BC Parks Foundation
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outside and unplugged

Celebrate Parks Day 2022

Celebrate #ParksDay by sharing your favourite park with us!

We’re excited to be teaming up with Greystone Books to give away books that will help you get #OutsideandUnplugged in BC this summer:

ENTER TO WIN

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ENTER TO WIN 📚

How to enter

  • Between July 4-18, 2022, leave a comment on one of our posts telling us your favourite park to spend time in (@healthybynaturecanada on Instagram or Facebook, or @HBNCanada on Twitter).

  • Make sure you’re following both Healthy By Nature and Greystone Books on the platform you’re entering.

Three winners will be randomly chosen to win one of the books listed above, and announced on July 19, 2022. See below for full contest details. 

We can’t wait to hear all about your favourite parks!

Contest Rules & Regulations

The Parks Day giveaway contest is hosted by Healthy By Nature, an initiative of the BC Parks Foundation, and Greystone Books. Contest is open to residents of Canada, excluding Quebec, who are ages nineteen (19) or older. Three (3) prizes are available to win. Entries can be made via Instagram by commenting on one of @healthybynaturecanada’s posts, via Twitter by commenting on one of @HBNCanada’s posts, or via Facebook by commenting on one of Healthy By Nature Canada’s posts. Participants must be following Healthy By Nature and Greystone Books on the platform in which they are entering. By entering, participants give Healthy By Nature, the BC Parks Foundation and Greystone Books permission to re-post their comments and handles on their social media, blog and newsletters. Participants must own the copyright to all materials included in their submissions. Entries must be posted before 11:59 pm PST on Monday, July 18, 2022. Each comment constitutes one entry. There is no limit to entries per person, but any one person may only win one of the prizes. Prizes will be drawn at random by 5:00 pm PST on Tuesday, July 19, 2022. Winners will answer a skill-testing question. Contest is not sponsored or endorsed by Facebook, Instagram or Twitter. By entering, participants agree to the above rules & regulations.

Photo: Makenzie Pratt

March Nature Break

Show us how you spend time outside this March and enter our March Nature Break challenge with NatureKids BC!

Share your photos with us on social media to enter for a chance to win one of three (3) prize packs from NatureKids BC and the BC Parks Foundation Shop.

How to enter

Between March 14-27, 2022, post a photo of you spending time in nature by tagging #MarchNatureBreak, @healthybynaturecanada and @naturekidsbc on Instagram. If you’d like to enter on Twitter, tag @HBNCanada and @NatureKidsBC. On Facebook, you can post your photo either on our our page or in the comment section of our March Nature Break posts. Make sure you’re following both Healthy By Nature and NatureKids BC on the platform you’re entering. See below for full contest details. 

We can’t wait to see all of your #MarchNatureBreak photos!

Contest Rules & Regulations

The March Nature Break giveaway contest is hosted by Healthy By Nature, an initiative of the BC Parks Foundation, and NatureKids BC. Contest is open to residents of Canada, who are ages sixteen (16) or older. Three (3) prize packs are available to win. Entries can be made via Instagram by posting a photo, tagging #marchnaturebreak and @healthybynaturecanada and @naturekidsbc. Entries can be made via Twitter by posting a photo, tagging #marchnaturebreak and @HBNCanada and @NatureKidsBC. Entries can be made on Facebook by posting a photo on either Healthy By Nature Canada’s wall or NatureKids BC's wall or in the comment section of their March Nature Break. Participants must be following Healthy By Nature and NatureKids BC on the platform in which they are entering. By submitting photos, participants give Healthy By Nature, the BC Parks Foundation and NatureKids BC permission to re-post these images on their social media, blog and newsletter. Participants must own the copyright to all materials included in their submissions. Photo entries must be posted before 11:59 pm PST on Sunday, March 27, 2022. Each photo constitutes one entry. There is no limit to entries per person, but any one person may only win one of the prizes. Prizes will be drawn at random by 5:00 pm PST on Thursday, March 31, 2022. Winners will answer a skill-testing question. Contest is not sponsored or endorsed by Facebook, Instagram or Twitter. By submitting photos following the guidelines, participants agree to the above rules & regulations.


Hit the trails for a first day hike

Start off the new year on the right foot, then the left foot, then the right again, by going on a First Day Hike on January 1, 2022!

The idea is simple: head to your favourite park and hit the trails for a fun and easy way to kick off the new year.

We kindly ask that you leave nothing behind but footprints, stick to trails, plan appropriately, and let wildlife feed themselves. 

Hike to win

If you take part in a First Day Hike, you can enter for a chance to win one of three (3) gift cards to the BC Parks Foundation Shop!

To enter, post a photo on social media of you taking a First Day Hike on January 1. Make sure to add #FirstDayHike and tag @healthybynaturecanada on Instagram and @HBNCanada on Twitter. On Facebook, you can post your photo on our page, either on our wall or on the First Day Hike post’s comments. See below for full contest details. 

About first day hikes

First Day Hikes began in the United States over 25 years ago. The first-ever First Day Hike happened in 1992 in the DCR Blue Hills Reservation, a park just south of Boston, MA. They now welcome about 700-800 happy hikers to the trails every New Year’s Day. Parks across all 50 states now offer First Day Hikes.

The BC Parks Foundation’s Healthy By Nature initiative is excited to be one of the first international participants in First Day Hikes. Hikes are also being led in Ontario Parks, and we are proud to be working together to bring the #FirstDayHike tradition to Canada!

The many health benefits of hiking

Hiking is a fun activity people of all ages and fitness levels can enjoy. Memories made on the trails will stay with you forever. First Day Hikes make a great holiday tradition!

Beyond the good times on the trail, hiking:

  • Is good for cardiovascular health

  • Can help reduce your risk of heart disease, high blood pressure and stroke

  • Tones muscles especially in your quads, glutes and hamstrings. Add some hills or uneven terrain for an even better cardio workout and to burn more calories

  • Is good for your mind: research shows that spending time outdoors may increase your attention span and creative problem-solving skills by as much as 50% and nature sounds have been shown to lower stress levels.

First Day Hikes are even endorsed by doctors themselves, including our very own Dr. Melissa Lem, Director of our PaRx program. “From lower stress and blood pressure to a boost in your immune system and cancer-fighting proteins, the evidence is growing about the health benefits of getting active in nature,” she says. “We’re delighted to be helping Canadians celebrate the arrival of a new year, and encouraging them to get outside in a safe and healthy way!” 

Ready to hit the trails?

Remember to tag us in your #FirstDayHike snapshots on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter to be entered to win!

Contest Rules & Regulations

The First Day Hike giveaway contest is hosted by Healthy By Nature, an initiative of the BC Parks Foundation. Contest is open to residents of Canada, excluding Ontario and Quebec, who are ages sixteen (16) or older. Three (3) gift cards are available to win, valued at $35.00 CAD. Entries can be made via Instagram or Twitter by posting a photo, tagging #firstdayhike and @healthybynaturecanada (Instagram) and @HBNCanada (Twitter). Entries can be made on Facebook by posting a photo on Healthy By Nature Canada’s wall or in the comment section of their First Day Hike posts. By submitting photos, participants give Healthy By Nature and the BC Parks Foundation permission to re-post these images on their social media, blog and newsletter. Participants must own the copyright to all materials included in their submissions. Photo entries must be posted before 11:59 pm PST on Sunday, January 2, 2022. Each photo constitutes one entry. There is no limit to entries per person, but any one person may only win one of the prizes. Prizes will be drawn at random by 5:00 pm PST on Tuesday, January 4, 2022. Winners will answer a skill-testing question. Contest is not sponsored or endorsed by Facebook, Instagram or Twitter. By submitting photos following the guidelines, participants agree to the above rules & regulations.