The Stark County Park District has kicked off its 10th annual Healthy Adventures program.
The program rewards participants for hiking and participating in other park adventures and runs through Oct. 31.
First-year participants will get a hiking staff and a charm of FeLeap the frog, the park district’s mascot, for completing 12 activities in the park district.
Repeat participants will get a Zippy the squirrel charm.
The rewards are free for Stark County residents and $5 for others.
Healthy Adventure forms are available at www.starkparks.com. They are also available at park district facilities and trailheads. The forms are also in the park district’s July-August newsletter that is mailed to homes in Stark County.
In a change, the park district is not requiring participants to hike designated trails or do specific other tasks.
Instead, the district is letting participants choose any Stark Parks trails and any distances they want to hike.
Participants can just write in the name of the trail with the date and initial the hike on the form. It is all on the honor system.
In addition to hiking, participants can also get credit for attending park district programs. Programs are listed at www.starkparks.com.
Participants can also get credit for canoeing or kayaking for an hour or more on Sippo Lake in Perry Township or Walborn Reservoir in Marlboro Township. You can rent boats (fees apply), or use your own boats.
You can also get credit for participating as a runner or walker in the Friends of Stark Parks’ annual Canalway Classic 5K on Aug. 10. Registration is underway at www.ohiochallengeseries.com. The registration fee is $23 before July 28 and includes a shirt.
You can become a member of the Friends of Stark Parks and buy a hickory hiking staff for $25.
For more information, call 330-409-8096.
Bob Downing can be reached at 330-996-3745 or bdowning@thebeaconjournal.com.