Nashua River Rail Trail. Photo by Joel Moses
Opening Day for the fall season of the Nashua River Watershed Association (NRWA) Outdoor Wellness Walking program is Thursday, September 20th. We’ll meet at 8:00 a.m. on the Nashua River Rail Trail at the Station Street kiosk in Groton. Staff from the Nashoba Valley Medical Center will be on hand to conduct free blood pressure screenings. NRWA program directors will lead a 45-minute walk, approx. 2 miles, on the trail. Pre-registration is required for planning purposes. People who pre-register will receive a free pedometer at the Opening Day event, along with a packet of materials on exercise, diet, and walking. The Outdoor Wellness Walking program is free and open to the public.
The primary goal of the Outdoor Wellness Walking program is to help people in Nashoba Valley communities develop the habit of taking regular walks that will enable them to prevent a suite of health problems. The secondary goal is to introduce people to our natural world, leading to a positive environmental experience, improved health and personal well-being, and a higher quality of life. This program is being funded in part by a grant from the Nashoba Valley Community Healthcare Fund.
NRWA is leading wellness walks four days a week at 8:00 a.m. on the rail trail. Groups walk in Ayer on Mondays; Pepperell on Tuesdays; and in Groton on Wednesdays and Thursdays. The walks are free and open to the public. Participants can attend as many walk sessions a week as they choose. Summer walkers have enjoyed sighting and learning about plants and wildlife along the trail.
As part of the Outdoor Wellness Walking program, NRWA will also be offering eleven Wellness Trail Walks in eleven different communities in order to introduce people to trails in their area. Additionally, NRWA is partnering with the Nashoba Valley Medical Center to offer a series of Healthy Lifestyles & Wellness Lectures and Films. Additional information about the Trail Walks and Lecture/Film Series can be found at www.NashuaRiverWatershed.org. Schedules of the Trail Walks and Lecture/Film Series will also be available at the Opening Day event.
The Opening Day event, and all components of the Wellness Walking program, are free and open to the public. Specific location of the Opening Day event in Groton will be provided upon pre-registration. To pre-register for Opening Day, please contact Al Futterman, NRWA Land Programs Director, at (978) 448-0299, or email [email protected]. The NRWA is a non-profit environmental organization that depends on memberships for support.
