day hike tips.

  • Events and festivals: Recaps of events such as TrailFest, MorelFest, Biggest Day Hike, Blue Blaze Festival and work parties.

  • Conservation & Preservation: Trail maintenance, conservation stories, stewardship.

Consider tags

Your story will populate in certain parts of the website, ans will join like-content based on tags. When you fill out your submission form, please let us tag the Chapter, Section, and Counties related to your submission. We welcome other tag suggestions, based on content.

Photos and images

  • Image Upload: You may upload up to three images (standard files, max 10MB each), or email your images to aidan.reagh@buckeyetrail.org.

  • Best Format: Photos display best in horizontal (landscape) orientation with a 5:4 aspect ratio (wider than tall). (This is likely what your mobile phone produces.) Please avoid submitting designed images with text or graphics, as they don’t scale well on the site and may be difficult to read.

  • Permissions & Credits: You must have the right to use the photos you submit. See [Photo Policy].

  • If you are not the photographer, include their name for credit (required if photos are uploaded).

  • If your photos include minors, you must also submit a Minors Consent Form.

  • You may list the names of people shown in your photos (optional).

  • If you need images, you can use your phone, free sources like Unsplash, Pexels, or Pixabay, request TourismOhio photos through BTA with advance notice, or search the BTA Facebook group (with permission from the photographer).

  • Need inspiration? See our photography on the Buckeye Trail guide.

Contributor terms

By submitting content to the Buckeye Trail Association (BTA), you agree to the Contributor Terms for News.