September 20, 2021
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For additional information, contact Marci Mowery at 717-236-7644 or [email protected].
Walk with a Doc Event at Bald Eagle State Park Promotes Health and Nature
The Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation partners with pediatrician Dr. Colby Wesner
Camp Hill, PA – As part of a movement to promote health, nature, and our state’s parks and forests, the Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation invites the public to a Walk with a Doc event at Bald Eagle State Park in Centre County, PA on Thursday, September 30th at 5:00pm.
Bring the whole family for this free event as pediatrician Dr. Colby Wesner guides a leisurely 1.5 mile walk along Butterfly Trail, a mowed grass path popular for siting a variety of butterflies. Participants should meet at the picnic area (with modern restrooms) on Skyline Drive. Registration in advance through the PA Parks and Forests Foundation website is appreciated.
“Pennsylvania’s parks and forests offer endless opportunities for family-friendly outdoor recreation. We are enthusiastic about our partnership with Dr. Wesner and hope that this walk will be the first of many and will inspire families to get outdoors together and to lead healthy active lifestyles by enjoying our state’s parks and forests” said Marci Mowery, President of the Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation.
Dr. Colby Wesner is a pediatrician who is board certified in general pediatrics and pediatric hospitalist medicine. Born and raised in central Pennsylvania, Dr. Wesner enjoys camping and backpacking throughout Pennsylvania’s state parks with his family. Wesner completed his pediatric training at Geisinger Medical Center, and currently works as a pediatric hospitalist at Mount Nittany Medical Center. In his spare time, Wesner is proud to serve as the president of the ThinkBIG Pediatric Cancer Fund, which aims to assist families in central and northeast PA who are battling pediatric cancer. Dr. Wesner partnered with PPFF with the goal of inspiring youth to spend more time outdoors.
Numerous studies point to the health benefits of spending time in nature. Walking is one of the best things you can do for your health.
Getting regular physical activity on trails helps:
- Reduce stress and anxiety
- Control weight
- Reduce risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and some cancers
- Strengthen bones and muscles
- Improve mental health and mood
- Improve sleep quality
- Increase your chances of living longer
- Increase positive feelings about quality of life
- Keep your lungs healthy
The Walk with a Doc – Advancing Wellness in Nature effort is a collaboration between the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR), the Pennsylvania Medical Society, Geisinger and the Walk with a Doc organization. As part of Pennsylvania Trails Month in September, the initiative is providing communities the opportunity to take an active role in their health while exploring their local outdoor recreational areas with medical professionals from the community.
“The pandemic has demonstrated the importance of time in natural places to our well-being, which is why we are excited to launch this effort that introduces people to new trails to try and makes the connection between health and the outdoors,” said DCNR Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn.
More information about the September Walk with a Doc effort is available on the DCNR website. Other walks around the commonwealth can be found on the DCNR Calendar of Events. Learn more about Walk with a Doc, the Pennsylvania Medical Society, and Geisinger on their websites.
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About the Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation
The Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation supports 121 state parks and 2.2 million acres of forest by coordinating volunteers, activities, and donations through its 48 chapters. The mission of the foundation is to inspire stewardship of Pennsylvania’s state parks and forests. To learn more about PPFF, visit https://paparksandforests.org/.
Follow us on social media:
Facebook: @PennsylvaniaParksAndForestsFoundation
Twitter: @PaPFF
Instagram: @paparksandforests
LinkedIn: Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation