News Release

Health & Wellness Well Within Reach: National Park Service Wellness Challenge Kicks Off at Missouri’s Seven National Park Service Sites

The NPS Wellness Challenge

NPS

News Release Date: April 11, 2022

Contact: Douglas J Richardson, 816-254-2720

Contact: Carol J. Dage, 816-254-2720

Health & Wellness Well Within Reach: National Park Service Wellness Challenge Kicks Off at Missouri’s Seven National Park Service Sites
Missouri is pilot state for program that challenges participants to use National Park sites to further their physical, mental and learning health and wellbeingParticipants can earn stamps or digital badges upon completing activities

INDEPENDENCE, MO (April 11, 2022)—The National Park Service (NPS) has introduced a new way to experience Missouri’s beloved treasures – our national parks – with the National Park Service Wellness Challenge.

The NPS Wellness Challenge promotes the unique health resources that are found in national park sites across the country, and asks visitors to participate in physical, mental and learning wellness activities unique to each park. Missouri is the pilot state for this program.

“Not only are our national parks vital to the story of America, but they also provide so many incredible benefits to our health and wellbeing,” says Diana Allen, Chief, Healthy Parks Healthy People. “Join us in participating in the NPS Wellness Challenge this year. Whether you choose to hike Missouri’s trails, visit museums and historic homes, or take a moment to be aware and still, health and wellness are all well within reach at Missouri’s national parks.”

The NPS Wellness Challenge, part of NPS’s “Healthy Parks Healthy People” initiative, will kick off during National Park Week, beginning Saturday, April 16 and will run indefinitely.

The challenge was created with leadership and support from Gateway Arch National Park, Healthy Parks Healthy People and community partners.

“National Park Week is a great time to explore our national parks and to celebrate them,” says Carol J. Dage, Superintendent, Harry S Truman National Historic Site. “We are so excited to join our fellow Missouri national parks in commencing the National Park Service Wellness Challenge. We hope to help you discover the many ways in which our parks promote healthy lifestyles.”

HOW IT WORKS:

Each national park site will offer nine Wellness Challenge activities, organized within three categories: physical wellness, learning wellness and mental wellness. To get started, participants can pick up a National Park Service Wellness Challenge Guide at any Missouri national park site. When an activity in each category is completed, participants can get their guide stamped by an NPS ranger or download a digital badge to mark their achievement at go.nps.gov/NPSWellnessChallenge.

More information about the NPS Wellness Challenge, including a list of activities at all of the parks, can be found online at go.nps.gov/NPSWellnessChallenge.Missouri’s seven national park sites are:

• Gateway Arch National Park in St. Louis
• George Washington Carver National Monument in Diamond
• Harry S Truman National Historic Site in Independence
• Ozark National Scenic Riverways in Van Buren
• Ste. Geneviève National Historical Park in Ste. Geneviève
• Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site in St. Louis
• Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield in Republic

At Harry S Truman National Historic Site, visitors will have the opportunity to retrace Harry Truman's footsteps, visit Harry Truman's beloved Library and Museum, explore his neighborhood in Independence, his family farm in Grandview, Missouri, visit his aunt and uncle's home in Independence, read one of his favorite books, write letters, focus on nature, and more.