Transcript Nature Rx: Go Out and Play!

Philadelphia Nature Rx
A cross-sector collaboration aimed at increasing the amount
of time kids and their families spend playing outdoors.
Nature Rx: Models in Sister Cities

Boston: Outdoor Rx
 Mass
General Hospital for Children and the
Appalachian Mountain Club

Washington DC: DC Park Rx


National Park Service, NEEF and Unity Health Systems
Portland: Rx play
 Portland
P&R, Oregon P&R, 4 health partners
Philadelphia Nature Rx: Goals

Nature Rx will…
 increase
public awareness about
the health benefits of nature
 connect
Philadelphia families with
their local parks, trails and green
spaces
 provide
meaningful opportunities
for children and their families to
engage in at parks, trails and
green spaces
4 Year Pilot
Resource Development
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Database/map of green spaces across city
Database or some connection of city-wide outdoor
events and opportunities
Self-guided outdoor activities via mobile device
applications
Educational materials (posters, brochures, videos) on
health impacts of nature/outdoor play
Nature Rx Webpage as public home for all resources
4 Year Pilot
Planning Phase

Strategic Planning Task
Forces
 Education
& Advocacy
 Access& Opportunity
 Clinical Process &
Patient Activation
 Evaluation & Outcomes
Implementation Phase

Steering Committee
 Action
plan
implementation
 Technology integration
 Media campaign
A fun and effective family wellness initiative
Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage Corridor
St. Luke's University Health Network
Program Goals
• Provide fun & effective way for
community to get healthy while
enjoying environment
• Expand awareness of regional trail
network
• Encourage community connections
to nature
• Education through trail
programming
Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage Corridor
St. Luke's University Health Network
Participation to Date
• First Year Challenge –
• 2,400 Participants logged ~ 250, 000 miles
• Winter Mini Challenge
• ~ 50,000 miles logged
• Second Year Challenge –
• 1,732 Participants logged 511,776 miles
• 6 Schools took School Challenge
• 4,279 Participants since program inception
• 810,827 Miles logged total
Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage Corridor
St. Luke's University Health Network
Lessons Learned
• Participants like incentives and ability to post
pictures/stories on social media
• Unconventional partnerships are effective
• Program makes monetary sense to health
networks
• Health survey is important to start from beginning
• Having a doctor involved in planning helps gain
support of all doctors for the long-term
preventative effects
Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage Corridor
St. Luke's University Health Network
Thank you!
Visit: www.tailonthetrail.org
Contact: Elissa Garofalo
[email protected]
Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage Corridor
St. Luke's University Health Network