Find Adventure and Win Prizes with TRACK Trails!
Fun and interactive activities to do on or off the trail
After visiting the Blue Ridge Parkway for the first time we found out about Kids in Parks and their TRACK Trails adventures which include hiking trails, biking trails, geocaching trails, paddling trails, nature trails, disc golf courses and more. Some activities can also be done in your backyard.
Where can you find TRACK Trails?
Currently there are TRACK Trail locations in 10 states:
- California
- District of Columbia
- Maryland
- North Carolina
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennesse
- Virginia
- West Virginia
- Wyoming
The beginning of the Blue Ridge Parkway Visitor Center TRACK Trail
Along with specific trails at each location, doctors can prescribe a TRACK Rx to their patients as a way to encourage physical, emotional, and cognitive health through outdoor play. It is part of the National Park Rx Initiative and Healthy Parks Healthy People Program introduced in 2011 as a way to use parks and public lands, with support of communities to promote a healthy lifestyle. Besides TRACK Rx, anyone can download a Backyard Adventure to try at home as well.
How can kids win prizes?
There’s 3 easy steps to earn prizes: First, you sign up for FREE and find an adventure. Second, experience your adventure outdoors. Lastly, track your adventure and after you will receive a special prize. There’s also a virtual medal by level you can earn depending on the number of trails you log in. Registration can be completed on the Kids in Parks website. As parents, we have to make each child’s profile online. When you log each experience in, you’ll be taken through some questions to go over with your child.
Are the trails family-friendly and can anyone do them?
TRACK Trails are designed for every family member
Absolutely! This was one of our first questions that I wanted to research first since we have all different levels of hikers in our family ranging from toddler to teenager. What I love about the options are how easily accessible they are and that they’re meant for everyone to try. Some even have activities you can do before setting off on the hike with take-home brochures that can easily be done on or off the trail.
Additional resources when giving TRACK Trails a go:
- App Happy Kids? Get Them Outside with TRACK Trails
- The Importance of Picking up Trash with your Kids
- Kids in Parks Blog
- 20 Things to do with your Kids on the Trail
- North Carolina State Parks Track Trails
Have you ever been on a TRACK trail? If not, which one are you excited to try? Let us know where you end up and if you post on social media, use the hashtag #TRACKtheTrails!
-5 Comments-
This looks awesome! Just curious, do I have to make a separate profile for each child or can our family just use one?
Hi! Yes, you do have to add in a separate profile for each child, but its great because once you log in their first TRACK trail, they’ll receive their first prize and certificate of being an official participant in the mail. All my kids loved the mail aspect which was incentive for future adventures.
That sounds fantastic! We’ll be doing the Blue Ridge Parkway this year for vacation. Along with Mammoth Cave 🙂 Any recommendations with a 9 and 4 year old? We’ll be camping that week as well.
Hi, Brittany! We ourselves have just moved here (since January) but I will update as soon as we can. When is your vacation?We are getting acclimated quite fast. There are so many beautiful places to explore here. We just explored Max Patch in Pisgah National Forest–amazing. Thank you for following along with us and our adventures!
Hey Brittany! We just checked out Devil’s Courthouse a couple of weeks ago and it was awesome. Perfect little climb with vast views. Not a long trek up, either!