The second Saturday of each June is National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) Family Health and Fitness Day. For this year, the date is June 12. The purpose of this day is to promote the importance of parks and recreation in keeping our communities healthy and fit. We need this more than ever this year as we re-enter society.
The health
benefits of exercise are well-documented. However, most adults and children are
not active enough. The CDC recommends children and adolescents have 60 minutes
or more of physical activity per day and adults 150 minutes per week. Having
access to great places like parks encourages us to get out and participate. The
closer you live to a park, the more likely you and your family are to use it.
Physical
activity and recreation benefits us in a number of ways:
- Improves mental health, mood and
quality of life
- Helps control weight
- Reduces risk for certain diseases
such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer, osteoporosis
- Strengthens bones and muscles
- Boosts immune system
- Improves ability to do activities of
daily living (especially once we get older)
Parks can help
improve the overall health and wellness of our nation by the simple act of just
being outside in their glory. Beautiful outdoor settings support good health
for people of all ages, backgrounds and abilities. Exposure to nature is good
for us!
Think about
all different things that you and your family can do in a park:
- bike
- playground activities
- picnic
- camp
- hike
- study nature (maybe have kids make a
nature journal)
- observe wildlife
- take pictures of what inspires you
- play ball
- identify rocks
- scavenger hunts
- fly a kite
- bird watch
- fish
- swim
- boating
- play with your dog
- community special events
- challenge activities (races, obstacle
courses)
- high adventure challenges (rock climbing, zip-lines)and so much more….
Being
outside can help us bond with family and friends. Some parks have organized
programs which encourages people of all ages to do things such as gardening and
caring more about the environment. There are many positive impacts that parks
and recreation can have on our physical, social and mental health. When we see
the open spaces and trails, it encourages us to use them. And you know what?
You just might make a new friend in a park while you’re becoming more
physically active.
But we don’t
just need one day for family health and fitness. We need to make this an
ongoing occurrence in our lives as we get back to normal and the pandemic winds
down. Taking better care of ourselves and our families by getting outside for a
healthy dose of physical activity is a great start. Plan to have active family time
at one of the wonderful parks in your community or around the nation as you
ease back into vacation mode.
If you were
a Parks and Recreation television fan like me, bring out your inner Leslie
Knope and do your parks proud. Get out there and use them, so you don’t lose
them. Be an inspiration to your community and each other.
https://www.nrpa.org/events/family-fitness-day/
https://discovertheforest.org
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