National Recreation and Park Association Wants You to Get Wild this July!

High-tech treasure hunt during Park and Recreation Month encourages Americans to explore the benefits of parks

ASHBURN, Va., June 26, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Almost one year after Americans across the country "rocked their parks" with celebratory flashmobs, the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) wants everyone to show how wild they are about parks and recreation this July.  NRPA is pleased to announce this year's Park and Recreation Month program of activities.

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The 2012 theme of "Get Wild" encourages individuals, families, friends, and park-lovers everywhere to venture to their local parks and recreation areas to experience the many benefits they offer, such as programs to inspire healthy, active lifestyles and activities to appreciate nature and the environment.  

"Park and recreation agencies promote health and wellness and significantly contribute to the greater good of a community," says Barbara Tulipane, President and CEO of NRPA. "The obesity epidemic rages on, physical activity levels remain low and more than ever kids are staying indoors and behind electronic media.  Park and Recreation Month is a great time to take a stand against these trends by going to your park, getting active and of course, getting wild!"

Nationwide, park and recreation agencies will be helping their community "get wild" through a variety of fun initiatives, events, and activities. One such activity is the Get Wild Geocache contest. Geocaching is a real-world outdoor treasure hunting game, where players locate hidden containers, called geocaches, using GPS-enabled devices or mobile phones and then share their experiences online. During Park and Recreation Month, people can hunt for geocaches in their local parks and recreation areas and submit their treasure hunting stories or photos to NRPA through Facebook to be entered into a contest.  

Along with the geocaching initiative, NRPA encourages people to take the Get Wild pledge and show their "wild" side with the official Get Wild social media poster.

To learn more about how to get wild in parks and recreation areas across the country during Park and Recreation Month, visit www.NRPA.org/july.

Through efforts by NRPA, the U.S. House of Representatives passed an official resolution to create Park and Recreation Month in 2009.  The Association supports the national park and recreation community and the general public by advocating for federal support for park and recreation programs and legislation.   

The National Recreation and Park Association is a national not-for-profit organization dedicated to advancing park, recreation and conservation efforts that enhance quality of life for all people.  Through its network of 20,000 recreation and park professionals and citizens, NRPA encourages the promotion of healthy lifestyles, recreation initiatives, and conservation of natural and cultural resources.  For more information, visit www.NRPA.org.  For digital access to NRPA's flagship publication, Parks & Recreation, visit www.parksandrecreation.org.

America's Backyard was launched in 2010 by the National Recreation and Park Association to draw major public attention to the powerful and essential role of parks and recreation in America. The initiative seeks to educate citizens on the American park and recreation landscape, support and encourage national advocacy for the field, and leverage funding and resources for national programs that benefit local communities. For more information, visit www.americasbackyard.org.

SOURCE National Recreation and Park Association