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Contact: Robert Gutierrez, (360) 816-6247
Fort Vancouver National Historic Site, your local national park, is pleased to present the National Park Prescription Program on Saturday, December 6, 2014 at 10 am. Local healthcare providers will join patients and the community at Pearson Air Museum for a fun and educational event to promote outdoor exercise. This even celebrates the start of the Park Prescription Program, an innovative partnership between healthcare providers and the National Park Service that encourages outdoor exercise as a way to improve health. "We are all really excited to be a part of this effort. Bringing doctors out to the national parks is a powerful way to encourage our community to get outdoors and become a healthier nation," said park Superintendent Tracy Fortmann. At the event, doctors, patients, and the community will enjoy free coffee, healthy breakfast foods, and the opportunity to connect with others interested in outdoor activities as a natural way to improve health. Healthcare providers will also lead a discussion on the health benefits of outdoor exercise and provide details about the National Park Prescription Program. "There have been recent studies demonstrating a relationship between spending time outdoors resulting in increased feelings of happiness, reduced levels of stress, and expedited healing from illness and injury. We [healthcare providers] are now writing prescription for outdoor exercise," said Vancouver Physician's Assistant Henry Sessions. The event will conclude with a ranger-led hike with healthcare providers on the national park's Spruce Mill Trail. "Many of our urban park visitors see the value of Fort Vancouver National Historic Site as their outdoor fitness facility. Here, treadmills and gym walls are replaced with the fort's beautiful vistas and rich history," said Park Ranger Robert Gutierrez. Free monthly ranger-led walks, designed to exercise visitors' brains as well as their bodies, will soon be introduced, with details posted on the Fort Vancouver NHS website (www.nps.gov/fova). What: The National Park Prescription Program opening event When: Saturday, December 6, 2014 at 10 am Where: Pearson Air Museum, located at 1115 East Reserve Street, Vancouver, Washington, 98661 Who: This event is open to the public and will be presented by the National Park Service and local healthcare professionals. Cost: Free |
Last updated: February 28, 2015