Pop-Up Outdoor Recreation Days

Outdoor Education Program Pilot The goal of the  PATHS (People Active on Trails for Health and Sustainability) Outdoor Education Program Pilot is to increase use of parks and multi-use (bicycle pedestrian) trails by low-income families in Connecticut and enhance the outcomes of the collaborative PATHS team that includes Extension’s Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) and community development programs. PATHS pop-up outdoor recreation days – The PATHS pop-up outdoor recreation day events will involve the development of “pop up” play spaces to include food demonstrations, educational material distribution, Walk with an Educator, a bicycle fleet for youth with helmets and Bicycle Safety Clinics (by League of American Bicyclists Certified Instructors (LCI) offered in partnership with BikeWalkCT)  game and active toys, on three existing park or trail sites across the state at EFNEP locations. The events will provide an opportunity for trail safety and advocacy organizations to distribute information about bicycle and pedestrian safety and health education. Sites that may serve as pilots include Danbury, New Haven, Hartford, Meriden, or New Britain, all of which have existing outdoor recreation  amenities, EFNEP education programs, and community partners with capacity.