Growing up in the sweltering heat of the tropics, I was raised to avoid going outdoors as much as possible -- but with this beautiful California weather I want to raise my own kids to appreciate the beauty of nature and reap the benefits of an active, outdoorsy lifestyle. We've having a "slow" summer this year -- no big trips, no fancy vacations, just two weeks of summer camp -- and we've been whiling away most of our time indoors, with trips to the library or museum, home crafts and more marathon tv sessions than I care to admit. Sometimes I need a big kick in the pants to remind me that we have a wealth of beautiful parks nearby just waiting to be enjoyed.
My kick in the pants has arrived, courtesy of Coca-Cola, who is sponsoring a Day in the Park event next weekend for a group of bloggers and their families. This is not your usual blogging event; there are no PR reps, no signs and no swag. Coke just wants to give some families a nice day out in the park and encourage them to take advantage of this incredible resource that we have that's almost literally in our back yards: our national, state and local parks. It's all part of Coca-Cola's America Is Your Park campaign, which encourages people to play and get active in the park this summer, and in the process help a National Park receive a recreation grant provided by Coca-Cola Live Positively.
With more and more funding being cut from the National Park Service, I applaud and support Coca-Cola's Live Positively initiative -- plus I'll take any excuse to get together with friends! -- so I was more than happy to help Coca-Cola and BlogHer organize the event. I'll be getting together with Leah from A Girl and A Boy and our friends, and we'll be spending a fun, low-key day at Crissy Field in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. We'll be touring nearby Fort Point, playing some lawn games and stuffing ourselves with turkey sandwiches and chips. We'll fly some kites and watch the windsurfers skim the waters off San Francisco Bay. With any luck, the sun will be shining and we'll have the Golden Gate Bridge as our backdrop. Can anyone think of a better way to spend the day? I can't wait!
About America Is Your Park
America Is Your Park is a program that encourages people of all ages to get active in the park this summer. In the process, people can vote for their favorite national, state or local park to win a recreation grant to restore, rebuild or enhance places within the park to play or be active. The park withthe most votes will be named "America's Favorite Park" and $100,000 from the Coca-Cola Live Positively initiative, which is now in its second year of sponsoring the program. Two runners-up will receive$50,000 and $25,000. You can help your favorite park win by voting online at LivePositively.com/americasparks, uploading photos from your favorite park to LivePositively.com or, checking in via Facebook Places from your favorite park. Voting runs untilSeptember 6, 2011.
Disclaimer: I am being compensated by Coca-Cola and BlogHer for organizing the event as well as blogging and vlogging about the event.
Crissy Field is a favorite of ours! Did you get your passport stamped? There are 3 stamps at the Crissy Field's Warming Hut. And there are stamps at Fort Mason, Fort Point, Alcatraz, Cliff House, Muir Woods, and various other areas within the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. Its a great way for families to expand their National Park horizon, document their adventures, and have a family hobby that can last through generations!
ReplyDeleteI wrote a blog post with more information on it here:
http://www.adventurebee.net/2011/08/18/americas-best-idea/