Authored by: Caitlin Loveitt, Let’s Go! Communications
Our mission here at Let’s Go! is to improve the lives of children and their families by partnering with communities and organizations to increase the opportunities for healthy eating and active living.
The 2015 Parks Pass Program is a perfect example of how this mission comes to life. Since 2006, Let’s Go! has partnered with community based primary care practices across the state and this year we’re reaching nearly 90% of Maine’s children through 148 registered practices.
We’re also going on a four year partnership with the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry’s Bureau of Parks and Lands. The Bureau has generously donated 13,000 free Parks Passes which we distribute to registered providers. Our providers tell us how much they love handing the passes to patients, which provide a little extra incentive to heed the doc’s advice to move more.
Thanks to these amazing partners, 13,000 families have the opportunity to visit one of Maine’s 48 State Parks. Families get a ton of physical activity swimming, biking, hiking, running around and playing games in some of Maine’s most beautiful places.
It’s our hope that parents take advantage of these free passes and plan a 5-2-1-0 family outing. Pack plenty of fruits and veggies for your 5 a day, leave your cell phone in the glove compartment for less than 2 hours of screen time, have fun exploring and you’ll easily get more than 1 hour of physical activity and lastly, be sure to hydrate with water, not sugary drinks.
