It’s only natural that the St. Luke’s “Get Your Tail on the Trail” program would come to the Lehigh Valley Zoo, allowing participants to exercise among its array of beautiful animals and amazing vistas. You can be part of the festivities!
Join St. Luke’s University Health Network (SLUHN) and the Lehigh Valley Zoo as they celebrate their new partnership and dedicate a new half-mile walking trail on April 24 at 11 a.m. at the zoo, which is located at 5150 Game Preserve Road in Schnecksville. The event is free and will be held rain or shine.
Created by St. Luke’s and the Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage Corridor, Get Your Tail on the Trail is a free program aimed at helping people of all ages and abilities meet their personal fitness goals and experience the outdoors on local trails through day-to-day challenges, public events and motivating prizes.
“We are joining the Get Your Tail on the Trail program to bring awareness to and celebrate the fact that the zoo is an incredible place to get that important daily exercise in your life,” explained Pete Fox, Lehigh Valley Zoo’s Vice President of Marketing and Partnerships.
“The zoo has a scenic walk in nature that is ultra-safe and secure on top of the fact that there are over 300 beautiful animals you can gaze at as you’re exercising,” Fox said. “We are excited to be a part of St. Luke’s and the Get Your Tail on the Trail program’s dedicated mission of getting people outside and exercising.”
As part of the “Walk with a Doc” program, St. Luke’s lifestyle medicine doctor Bonnie Coyle will lead the zoo walk and discuss the health benefits of green exercise. Participants can walk at their own pace and distance at the zoo.
The Lehigh Valley Zoo’s half-mile general loop inside the zoo is stroller-friendly and treks through the zoo’s 130 species of animals. Along the way are new markers every tenth of a mile, so zoo guests know how far they have walked, and new trail signs with fitness tips.
“The walk is predominantly flat with one small decline area and one small incline area,” Fox noted. “The scenery inside the zoo in unprecedented and the fact that we are inside a 1,200-acre game preserve and out in nature is great for the soul and mind to relax and have an enjoyable exercise experience.”
Individuals interested in participating in the zoo walking trail dedication on April 24 should register online on the St. Luke’s website. They should also make sure to log their miles on TailOnTheTrail.org to earn free gear.
Note: This local health news is brought to you in partnership with St. Luke’s University Health Network.
A map of the Lehigh Valley Zoo.
