Published December 20, 2024
Your 2025 MetroParks Wellness Guide
New Year, New You? That is an expression to leave in 2024 along with discouragement of unachieved resolutions. In reality, focusing on a happy and healthy version of yourself is a great goal for the New Year – and that looks and feels different for everyone.
According to Drive Research, only 9% of people will achieve their resolutions, with most giving up just weeks after they begin. Rather than relying on unsustainable changes, focus on creating a lifestyle that prioritizes wellness, from physical and financial health, to making time for friends and hobbies.
While wellness is different for everyone, a universal place to help support everyone’s lifestyle journey can be found in the great outdoors.
Indeed, spending time outdoors provides a host of benefits that can cover many of the big points for would-be resolution adopters, including improving health, finding new hobbies and spending more time with family and friends.
Read on for MetroParks’ 2025 Wellness Guide for suggestions to help support your overall wellness and make 2025 a great year:
PHYSICAL HEALTH
For many, improved physical fitness is an important goal and one that can be achieved outdoors. In fact, moving your body outdoors often provides a more productive workout than heading to a gym. Plus, opting for activities outside allows you to access all the great mental health benefits of time spent in nature, including reduced stress, anxiety and depression.
HEART HEALTHY TRAILS
Cost: Free
Experience level: Beginner
MetroParks’ Heart Healthy Trails are easy-to-moderate trails that encourage users to maintain the American Heart Association’s pace for heart healthy activity. vary in terrain but are easy to traverse and have signage marked every quarter mile to help you maintain your pace. Learn more.
Why we love it: These trails are a great starting point for those who haven’t been active in a while or are orienting themselves with walking outdoors.
METROPARKS TRAILS CHALLENGE
Cost: Free
Experience level: All levels
The annual MetroParks Trails Challenge begins on Feb. 1, 2025 and features 28 trails for hiking, biking, paddling and beyond. Trails vary in length, so participants can start with shorter trails and work up to longer trails. The challenge can be completed on your own time and at your own pace, which allows participants to create their own adventures. Each trail checked off is also a chance to win cool prizes. Learn more.
Why we love it: Because the challenge features so many trails, participants might find a new favorite park. Keeping track of your progress is simple thanks to MetroParks Mobile app, which is free and can be downloaded at metroparks.org/mobile. This challenge is also great to do with a buddy, so you can hold each other accountable for checking off trails.
METROPARKS ICE RINK’S 14 FOR FITNESS CHALLENGE
Cost: Rink admission and skate rentals
Experience level: All levels
Take the 14 for Fitness Challenge at the MetroParks Ice Rink to glide your way into a healthy New Year. Simply ask for a punch card during your next visit to RiverScape MetroPark. Fill up your card with each visit to the rink by Feb. 28 for a chance to win cool prizes. Learn more.
Why we love it: Ice skating is a great way to work out while still having fun. The MetroParks Ice Rink is also a fun destination to spend time with family and friends.
TRY WINTER HIKING SERIES
Cost: Free
Experience level: Beginner/moderate
The Try Winter Hiking Series is a way for folks to acclimate to hiking in colder weather. MetroParks’ outdoor recreation team guides these cold-weather hikes, giving participants the opportunity to learn more about the trails and ask about hiking tips. These programs are free but space is limited and registration is required.
Why we love it: These programs are a fun way to meet others with an interest in hiking – you may even find a trail buddy. Additionally, these programs are hosted by pros and are free for those 16 and older..
HIKE THE TWIN VALLEY TRAIL
Cost: Free
Experience level: Advanced
Hike the nearly 30-mile Twin Valley Trail that connects Germantown to Twin Creek MetroPark in sections or plan to camp and make a weekend of it. Train to take on the Twin Valley Trail Challenge in June to see how long you can hike in one day.
Why we love it: This is a versatile trail loop: You can complete sections or the entire loop over a few days and make a mini adventure out of it. The Twin Valley Trail is also a great way to condition for an epic hiking trip in a national park.
EATING FOR NOURISMENT
In addition to physical movement, diet is a large part of people’s wellness goals, whether weight loss-related or otherwise. Adding more colorful plants into one’s diet is always recommended, as produce is nutrient dense and full of fiber.
GARDENING PROGRAMS
Cost: Costs vary
Experience level: All levels
Take gardening programs in the winter so you are ready for the gardening season this spring. MetroParks gardening experts host programs that explore a variety of topics, including gardening produce. Growing your own produce is often healthier and less taxing on the environment. Don’t have gardening space? No worries, Five Rivers MetroParks offers community gardening plots at Wegerzyn Gardens and Possum Creek MetroParks that are available starting in April. Check out MetroParks’ gardening programs.
Why we love it: Gardening is great for your diet and can quickly become a hobby that keeps you outside. Because gardening requires a lot of movement, it’s also a great option to support physical health, as well.
2025 CSA FAIRS
Cost: Free
Experience level: All levels
Community supported agriculture (CSA) is a way for individuals to support local farms directly, allowing consumers to get the freshest food available – all while helping the environment. A great opportunity to create a more balanced, veggie-filled diet, the 2nd Street Market’s annual CSA Fair connects you directly with local farmers.
The Market’s CSA Fair offers both virtual (Thurs, Jan. 23) and in-person (Sunday, Jan. 26) options. While both options are free, space is limited for the in-person CSA Fair and it requires registration.
Why we love it: This is a great way for people to learn more about why CSA is so important and for those who want the freshest produce without having to actually garden.
SUPPORT YOUR MENTAL HEALTH
Mental health is just as important as physical health, in fact, they are often directly linked. Those who move their bodies tend to benefit from endorphins and reduced stress. However, there are plenty of ways to work on supporting your mental health outdoors that don’t include a vigorous hike.
MINDFULNESS WALKS
Cost: Free
Experience level: All levels
MetroParks’ Mindfulness Walks were developed with being present in nature front-of-mind. Nature has incredible ways of reducing stress, anxiety, depression and even lowering blood pressure. Because Mindfulness Walks are guided through MetroParks’ mobile app, you can access Mindfulness Walks prompts anytime, but they are specifically designed for Eastwood, Sunrise, Possum Creek and Huffman MetroPark.
Why we love it: Many people may feel very vulnerable trying something new, especially revolving around mental health care. Mindfulness Walks can be done by yourself and on your own time, providing you the opportunity to explore independently.
WELLNESS FRIDAYS AT THE MARKET
Cost: Free
Experience level: All levels
From Book Clubs to the Benefits of Sound Healing, the 2nd Street Market’s Wellness Fridays offers programs from Market vendor experts and community partners that allow participants to take an overall approach to wellness through self-care. Learn more about this series.
Why we love it: This new series is versatile and covers a lot of ways to promote self-care. Some weeks involve gentle movement, while some stimulate your brain; however, each week there’s an opportunity to make new friends and connect with the community.
PAINT-A-PARK
Cost: Free
Experience level: All levels
Paint-A-Park is the first Sunday of each month from 2 to 5 p.m. and is hosted in a variety of parks throughout the year. MetroParks provides all the supplies and participants enjoy being present and creative in nature. Visit MetroParks’ website to see digital galleries of different masterpieces created by program-goers.
Why we love it: This is a great way to gather friends and family for a free activity that can turn into a hobby.
NATURE JOURNALING
Cost: Low
Experience level: All levels
Purchasing a notebook to create a nature journal or simply journaling in nature can help support one’s mental health, as it encourages folks to be present in nature and process through writing. Check out this Sierra Club story on how to start a nature journal.
Why we love it: According to Talkspace, journaling is a great way to support one’s mental health and journaling outside has additional benefits. For those who don’t want to keep track of a notebook, you can go digital with a notes app on your mobile phone.
GET INSPIRED TO FIND A NEW HEALTHY HOBBY OR EMBARK ON AN ADVENTURE
For many, finding a new hobby is a form of self-care away from the demands of home and work. Outdoor hobbies are perfect for those who want to spend more time with family and friends, too. Outdoor hobbies are a fun way to blend travel and your passions.
THE ADVENTURE SPEAKER SERIES
Cost: Free
Experience level: All levels
The Adventure Speaker series – hosted by Five Rivers MetroParks and Wright State University – showcases local speakers who have embarked on awesome adventures locally and across the world. These talks can often inspire people to plan their own bucket-list adventures.
Why we love it: There is a series of four talks on different topics, so it’s easy to make it to at least one speaking engagement. This series is also the perfect place to meet like-minded adventurers.
DAYTON BACKPACKER CAMPFIRE SERIES
Cost: Free
Level: All levels
Much like the Adventure Speaker Series, the Dayton Backpacker Campfire Series covers a variety of topics of interest to outdoor recreationalists, from paddling to hiking the Buckeye Trail. These programs are hosted once a month at Cox Arboretum MetroPark.
Why we love it: These monthly programs are free and a fun way to make plans with friends who also enjoy the outdoors – you may even be inspired to travel together to a cool outdoorsy destination.
FISHING PROGRAMS
Cost: Costs vary
Experience level: Beginner/moderate
MetroParks’ fishing programs, such as Adult Fly Tying, are the perfect way to build the skills needed to take someone who has a causal interest in fishing to an angler. Programs cover a variety of topics from gear to filleting your catch. For many of these programs, registration is required.
Why we love it: Not everyone wishes to build up their physicality to running an ultramarathon on the trails and fishing is an opportunity to recreate outdoors in a more passive way. This activity is also a great way to spend quality time with family and friends who also enjoy being near the water.
DISCOVER PADDLESPORTS & RIVER VAN ACCESS TOURS
Cost: Varies
Experience level: Beginner/moderate
MetroParks’ winter and early spring paddling programs prepare you to get on the water when the weather warms up. While participants won’t be on the lakes or rivers, they will learn about gear, where to paddle and the locations of put-ins and take-outs along the region’s rivers. Perhaps most importantly, MetroParks’ outdoor recreation staff help prepare future paddlers to be safe on the water. Learn more and register for these programs.
Why we love it: Because you always need to embark on paddling adventures with a buddy, these programs are perfect to take with a friend, family member or partner. Additionally, they build the confidence you need to move on to a MetroParks’ Try Kayaking program in the summer.
TRY BACKPACKING
Cost: Free
Experience level: Beginner
Try Backpacking, March 9, from 10 a.m. to noon at Sugarcreek MetroPark, is for those who are interested in backpacking, but aren’t sure how to get started. MetroParks’ outdoor recreation professionals answer questions, explore gear and outfit participants for a hike on the trail with a borrowed pack. Registration is requested, walk-ins are welcome. Learn more.
Why we love it: While many people may be used to carrying a daypack while hiking, carrying a backpack for multiple days on the trail is different. This program illustrates what folks should look for in a pack before making a purchase.
BIKE TOURING PROGRAMS
Cost: $5
Experience level: Moderate/advanced
Bicycle touring programs empower cyclists to embark on human-powered adventures right here in the Miami Valley and beyond. Topics cover touring the greater-Dayton region – home to the nation’s largest paved trail network – and covers styles, routes and resources. Space is limited and registration is required for these programs.
Why we love it: Bike touring is best with a buddy, so it’s a great way to spend time with friends. Additionally, bike touring blends all the best elements of travel, camping and cycling. Plus, it’s a green way to embark on an adventure.
For a complete list of MetroParks’ programs, special events and activities that can be done independently, visit MetroParks’ website. To be sure you don’t miss an opportunity to work on your wellness this year, sign up for MetroParks Monthly and other MetroParks email offerings.