Stay active this winter with Ottawa Walks!

Ottawa Walks is a free, year-round neighborhood walking program!

The new year is a great time to get started with a walk near you. According to the Mayo Clinic, here is how exercise helps over the holidays:

• Exercise boosts mood. The mood-enhancing benefits of exercise can help you manage the mental stress of the holidays.
• Exercise burns calories. It can help you maintain a healthy weight — even after indulging in that large holiday meal. There's nothing like a walk after a carb-laden feast. In fact, one study found that taking a 20-minute walk after a meal helps lower blood-glucose levels in people with diabetes.
• Exercise can be fun. A game of badminton or horseshoes with guests can provide laughs and exercise. In winter in many parts of the country, the weather provides bonus activities to help you stay active, such as ice skating, skiing, sledding or snowshoeing.
• Exercise is a great way to spend time with your loved ones. Instead of sitting on the couch watching the game, get outside and play a game together or go for a walk.
  

"Ottawa Walks provides a safe, fun atmosphere for walking. I feel hope and gratitude when I walk with people who care about the individuals in the group and are willing to flex the walk to meet other's physical needs. We have fun walking and talking and relaxing!"
-Sue Thompson, Walk Leader

---

With the changing season and darker days, Ottawa Walks is a great way to continue being active indoors and outdoors with the accountability of meeting up with a group.

More Winter Walks

Another option to explore parks is to register for a naturalist-guided Winter Walk at an Ottawa County Park property. Snowshoes will be available if weather permits. If not, we just hike! Winter Walks are scheduled from 10-11:30 am. Check out the schedule below (please pre-register by clicking the link):

January 4 - Paw Paw East
January 25 - Hemlock Crossing
February 1 - Grand River Park
February 15 - Connor Bayou
February 29 - Grand Ravines South

For the most up to date information, visit miOttawa.org/ottawawalks

To learn more about outdoor winter recreation opportunities in Ottawa County, visit miottawa.org/parks

We hope to see you at a walk soon!

• 2019-20 Winter Ottawa Walks Poster.pdf