RP3 Wins Ad Age 2026 Small Agency Award for GOLD Integrated Campaign of the Year

We’re excited to share some big news.

RP3 has been named the Gold Winner for Integrated Campaign of the Year at the 2026 Ad Age Small Agency Awards for our “Take a Hike” campaign created in partnership with the Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC).

Each year, Ad Age recognizes the country’s top independent agencies for exceptional creativity, business performance, and the measurable impact of their work. The Integrated Campaign of the Year award honors campaigns that seamlessly combine strategy, creative, media, and execution to deliver outstanding results.

Our “Take a Hike” campaign reimagined one of the English language’s most familiar insults as an invitation to reset, recharge, and reconnect with nature. Featuring comedian Kevin Nealon, the campaign challenged dictionaries to redefine the phrase while raising awareness for the Appalachian Trail Conservancy and the organization’s mission to protect and preserve the nation’s most iconic trail.

The campaign quickly became a national conversation. Through an integrated strategy spanning earned, paid, social, influencer, and public relations, the work generated more than $86 million in donated and earned media, nearly one billion impressions, and 85 times the reach of paid advertising alone. It also helped grow ATC’s email list by 20% and increased year-over-year funding, with 86% of donors and members new to the organization.

The campaign’s reach extended well beyond the advertising industry, earning coverage from celebrities including Ted Danson, Kevin Bacon, Wyatt Russell, Kyle Mooney, and Beck Bennett, along with a feature on Jimmy Kimmel Live!.

“This award celebrates the kind of work we believe in: ideas with heart, cultural relevance, and real impact,” said Beth Johnson, Founder and CEO of RP3. “We’re incredibly proud of our team, our partners at the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, and everyone who helped bring this campaign to life.”

We’re honored to receive this recognition from Ad Age and grateful to the Appalachian Trail Conservancy for trusting us with such an important mission.

Wildly Original Gets Results.

Read Ad Age’s full coverage of the campaign and the 2026 Small Agency Awards here.

Capital Communicator: LINK

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