Healthy Parks Healthy People is a worldwide campaign to encourage healthy active fun in the outdoors while appreciating and taking care of our parks and open space areas. Parks Victoria in Australia initiated the movement and dozens of countries now participate. As the largest regional park system in the nation, the East Bay Regional Park is leading the Healthy Parks Healthy People movement in the United States. We are partnering with other park, recreation and community organizations to provide opportunities for families to experience traditional and non-traditional types of outdoor activities while reconnecting to the outdoors. If you are part of the Facebook community, give us a “like” and tell us what you did today – or are planning to do – as part of your commitment to getting healthy in the outdoors.

~ Come to the second annual Healthy Parks Healthy People Festival Saturday, June 23, 2010, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Celebrate National Get Outdoors Day at Quarry Lakes Regional Recreation Area in Fremont!

~ Join the 2012 Trails Challenge! The self-guided, self-paced hiking program is free to residents of Alameda and Contra Costa County. Register online and download your guide to hikes in 20 East Bay Regional Parks. Visit the Regional Parks Foundation web site to register today!

~ Youth ages 12-18, showcase your best artwork of you, your friends and family getting active outdoors! For complete contest rules, deadlines and details, visit GetActiveContest.com

NBC Bay Area reporter Doug McConnell shows us why taking in the wonder of Mother Nature can have long lasting health benefits. Watch the Video.

Commit to get fit and discover the wonders of the Regional Parks including hikes, children’s programs, nature stories, volunteer opportunities and much more. Sign up for our monthly online newsletter today.