Franklin, TN (June 13, 2022) — Swiftwick® is excited to announce the release of their Limited Edition VISION™ Impression BUGS sock, featuring hand-drawn bug designs by the students of Friends of Warner Parks Urban Nature Program. Each of the 40 students in the program had the opportunity to draw one bug inspired by their adventures outdoors, which the Swiftwick team digitized, including every child’s drawing on their 360° printed VISION Impression BUGS socks. All sales of the BUGS socks will go back to the Urban Nature Program.
Swiftwick’s partnership with the Friends of Warner Parks began in April 2021. Swiftwick’s mission is to empower people to be the best version of themselves through the pursuit of adventure, one way they do this is by partnering with organizations, like the Friends of Warner Parks Urban Nature Program, to encourage youth and underserved communities to explore outside.
“We knew almost immediately that having the kids get involved with a sock design was a goal of ours for 2022,” Racheal Hubarth, Brand Marketing Manager at Swiftwick, said. “The goal of the Urban Nature Program is to connect urban Middle Tennessee youth with the outdoors, and together we worked with that team to come up with the best way to help achieve their goal while also allowing the kids to be part of a sock design that we could share with our customers.”
The Friends of Warner Parks is a Nashville-based nonprofit organization that connects underserved youth with nature through hands-on activities and camps like hiking, kayaking and birding. They encourage students to listen, observe, and wonder. Swiftwick’s BUGS sock was inspired by the desire to share the work of this organization with a much larger audience, highlight the discoveries and passion of the kids benefiting from the Urban Nature Program, and continue to give back in a big way.
“It is truly a joy to work in the field with these students every day, introducing them to the intricacies of their natural surroundings, from what they find outside, to what they eat and how their food grows,” Betty Krogman, Urban Naturalist at Warner Park Nature Center, said. “This sock project perfectly captures the thoughtful wildlife observation, insect discovery, and arts and crafts that this program is built on.”
Swiftwick partners with the Friends of Warner Parks Urban Nature Program through financial support and volunteering efforts, helping to maintain camping areas as well as assisting in facilitating summer programs and extracurricular activities during the school year. The BUGS sock launches June 13th and will be available for purchase with the other VISION socks on Swiftwick’s website, which can be found here: www.swiftwick.com/collections/vision
About Swiftwick
Swiftwick was founded in 2008 when an athlete saw the need for a high-performance sock with superior moisture-wicking and incredible fit. Today, based in Franklin, TN, they are an international brand developing performance socks for every adventure. All Swiftwick products are made in the USA using the most sustainable practices available and are backed by the company’s “Best sock you will ever wear” guarantee. www.swiftwick.com
About The Urban Nature Program
The Urban Nature Program is a partnership between Friends of Warner Parks, Warner Park Nature Center, and Nashville’s Metro Parks community centers that focuses on connecting urban youth (elementary through middle school) with the outdoors through after-school programs, overnight summer camps, and fall evening events. The program connects these youth with nature in their own neighborhood park community centers and encourages exploration of various Warner Parks habitats, including an organic garden, pond, meadowland, and river. Activities include hiking, kayaking, creek exploration/education, wildlife observation, wildflowers, birds, and insect discovery, arts and crafts, and the development of key outdoor skills.