Press release from Kids in Parks:
Children and families are invited to come enjoy time on the trail with Kids in Parks during National ParkRx Day. Falling on the last Sunday of National Park Week, the day is a celebration of the numerous health benefits provided by a visit to a National Park or any outdoor setting. Kids in Parks is hosting a hike and activities at 2 p.m., April 29, at the Blue Ridge Parkway Visitor’s Center in Asheville. Participants will be led on a one-mile hike accompanied by physicians and Blue Ridge Parkway Superintendent J.D. Lee.
Started in 2015, National ParkRx Day is a collaboration between the National Park Service and various health groups to capitalize on the growing trend of prescribing time outdoors as an effective treatment for health and wellness issues related to a sedentary lifestyle. As part of the overall park prescriptions movement, Kids in Parks created TRACK Rx as an extension of its nationwide network of family-friendly hiking trails. Through brochures and other materials available at doctor’s offices and community health care centers, children and families can learn about nearby TRACK Trail adventures and how spending time in nature improves one’s well-being. Children who fulfill their prescriptions by completing adventures can sign up to become Trail TRACKers and receive free prizes at www.kidsinparks.com.
Rather than just a walk through the woods, the brochures encourage children to engage up-close with the natural world by identifying trees and birds, viewing the forest from the perspective of its native animals, and searching for natural features, among other fun activities. The ease of the hikes and educational materials provide children with a positive and structured approach to outdoor activities.
The TRACK Rx program currently includes approximately 200 physicians who write prescriptions for outdoor excursions during annual wellness visits. “Doctors give their young patients a written prescription and a brochure that explains how hiking in nature improves your physical health,” says Kids in Parks Director Jason Urroz. “Spending time in green spaces improves self-esteem and reduces stress levels.” The brochures available at each TRACK Trail share lessons about nature that can boost cognitive health through learning, making discoveries, and having fun outside.
For more information about the event, visit www.kidsinparks.com.
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