April 21, 2017 - The "Walk in the Park with the Doc and Nurses" is ON for Sunday morning, April 23from 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM, in observance of National Park Rx Day. We'll be leading everyone who wants to join on a free, fun, family-friendly and health-focused walk in our beautiful Yosemite Valley. The Clinic staff looks forward to meeting you!
What: Health-focused, family-friendly walk in the Valley with Yosemite Medical Clinic's staff. We'll have fun and discuss the health benefits of being outdoors, in Nature.
Where and When: Meet at the Front Entrance of the Yosemite Valley Visitor Center at 9:00 AM on Sunday, April 23.
How to Join the Walk: Two Options - (1) Anyone interested can sign up the morning of the Walk in front of Visitor Center between 8:30 AM and 9:00 AM on Sunday, April 23, or, (2) Sign up at our booth on the Mall near the Visitors Center (look for the ambulance display) during Yosemite National Park's Earth Day Celebration from10:00 AM to 2:00 PM on Saturday, April 22.
More Details: The Walk will follow a fairly flat course in the Valley. Additionally, depending on the level of interest, a more challenging Walk may be offered - to be determined the morning of the Walk. Participants should dress appropriately for the weather, bring drinking water, sunscreen and wear closed-toe shoes suitable for hiking. For more information, call the Clinic at 209-372-4637.
Where to Park: The weekend of April 22 and 23, 2017 will be very busy in Yosemite National Park. Visitors planning to join us are encouraged to plan their trips in advance and arrive to the park before 9:00 am. Parking areas throughout the park are expected to fill early in the day. Visitor parking will be available at the Yosemite Falls Day Parking Area, located near Yosemite Lodge and Camp 4, and at Half Dome Village. Visitors are encouraged to park and utilize the free park shuttle to get to the Yosemite Valley Village and Visitor Center.
Public transportation is a wonderful way to visit Yosemite Valley. YARTS (Yosemite Area Regional Transportation System) buses run multiple times daily and provide visitors with a safe and convenient way to visit the park.
Source: J. Richards, NPS
Park Rx Day is April 23, 2017
You are invited to join forces with parks, communities, and healthcare providers all across the country to celebrate the 2nd National Park Prescriptions Day on Sunday, April 23, 2017.
Park prescriptions is founded on the idea that parks can be gateways to good health—providing fun, accessible places to get some physical activity and to relax and enjoy time with family and friends. Learn more about Park Rx: http://www.parkrx.org/,
What is Park Rx Day?
Park Rx Day is a day for people everywhere to give themselves the gift of good health, with a walk in the park, and to celebrate the growing Park Rx movement that has doctors prescribing time in parks to their patients to improve their health.Park Rx Day aligns with the U.S. Surgeon General’s https://www.surgeongeneral.gov/library/calls/walking-and-walkable-communities/index.html, Step It Up! Campaignby promoting walking outside in parks and creating walkable communities to improve people’s health.
Eight reasons to get outdoors and enjoy a walk in the park on Park Rx Day!
- Being in nature can improve your mood.
- Having access to parks can increase physical activity and combat obesity.
- Parks and their health benefits can be enjoyed by anyone regardless of who you are and where you come from.
- Contact with nature through parks improves all people's physical, mental and spiritual health.
- Parks foster social connections which are vital to community cohesion and contribute to social well-being.
- For children, parks foster active play, which is associated with physical, cognitive and social benefits.
- For adolescents, parks improve mental and social health during what is often a challenging time of life.
- Park use is linked to physical and mental health benefits among adults, especially older adults.
Give yourself the gift of better health, with a walk in the park.
There are more than 400 national parks across the country. Here’s a sampling of fun ways you can connect to nature for your health on Park Rx Day on April 23:View the calendar of events to find a healthy nature experience near you.
What's new for Park Rx Day in 2017?
- Park Rx Day is being organized by a consortium of partners across the country with leadership from the National Recreation and Park Association, the National Park Service, and the Institute at the Golden Gate.
- In 2016, Park Rx Day was organized by the National Park Service.
- Participation is expected to more than double, with celebrations being expanded to include local, state, and regional parks and public lands. An event in San Francisco alone is expected to draw 3,000 people at Chrissy Field at the Golden Gate National Recreation Area.
- Last year, Park Rx Day was celebrated in over thirty locations.
- The social media presence will be broadened to include DOI Snapchat stories, and partnering social media channels to amplify the message even more. Explore Park Rx on: Facebook; https://www.facebook.com/nationalparkrx, and Twitter; https://twitter.com/NatlParkRx.
Source: NPS
