How to Host a Group Walk

Introduction

I have been going on walks with people for as long as I have lived in big cities (which at the time of writing is fifteen years). However, it wasn’t until 2021 that I began hosting walks in a formalized fashion. I am an artist and writer whose work often stems from my walks around New York City and elsewhere. Naturally, I’m always looking for ways to share my work that doesn’t involve waiting for the permission of others—galleries and publications—to be shared. Instead, I wanted to find a way that would let an audience directly participate in my work. Thus, I began hosting group walks. The form and focus continue to shift, but the spirit remains the same: group walks are an excellent way to connect—whether through sharing the experience or speaking about my interests—with a group of people.

Over the summer, I hosted Noticing, a series of group walks with Index, which was a very fruitful experience that I would like to share. My hope is to make it as easy as possible for you to host your own walks, get the most out of the experience, and minimize stress. While this guide focuses on semi-structured group walks, feel free to adapt it to your style—whether that means being more spontaneous, exploring a specific theme, or simply gathering people to walk together. The key is finding what works for you and your participants.

What is a Group Walk?

I like to consider group walks positioned in the lineage of oral storytelling, playing live music, or performing a comedy set, except the audience gets to directly participate with the host(s). I define a group walk as a moving conversation, taking place on foot.

A group walk is not quite a walking tour, yet not just a shared experience. The shared experience is durational and takes place, ideally, over a few hours. These walks are not strenuous but usually leisurely (though they can be strenuous if you wish). During the course of the walk, space is created for contemplation, conversation, observation, and connection between others. What makes a group walk special is that it takes place in real time—not behind a computer screen—out there in the world.

Before You Begin Planning

Ask yourself what you’d like to achieve with your walk. Consider the group walk as a moving “show and tell.” I love to share the things I’m excited about, experimenting with ways of storytelling, and sharing information—like the privately owned public spaces or the lost ecological features of Manhattan. This may naturally lend itself to a particular neighborhood or area, but you can format a group walk any way you'd like, whether it’s highly structured, more spontaneous, or themed around a particular activity (e.g., photography, history, mindfulness)—anything goes! It could be as simple as getting people together and moving through a predetermined route.

Planning Your Group Walk

When planning your group walk, follow these steps:

Define Your Subject: Choose a subject, experience, or neighborhood/area to focus on.

Do Research: Identify points of interest, marking them on a map (Strava, AllTrails, or Google Maps work well for this).

Plan the Route: Aim for a route that’s 2–4 miles and lasts 2–3 hours.

Choose a Starting Point: Make sure there are public restrooms and places to fill water bottles (e.g., public libraries or food courts).

Consider Accessibility: Ensure the walk is accessible for everyone. If wheelchair access is limited, include that in your walk announcement.

Check Safety: Ensure all street crossings are safe.

Prepare Talking Points: Make a list of key points you want to discuss during the walk.

Test Your Walk

It’s important to test your walk in advance to save yourself the headache of finding out a sidewalk is closed, one of your points of interest isn’t open to the public, overly noisy areas, or that the vibe is generally off during certain moments of the journey. Listen to your intuition. Being on the ground, walking in real time, will further inform the route and might even inspire other points or help you consider walking other streets you otherwise couldn’t discover while mapping online. As you test your walk, think about what feels like a natural point for a break. Are there restrooms nearby? If not, go back to the map and see if you can find a place nearby that might have public restrooms, a place to buy a snack, or refill water bottles. As you test your walk, practice rehearsing any bits of information you’d like to share, if any. This will ensure there aren’t any unexpected hiccups come walk time. Remember: anticipate that the walk will take longer, as groups typically move slower than when you’re walking alone!

Once you feel confident in your route, pick a date and time to host. That’s up to you, but I often start my walks between 11 am and 1 pm and always on the weekends (most people don’t have to work). That’s just my preference. It’s totally reasonable to host a walk in the evening or on a weekday. Experiment a little and see what works best for you and your participants.

Announce Your Walk

Before you announce your walk, consider the following:

Group Size: For longer distances, smaller groups (around ten people) are better for focused and connected conversations. For shorter walks, up to twenty people is fine. Add a few extra spots, as some people might not show up.

Admission Fee: Decide if you want to charge admission. While it’s not mandatory, people are often happy to pay for a unique experience. A fair range is $5–$30, depending on your location and experience. Don’t forget to account for the time you’ve put into planning when setting the fee.

Once you’ve made these decisions, it’s time to make an announcement on your preferred platforms. Instagram, newsletters, or email are a great place to start.

You could also post flyers around the neighborhood to reach those you otherwise wouldn’t find online. Don’t forget to tell your friends! I always make an easily digestible flyer to share online that includes the date, time, subject, and length. Don’t include the start point unless you aren’t limiting the number of people who can attend.

Message Participants in Advance!

When messaging participants in advance, consider the following steps:

Collect Information: Ask for participant's names and emails during signup, and keep the list handy for communication.

Details to Include: Send a reminder the day before with the time, date, and meeting point. Be specific to avoid confusion. A Google Maps link to the location can be helpful.

Additional Information: Include your phone number (if comfortable) for late arrivals, and remind participants to bring water, sunscreen, and comfortable walking shoes.

Encourage Documentation: Since the walk is about connecting with the environment, suggest bringing cameras or field recorders to document the experience.

Hosting Your Group Walk

When it’s time to start your group walk, follow these steps to ensure everything runs smoothly:

Arrive Early: Show up about twenty minutes early to mentally prepare. I always pack a bottle of water (your throat will thank you later) and a snack for the road. It’s normal to feel a little nervous, but the nerves will wear off once you begin!

Be Prepared: Bring a binder that contains your walking notes and put the title of the walk on the cover so people know they’ve come to the right place. Sometimes, I bring a flag, but use whatever makes you feel comfortable and recognizable to the group.

Start with Introductions: When all participants have arrived, introduce yourself and share the plan for the day. I usually only reveal the starting and ending points to maintain an element of surprise. Begin with an icebreaker, like asking participants to share their names and something related to the walk (e.g., "How often do you visit this area?").

Take a Headcount: Before starting, take a headcount to ensure you know how many participants are present.

As you walk:

Project Your Voice: Make sure you can be easily seen and heard, especially when sharing information. Wait for everyone at crosswalks, and don’t rush the group.

Take Regular Headcounts: Periodically check to ensure no one is left behind. Groups tend to move slower than individuals, so adjust your pace accordingly.
Engage with the Group: Make an effort to connect with each person who came.

Ask them questions about their interests or why they joined the walk. This personal connection is one of the best parts of hosting!

Check on the Group: Periodically check in with the group to see how everyone is doing. Take mental notes—what are participants responding to, and what might they not be as interested in?

Before you know it, the walk will be over! Congratulations—you’ve officially hosted your first group walk!

Don’t be surprised if you see participants sharing contact information with each other at the end. One of the most touching and heartwarming parts of a group walk is witnessing a friendship blossom over the course of three hours :-)

Post-Walk

Group walks are an incredibly generative experience. I always follow up with any resources that may have been discussed during the experience. I usually include the route map and any other pertinent information, like my contact details, social media, etc. People want to stay connected! It’s also helpful to ask participants for feedback—what worked, what didn’t, and how you could improve for next time. This will help refine your walks and make future experiences even more engaging.

Conclusion

Group walks are an empowering experience and it is a true privilege to host them. The walks I’ve shared with others have been some of the most rewarding experiences of my life in New York City. If you do host your own group walk, please let us know. What worked for you? What would you improve or change? Where did you walk?

Happy Walking!