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June 22, 2023The National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Access Pass

What is the America the Beautiful- The National...
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September 18, 2020Walk Maryland Day is October 7th

Walk Maryland Day is October 7, 2020! This...
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November 13, 2019Healthy Washington County Website

Looking for local health related events and news?...
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September 20, 2019Walk Maryland Day

Walk Maryland Day is Wednesday, October 2nd, 2019;...
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August 16, 2019Last Chance to Enter Pathfinder Facebook Photo Contest

Enter the Washington County Pathfinder Facebook Photo Contest!...
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July 30, 2019Get Outside and Take a Hike in Washington County!

By Charissa Hipp With the number of five...
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July 21, 2019Washington County Commission On Aging Outer Loop Trail

The newest trail on Pathfinder is the Washington...
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July 8, 2019Hagerstown City Park

July is Park and Recreation Month! Here's a...
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May 31, 2019Pathfinder Facebook Photo Contest

Enter the Washington County Pathfinder Facebook Photo Contest!...
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May 27, 2019Pedestrian Safety

Walking is great exercise and a healthy way...
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May 13, 2019Hagerstown Public Art

There are lots of places to walk in...
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May 1, 2019May is Bike Month!

May is National Bike Month! Check the events...
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April 15, 2019Parks Fitness Challenge

Join the City of Hagerstown's Parks Fitness Challenge and...
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March 13, 2019Traffic Garden Coming Soon to Hagerstown

Check out this blog post from America Walks...
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December 20, 2018Billion Steps Challenge

The American Public Health Association has a goal...
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June 22, 2023 by Admin Leave a Comment

What is the America the Beautiful- The National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Access Pass?

America the beautiful. access. image: owl flying over grass

A free, lifetime pass – available to U.S. citizens or permanent residents of the United States that have been medically determined to have a permanent disability (does not have to be a 100% disability) – that provides admittance to more than 2,000 recreation sites managed by five Federal agencies.

At many sites, the Access Pass provides the pass owner a discount on Expanded Amenity Fees (such as camping, swimming, boat launching, and guided tours).

 

To learn more about the pass visit the links below

https://www.nps.gov/subjects/accessibility/interagency-access-pass.htm

https://store.usgs.gov/faq#Access-Pass

Filed Under: News

September 18, 2020 by Hannah Person Leave a Comment

Walk Maryland Day is October 7, 2020!

This year’s theme is Walk Towards Wellness! Join the Washington County Health Department and Hagerstown Parks and Recreation in celebrating Maryland’s state exercise by walking the length of Maryland – 250 miles – the week of October 4-10!

2020 Walk Maryland Day flyer

 

Sign up here and track your walking each day here.

The Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans recommend that adults get 30 minutes of physical activity five days a week and that children get 60 minutes of physical activity a day. Walking is a great way to be physically active! Find places to walk in Washington County on the Washington County Pathfinder website!

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November 13, 2019 by Hannah Person Leave a Comment

Looking for local health related events and news? Visit the new Healthy Washington County website at https://healthywashingtoncounty.com

Healthy Washington County is Washington County’s local health improvement coalition which is made up of local community organizations such as the health department, Meritus Health, Brook Lane, Washington County Chamber of Commerce, Hagerstown YMCA, University of Maryland Extension, and many others. Every 3 years, the coalition creates the Community Health Needs Assessment. You can read the 2019 assessment on the new website. In addition, the new Healthy Washington County website has resources on a variety of topics including nutrition, physical activity, smoking cessation, mental health, substance abuse, and chronic diseases.

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September 20, 2019 by Hannah Person Leave a Comment

Walk Maryland Day is Wednesday, October 2nd, 2019; coinciding with National Walk to School Day. The purpose of Walk Maryland Day is to celebrate Maryland’s state exercise – walking – by getting outside and taking a walk! Walk to school, walk to work, or take a walk on one of the many trails in Washington County! The Washington County Health Department and the City of Hagerstown are hosting a 30-minute lunchtime walk at noon on October 2nd at the Hagerstown Cultural Trail. All participants will receive a miniature Maryland flag and the first 50 participants will receive a free salad from Bella’s Bites! Stop by to grab some lunch and take a walk! The Manning Media street team will be giving out free water and VFF Produce, the Mobile Farmers Market, will be there selling fresh, local produce. Everyone who joins the walk will receive a $1 coupon for the Mobile Farmers Market. Visit our website or Facebook page for more information about this event.

According to the U.S. Surgeon General, physical activity is one of the most important things people can do for their health. The Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans recommend that adults get 150 minutes a week and children get 60 minutes a day of aerobic physical activity. Even if you don’t meet the recommended amount of physical activity, being somewhat active is better than being inactive. If you’re looking to start being more active, try walking! Walking is one of the most popular forms of aerobic physical activity because it’s free, easy, and anyone can do it! Find all the great places to walk in Washington County on Washington County Pathfinder by visiting washcopathfinder.com.

Event Details

View Press Release

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August 16, 2019 by Hannah Person Leave a Comment

Enter the Washington County Pathfinder Facebook Photo Contest!

The contest runs through August 31, 2019. A randomly selected participant will win a Fitbit Versa!

How to enter:

  1. Take a picture of yourself walking, biking, or boating at one of the trails on Washington County Pathfinder at https://washcopathfinder.com
  2. Like the Washington County Pathfinder Facebook page.
  3. Send your picture through Facebook Messenger to the Washington County Pathfinder page and include the name of the trail and/or park where the picture was taken.
  4. You may submit multiple entries, one for each different trail you take a picture at. For trails that are located in parks, you may submit one entry per park.

Encourage your friends to like your photo to vote for it! The most-liked photo will win a free entry into HEAL’s Color Splash 5k fun run on September 28th!

To vote for a photo, you must like the Washington County Pathfinder Facebook page and like your favorite photo entry. View the current entries.

Other Rules:

  1. A person can only win one of the two prizes.
  2. You do not have to live in Washington County to enter, but you must be able to come to the Washington County Health Department to pick up your prize if you win.

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July 30, 2019 by Hannah Person Leave a Comment

By Charissa Hipp

With the number of five national parks and eight state parks in Washington County, there are countless hiking opportunities to enjoy the area’s beautiful landscapes and connect with nature. Trail options exist for every age and ability, from flat paved surfaces to steep inclines and even a boulder field. So what are you waiting for? Grab some comfortable shoes, a trail map, water, snacks, and head outside for a hike!

If you’re new to hiking or consider yourself a beginner in search of easy terrain, both the C&O Canal towpath and Antietam National Battlefield offer easy trails. The towpath is 184.5 miles in length, stretching from Georgetown to Cumberland, with more than 78 miles in Washington County. It is predominantly flat with very gradual changes in elevation and provides an array of changing landscapes and opportunities for exploration.

hikers crossing a bridgeAntietam National Battlefield – Three Farms Trail

Most think of history when they think of Antietam Battlefield, but there are ten hiking trails and miles of paved park roads suitable for hiking. The trails range from a quarter of a mile to 1.8 miles in length, consist of varying terrain, and can be connected to create longer hikes. Wayside markers are located throughout the battlefield, explaining the historical significance of each area, and more extensive trail guides are available for purchase at the bookstore in the Visitor Center.

Adjacent to the canal, just past milepost 112, Fort Frederick State Park has two easy hiking trails perfect for enjoying flora and fauna. Near Fort Frederick is the southern terminus of the Western Maryland Rail Trail in Big Pool. It offers 26 miles of paved trail, also suitable for hiking, with beautiful views along the way. Phase IV. of the rail trail was just completed in March of 2019, extending it all the way to Little Orleans, Maryland.

line of hikers on the Appalachian TrailAppalachian Trail – Weverton

If you’re interested in more moderate to difficult hikes, most of the 40-plus miles of Appalachian Trail that pass through Maryland are within Washington County. This includes many scenic overlooks such as Weverton Cliffs, White Rock, Washington Monument State Park, Annapolis Rock, Black Rock Cliffs, High Rock, and Pen Mar. You can plan a hike that lasts a few hours or a few days. The trail is rocky in sections and includes several challenging climbs that will surely get your heart pumping. When looking at the Appalachian Trail in its entirety, the Maryland section is considered easy, but when comparing it to other hikes in the region, some of the terrain is definitely moderate to difficult.

hiker on the Appalachian TrailAppalachian Trail – Annapolis Rock

Greenbrier State Park, part of South Mountain Recreation Area, is a multi-use recreation area with its own system of trails. The park has almost 11 miles of trails and part of the Appalachian Trail passes through the park. Several of the trails at Greenbrier are easy, like the Green Trail near the visitor center, while others, like the Big Red Trail, are much more challenging.

The Maryland Heights Trail is one of the most popular trails at Harpers Ferry National Historical Park and. As the name implies, it is actually located in Maryland but offers beautiful views of the historic town of Harpers Ferry, West Virginia; the confluence of the Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers; and the C&O Canal towpath. The trail varies in length from approximately 4.5 to 6.5 miles, depending upon your starting point and often on parking availability. It’s a heavily trafficked trail with steep and rocky sections that intersect with the challenging Stone Fort Trail, showing the position of Civil War artillery batteries.

hikers sitting on Weverton Cliffs boulders at sunsetWeverton Cliffs

Hiking is a wonderful way to explore and appreciate the beautiful scenic landscapes in Washington County, plus connecting with nature has been scientifically proven to benefit your physical and mental health. Be sure to know your route before you begin (cell phone coverage is not always reliable) and follow trail blazes carefully to stay on course. Always have plenty of water and trail snacks. Be prepared for hiking conditions, temperature and terrain, and practice Leave No Trace principles when on the trail. Protect yourself against ticks and be aware of potential wildlife encounters with black bears, timber rattlesnakes, and copperheads. Most of all, enjoy exploring Washington County!

 

 

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July 21, 2019 by Hannah Person Leave a Comment

The newest trail on Pathfinder is the Washington County Commission on Aging’s Outer Loop! This path goes along the perimeter of the senior center and is about 1/4 mile long.

Outer Loop signpainted footprints

Everyone, including older adults, can benefit from physical activity like walking. Even small amounts of physical activity have benefits! Physical activity can help older adults stay strong and independent as they age as well as help improve mood, manage chronic conditions, decrease pain, and improve balance. Talk with your doctor about what types of activity are appropriate for you.

Next time you stop by the senior center, add in a walk to your visit!

Visit trails in the county through August 31 and submit pictures to the Pathfinder Facebook Photo Contest for the chance to win a Fitbit Versa!

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July 8, 2019 by Hannah Person Leave a Comment

July is Park and Recreation Month! Here’s a look at one of the many amazing parks in Washington County!

Visit trails in the county through August 31 and submit pictures to the Pathfinder Facebook Photo Contest for the chance to win a Fitbit Versa!

Hagerstown City Park is a gorgeous park the features walking trails, a picturesque lake, several museums, and public art. The park was even rated the most beautiful city park in America by escapehere.com, a tourist destination website.

Hagerstown City Park rated the most beautiful city park in America

There are many trails perfect for taking a relaxing walk in City Park. You can view a map of a few different paths here. A three-sided kiosk located across the bridge at the Virginia Avenue entrance to the park provides a color-coded map of the trails as well as information about each one. There are a series of markers, known as wayside exhibits, that provide information about sites within the park.

Hagerstown City Park is home to the following destinations
  • Hagerstown Railroad Museum & Steam Locomotive Engine 202 –  The Hagerstown Railroad Museum features hundreds of signs, signals, bells, telephones and tools that were used by railroad workers throughout history. Most of the items in this significant collection came from the Western Maryland Railroad Company. Of special interest are an 1885 Pump Car and an 1875 Velocipede; both vehicles transported workers to rails or rail cars to make repairs. The crown jewel of the museum is Steam Engine 202. This Locomotive was built in 1912 by the Baldwin Locomotive Works and it carried passengers and baggage between Baltimore and Hagerstown. It was retired in 1953. Totaling 77 feet in length, the engine weighs 415,000 pounds. Steam Engine 202 is the only Western Maryland road-type steam locomotive in existence. In addition to the locomotive and its coal tender, six cabooses are also on display.
  • Jonathan Hager House & Museum – Visit the refurbished home of Hagerstown’s founder, Jonathan Hager, built circa 1739. This one of a kind house museum is staged with historic furniture and artifacts. Take a guided tour of the restored limestone homestead fortress built over a never-failing spring for an authentic educational heritage experience unlike any other. Located at 110 Key Street in Hagerstown City Park in Washington County, Maryland.
  • Valley Art Association at the Mansion House – A Georgian-style mansion house built by John Heyser in 1846. Today, the mansion serves as the headquarters for the Valley Art Association. Here, at the Mansion House, one can view and purchase the works of over twenty local artists. The old Mansion House creates a beautiful setting for the art that is displayed.
  • Washington County Museum of Fine Arts  – The Washington County Museum of Fine Arts contains permanent collections of Old Masters, American paintings, sculptures, textiles and Oriental art. Regularly occurring new showings feature new artists, ethnic collections and traveling exhibits. Sunday afternoon chamber music recitals are a Museum tradition.
  • Peter Buys Band Shell – A central feature of City Park, the Band Shell hosts summer concerts by the City Park Lake. The current Band Shell was erected in 1960, and is named for Peter Buys, conductor of the Municipal Band from 1920 to 1959. Park benches seat 250, and visitors are welcome to picnic on the open lawn area.

Hagerstown City Park also includes part of the Hagerstown Cultural Trail. You can walk the trail from City Park into the Arts & Entertainment district in downtown Hagerstown!

With so many trails and interesting destinations, Hagerstown City Park is the perfect place to take a walk! Walking is a great way to be more active and is the most popular physical activity among adults. Like other kinds of regular physical activity, walking at a brisk pace also may offer health benefits, such as lowering your risk of high blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart disease, and type 2 diabetes; strengthening your bones and muscles; helping you burn more calories; improving your fitness; and lifting your mood. Find tips to help you get started walking here.

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May 31, 2019 by Hannah Person Leave a Comment

Enter the Washington County Pathfinder Facebook Photo Contest!

The contest runs June 1, 2019 – August 31, 2019. A randomly selected participant will win a Fitbit Versa!

How to enter:

  1. Take a picture of yourself walking, biking, or boating at one of the trails on Washington County Pathfinder at https://washcopathfinder.com
  2. Like the Washington County Pathfinder Facebook page.
  3. Send your picture through Facebook Messenger to the Washington County Pathfinder page and include the name of the trail and/or park where the picture was taken.
  4. You may submit multiple entries, one for each different trail you take a picture at. For trails that are located in parks, you may submit one entry per park.

Encourage your friends to like your photo to vote for it! The most-liked photo will win a free entry into HEAL’s Color Splash 5k fun run on September 28th!

To vote for a photo, you must like the Washington County Pathfinder Facebook page and like your favorite photo entry.

Other Rules:

  1. A person can only win one of the two prizes.
  2. You do not have to live in Washington County to enter, but you must be able to come to the Washington County Health Department to pick up your prize if you win.

Filed Under: Facebook, MailChimp, News, Twitter

May 27, 2019 by Hannah Person Leave a Comment

Walking is great exercise and a healthy way to get around, but make sure you stay safe while walking near traffic! Here are some tips from the Maryland Department of Transportation’s Look Up. Look Out. campaign. The Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration’s (MDOT SHA) pedestrian safety campaign includes both drivers and pedestrians, because pedestrian safety is a two-way street. Pedestrian safety is an issue that affects the entire community; young and senior, drivers and walkers, in the day and at night.  On average, more than 100 pedestrians are killed each year in Maryland. Most of the incidents are preventable. The Look Up, Look Out campaign reminds drivers and pedestrian to stay alert, and follow the rules of the road and traffic laws. Pedestrian safety is always important, but everyone should be extra vigilant in the fall and winter seasons, especially in the morning and at dusk. With the time change, the days are shorter and visibility is lower when the sun sets. Pedestrians should wear light and reflective clothing when traveling after dark and drivers should remain alert, attentive and prepared to stop for pedestrians.

Look Up Look Out pedestrian safety tips

MDOT SHA offers the following tips that are best practice year round:

For pedestrians:

  • Use sidewalks and marked crosswalks whenever possible. If there are no sidewalks, walk facing traffic as far from the traffic as possible.
  • Press the pedestrian signal button and wait for the walk signal.
  • Always stop at the curb and look left, right and left before crossing a street.
  • Watch for cars turning in or leaving driveways.
  • Wear light or bright colored clothing, especially at night.
  • Pay attention and take off headphones while walking – no texting or playing games.

For drivers:

  • Always stop for pedestrians. It’s the law in Maryland to stop for pedestrians in crosswalks!
  • Follow traffic signs, signals, and markings.
  • Don’t run red lights.
  • Observe posted speed limits. Speeding only makes it more difficult to stop for pedestrians.
  • Keep your eyes on the road. It’s illegal to use a handheld phone/device or text while driving.

Check out this pedestrian safety tip card.

Follow the tips in this interactive infographic to avoid being hit by a car while walking.

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May 13, 2019 by Hannah Person Leave a Comment

There are lots of places to walk in Hagerstown. Check out this map for a few downtown routes and all the points of interest you can walk to in the city. Some of the most appealing points of interest are the public art pieces throughout the city. There are many pieces of public art along the Hagerstown Cultural Trail. Here’s a few highlights of public art around the city. Take a walk and visit them in person!

Biking Through History

This mural on the University Parking Deck on N Potomac Street was painted by Barbara Ingram School for the Arts students.

Biking Through Hagerstown

The Fishing Lesson

This sculpture can be found at City Park and is accompanied by a children’s book of the same name by Amanda Hart Miller.

The Fishing Lesson sculpture

The Welcome Tree

Painted by volunteers, this mural on the Memorial Blvd underpass shows a cheerful message to the children who walk past it on their way to school.

The Welcome Tree mural

Rivulet

One of the newer additions to the Cultural Trail, this interactive sculpture features two seats.

Rivulet sculpture

Butterfly and Hot Air Balloon Sculptures

These sculptures were painted by students from Barbara Ingram School for the Arts and can be found in various locations around the city.

Fancy Flag Butterfly Sculpture

This Little Light of Mine

This Maryland-themed mural can be found at University Plaza downtown.

This Little Light of Mine mural at University Plaza
Picture from artist Eric B Ricks’ Twitter

View to Wesel

This mural at 45 W Franklin Street shows a view to Hagerstown’s sister city since 1952: Wesel, Germany.

View to Wesel mural

Building Blocks aka Mural of Unusual Size

No mention of public art in Hagerstown could leave out this unusually large, colorful mural along the Cultural Trail.

Mural of Unusual Size
Photo from www.migmartinez.com

These are just some of the many public art pieces in Hagerstown. Walking, being outdoors, and viewing art can all boost your well-being. With spring here, now is a great time to get outside and view the art in Hagerstown in person!

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May 1, 2019 by Hannah Person Leave a Comment

bikehagerstown.org

May is National Bike Month! Check the events calendar and visit bikehagerstown.org to view all the bicycle events happening this month. May 8 is Bike to School Day! Bike to Work Week is May 13-19 and Bike to Work Day is May 17.

Why is cycling such a great physical activity? It’s aerobic exercise that also builds muscle, it’s easier on your joints than other activities like walking or running, and it’s a lot of fun! There are many trails you can cycle on in Washington County, including the 10-mile Hub City Bike Loop in Hagerstown!

Being active is an important part of staying healthy and feeling good. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, physical activity can reduce your risk of several chronic diseases like heart disease and cancer, improve your sleep, increase your energy and self-esteem, decrease depression, relieve stress, and help you live longer. Those are just some of the benefits of regular physical activity! Even if you don’t meet the physical activity guidelines recommendation of 150 minutes a week of activity, a little bit of activity has benefits over doing nothing! Check out this article from the American Heart Association about why physical activity is so important for your health and well-being.

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April 15, 2019 by Hannah Person Leave a Comment

Parks Fitness Challenge flyer

Join the City of Hagerstown’s Parks Fitness Challenge and get moving this May! The challenge runs May 1st – May 30th. Visit Hagerstown parks and complete different challenges at each park for the chance to win some neat prizes!

There are so many parks and trails in the city, it’s easy to find someplace to be active! And did you know that you can do a whole body workout just using common park equipment? Check out these videos to see how:

Bench Workout

Picnic Table Workout

Swingset Workout

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March 13, 2019 by Hannah Person Leave a Comment

Check out this blog post from America Walks that features Mary McPherson, a Program Manager at the Washington County Health department who completed the Walking College Fellowship Program last year.

Here’s a quote from the article:

Mary McPherson, Program Manager at Washington County Health Department and 2018 Walking College Fellow, took full advantage of the networking opportunities when she attended the Walk/Bike/Places Conference held in New Orleans last year — part of the Walking College activities — and it paid off, literally.

“Traffic Garden Pitch Gets Unexpected Funding

None of this would have ever happened without the Walking College Fellow experience. I learned so much, formed wonderful partnerships, and became much more confident in my ability to create change,” says McPherson.

The conference allowed Mary to hear about projects being implemented around the country. During one breakout session she connected with a few folks who talked about “Traffic Gardens” for children. Mary loved the idea and took it to heart, hoping to bring the concept to Hagerstown. After careful brainstorming with her new contacts she made a pitch to her connections in Hagerstown as well as the folks at the Maryland Department of Health. The idea was welcomed quickly and the health department was awarded $20,000 to educate children and build a Traffic Garden in Hagerstown.

Traffic Gardens are gaining traction as a fun but practical educational model for children learning how to get around by bike and hone their bicycling skills. It’s also a hands on, simulated way to teach kids how to safely use and share the road with all other users across the spectrum of active mobility modes.

“It will be amazing to have a place where children can enjoy their bicycles in a safe environment, learn the rules of the road and hopefully become life long bicycle enthusiasts… I feel that in all of my 20 years of work in public health, this could be the one project that will truly make a difference in the health of our community,” says McPherson.

You can learn more about Traffic Gardens in this blog post from the Safe Routes to School National Partnership.

The Traffic Garden in Hagerstown is expected to be completed this year. We’re looking forward to having a safe and educational place for children to ride their bikes in Hagerstown!

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December 20, 2018 by Hannah Person Leave a Comment

The American Public Health Association has a goal to get people to take 1 billion steps by the start of National Public Health Week during the first week of April. The challenge starts January 1st! Sign up and learn more here.

The Billion Steps Challenge supports broader health promotion efforts and the intersections between community design and active living, such as 2015’s “Step It Up: The Surgeon General’s Call to Action to Promote Walking and Walkable Communities.” We hope you’ll join us in advocating for programs and opportunities for all people to engage in physical activity in their communities.

The Challenge begins Jan. 1, 2019, with a goal of reaching more than 1 billion collective steps by APHA’s National Public Health Week celebration the first week of April. We hope you’ll join us!

Sign up for the Billion Steps Challenge on the MoveSpring website or by downloading the MoveSpring app (available at Google Play or in the App Store). If asked, enter “APHA2019” as the organization code for APHA’s Billion Steps Challenge.

Filed Under: Facebook, MailChimp, News

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