Walk for Wellness is an outreach program designed to encourage individuals and families to enjoy nature through physical activity. Through the development and distribution of trail maps, organizations can promote healthy living by encouraging outdoor, physical recreational use of natural areas and greenways.

Summary

Walking is the easiest and healthiest form of exercise and can engage individuals of varying fitness levels. In fact, walking is the physical activity most prescribed by doctors. Walking can improve physical health and reduce obesity. Using the Walk for Wellness model, conservation organizations and educators can inform the public on the benefits of walking and promote safe, green places to walk that include a wider choice of natural settings and trail venues. The key is not only to encourage physical activity but to create a connection between the individual and his or her natural environment.

Track Record

The Wildlands Conservancy created Walk for Wellness to encourage and facilitate walking for its beneficial, restorative effects. The Conservancy’s Walk for Wellness model has been used in creating trail guides in Harrisburg, Pittsburgh and the Highlands region of Pennsylvania.

Typical End Users

Conservation & Community Organizations
Educators
Individuals interested in starting a local walking club.

Conservation Impact

Programs like this engage more people in experiencing nature and help to create personal connections to local natural places.
As individuals recognize the value of natural places, they are more likely to support conservation and conservation organizations.
Programs like this provide opportunities to attract new volunteers (e.g., hike leaders, trail clean up, etc.) and supporters to the organization.

What You'll Need

A partnership with a local hospital or life care community is strongly encouraged to enhance outreach and credibility.
A list of trails, parks, and greenways that provide attractive natural scenery and a safe walking setting
Specific details on these locations are key to make outings as effortless as possible. Details can include directions, parking instructions, trail maps, degree of walking difficulty, amenities, trail etiquette, photographs, etc.

Obstacles and Challenges

The greatest challenge is finding a sponsor. The budget can be variable depending on the number of trails.
You may decide to do it in phases. Compiling a complete group of photographs and written descriptions of the walking opportunities.

Contents of Main Description

Introduction
Wildlands Conservancy’s Walk for Wellness Program
Developing a Walk for Wellness Program
Health Benefits

Introduction

An extensive network of parks, trails and other outdoor recreational amenities can be an extraordinary asset to all who live in or visit a particular community. However, an organization must actively promote these assets to ensure that individuals are not only aware of their existence but know how to use and access them as well. A Walk for Wellness program can help people discover local parks and trails and learn the importance of nature in their daily lives.

Walking has been shown to be the easiest and healthiest physical activity in which most people can engage. It benefits the mind and body — wellness for the heart and the soul! With easy access to beautiful, safe places to walk, individuals are more likely to engage in walking, biking and other outdoor physical activities.

Wildlands Conservancy’s Walk for Wellness Program

Wildlands Conservancy’s Walk for Wellness program is located in the Lehigh Valley area of Pennsylvania, and was created to encourage and facilitate walking outdoors for its many benefits to the mind and body. The program assists the Conservancy in its mission to maintain and improve the quality of life in the community.

Developing a Walk for Wellness Program

When developing a wellness program, its important to offer a variety of walking and hiking opportunities in the area.. These destinations should include beautiful vistas, trails of varying difficulty levels, natural, archaeological and historical sites, and relaxing retreats to enjoy a quiet moment of reflection.

Begin by compiling a list of the parks and trails in your immediate area. Reach out to the medical community and engage partners that can lend credibility regarding the health benefits of your program. Work with the medical community on how to promote the program. They can provide insight on the development and dissemination of marketing materials. For example, a hospital waiting room might be a perfect place to display brochures.

For assistance, contact Tom Gettings at Wildlands Conservancy.

Health Benefits

According to the Center for Disease Control, the diseases of the 21st century will be “chronic” diseases, diminishing quality of life. These diseases, such as heart disease, diabetes, obesity, asthma, and depression are diseases that can be moderated by how we design and build our human environment and the lifestyles we choose.

Studies have shown that as little as 30 minutes a day of moderately-intensive exercise can significantly improve a person’s mental and physical health and helps prevent certain diseases. People who participate in regular physical activity reap substantial health benefits. According to the Surgeon General, the most significant benefits are:

Lower mortality rates for both older and younger adults. Even moderate increases in activity are helpful;
Lower risk for heart disease and stroke;
Prevention or delay of the onset of high blood pressure and actual lowering of blood pressure among people with hypertension;
Decreased risk for colon cancer;
Lower risk for noninsulin-dependent diabetes;
Weight loss and redistribution of body fat and increase in muscle mass;
Relief of the symptoms of depression and anxiety and improvement of mood; and
Apparent improvement in health-related quality of life by enhancing psychological well-being and by improving physical functioning among people with poor health.

Prevention magazine notes that walking, “the world’s easiest exercise”, eases back pain, strengthens your bones, lowers blood pressure, cuts cholesterol, slims your waist, reduces your risk of heart disease and diabetes, and helps you lose weight.

Walking, especially in natural settings, can relieve stress. It can also trigger the release of endorphins that relieve pain and stimulate relaxation.

Conservation Tools

Walk for Wellness

Experts

Featured Library Items

Acknowledgements

Disclaimer

Copyright