Shenandoah National Park in Luray, Virginia Opens Kids In Parks Track Trail
Luray, Virginia (PRWEB) October 31, 2014 -- November is a great month for hiking and it is easier than one thinks. There are many helpful blogs on getting kids to love hiking. According to Kids in Parks Director Jason Urroz, “Research shows that people have become increasingly disengaged from nature, spending less time in our parks and outdoor places, while spending more time “plugged-in” to electronic media. On average kids spend 7.65 hours per day “plugged-in” and only an average of 7 minutes per day in unstructured outdoor play."
To get parents 'informed' and kids 'inspired' check out Go Blue Ridge Travel's 6 Ways to Get Your Kids Excited about Hiking. Then take off for Shenandoah National Park (SNP) in Luray, Virginia. This past weekend SNP dedicated TRACK Trails Activity Trail. To encourage children and families to get outdoors, Shenandoah National Park has partnered with the Kids in Parks program to establish the Limberlost Trail as a TRACK Trails location. Supported with a grant from the Shenandoah National Park Trust, the park’s activity trail includes a new introductory exhibit and activity guide.
Jim Northup, Superintendent of Shenandoah National Park said, “With over 500 miles of trails, Shenandoah offers outstanding outdoor recreational opportunities for visitors of all ages and abilities. As a partially accessible trail, Limberlost is a great place for visitors to both experience the park and participate in the TRACK Trails program. Children who complete the new ‘Senses and Sensitivity’ activity guide can also use it in support of their Shenandoah Junior Ranger Program requirements. It’s a great way to have fun outside and learn at the same time.”
The Kids in Parks program grew out of a vision to address these trends by getting kids “unplugged” and physically active in parks for the child's health and the health of the parks. Kids in Parks is an expanding network of family-friendly outdoor adventures called TRACK Trails. Each TRACK Trail features self-guided brochures and signs that turn one's visit into a fun and exciting outdoors experience. Visitors are reminded that there is a $15-per-car entrance fee to Shenandoah National Park which is good for seven days.
"I am thrilled to see this trail open up and connect with Kids in Parks! This is definitely a must do on Shenandoah Valley Kids Trail Bucket List of experiences for every child before they turn 18!" said Nancy Craun. "You can make this a wonderful weekend by staying at the Mimslyn Inn or Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park in Luray, Virginia."
Read more on hiking ideas in Virginia and West Virginia.
About GoBlueRidgeTravel.com
Launched in December 2011, Go Blue Ridge Travel (GoBRT) was created as a travel getaway guide for trip planning in the Shenandoah Valley. Its mission is to create a marketing alliance available to businesses ion the travel-planning and retail shopping and dining industry for the northern Piedmont and Shenandoah Valley of VA, WV, and MD thru a website and social media platform reaching both locales and tourists. Founded and owned by Nancy Craun who grew up in the area and has 30 years of experience in the event planning, restaurant, hotel, and marketing arenas. GoBRT covers 160 plus mile radius of the Interstate 81 Corridor spanning the states of Virginia, West Virginia, and Maryland.
GoBRT’s goal is to help others discover the beauty of the Piedmont and Shenandoah Valley and check something off one’s bucket list. In 2013, Go Blue Ridge Travel received a Marketing Leveraging Grant from Virginia Tourism to develop a mobile website for families called Shenandoah Valley Kids Trail. A second grant has been awarded in 2014 to expand the marketing territories the Kids Trail is reaching.
Contact: Nancy Craun Founder and President GoBlueRidgeTravel.com and ShenandoahValleyKidsTrail.com Phone: 540.533.1853
Email: info(at)GoBlueRidgeTravel(dot)com
Nancy Craun, Go Blue Ridge Travel, http://www.goblueridgetravel.com, +1 (540) 533-1853, [email protected]
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