For 19th summer, the GO! program strives to exercise body and mind

For the 19^th consecutive summer, WellSpan and libraries across Central Pennsylvania are launching Get Outdoors, also known as the GO! program, which is an interactive, outdoor scavenger hunt designed to exercise the body and mind.

This year, according to a press release, the program includes “an emphasis on keeping children’s math skills sharp during the summer months and pointing out wheelchair-friendly trails that enable people with physical disabilities to get outside.”

The GO! program spans Adams, Cumberland, Franklin, Lancaster, Lebanon, Union and York counties, all of which offer free unique activities. Program activities are not uniform in all seven counties, the release notes; some, for instance, are focusing this year on the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

“The GO! Program is a collaboration between WellSpan and local libraries that’s designed to inspire people of all ages to learn through reading activities and explore the natural beauty of the greenspaces in their local parks and trails,” said Sandra Gladfelter, health education coordinator lead at WellSpan Health. “We’ve seen participation in the program grow over time. Some families have participated all 19 years, and we’ve watched their kids grow up. As adults, they now bring their kids to experience this fun and exciting program.”

This year’s GO! program theme is “Get Outdoors and Discover the Past,” the release says, “encouraging participants of all ages to visit their local library to read books about fun ways to learn about tools used to dig up ancient treasures, industries that shaped our journey through history and even a few dinosaurs.”

In Lebanon County, specifically, there are 15 GO! locations to visit. 

“You will find something for everyone regardless to age, physical ability and interests,” the release says. “We are highlighting parks with great playgrounds, beautiful nature, and trails that welcome pets. As participants explore a new trail, they will engage in interactive reading exercises connecting developmental, physical and mental growth and well-being. Participants will also find a QR code on the Facebook page that directs them to math problems.”

The program was initially launched to help decrease childhood obesity while addressing “summer slide,” or the tendency for children to experience a regression in reading and critical thinking skills while outside of a structured learning environment, the release explains. “Last year, almost 5,000 children participated, walking more than 41,000 miles throughout the region. Some 15,795 participants signed up for the Summer Read program across all seven counties who logged nearly 16 million minutes of reading time.”

The GO! program strives to involve hikers of all ages, not just families, and all participants – including adults – have the chance to win a prize. WellSpan’s continued support is part of its Spotlight on Children’s Health initiative, which aims to champion the physical, emotional, intellectual, and developmental needs of children from birth to 6 years old.

The program begins with participants visiting their local library to pick up a guidebook called the ledger, the press release explains. All six Lebanon County libraries have guidebooks available. With the help of the ledger, participants can follow clues to locate hidden wooden posts that are also referred to as site markers across various locations in the seven participating counties. As participants find a site marker, they use crayons on a rubbing sheet to help capture and record the discoveries.

Participants also can record their discoveries and receive credit for their hikes by finding a code at the site marker and logging it online into a digital app called Beanstack.

Each county has a dedicated GO! website with directions to parks, information on prizes, and clues to help find the wooden posts. Participants are encouraged to share photos of their GO! hunts, tag @WellSpan, and offer tips, via the program’s county-specific Facebook page.

The program conclude in Lebanon County on Aug. 15.

The GO! program is partially funded through WellSpan’s Community Partnership Grant Program, which supports nonprofit organizations that improve the health of the communities and people WellSpan serves.