10-16-2023 2:26pm

Friends Of WCPD Recognize Kids Who Completed The 2023 WCPD 100-Hour Outdoor Challenge

Beth Callahan Editor

Kids get recognized by the Friends of WCPD for spending time outside.

LEBANON, OH -- During the Hisey Fall Festival held earlier this month the Friends of the Warren County Park District began distributing the "goodies bag" created to award the 159 kids who accepted and completed the 100-hour outdoor challenge this past summer.

The program, which challenges kids to spend at least 100-hours outdoors from Memorial Day to Labor day, tripled in the number of participants this year, noted Warren County Park District Naturalist Shannon Pennington.

“The last two years, there were about 50 kids who participated in the program. This year we had close to 160 kids,” she explained.

This program has been created to help kids get outside and enjoy nature. It can be anything from reading a book outside under a tree, playing at a playground, fishing, hiking or riding their bike.

"Any time outside counts," Pennington added.

September 4th was the last day that participants were allowed to turn in their paper showing they participated and completed the 100-hours. Once all names were received, they were entered into a drawing for the grand prize, which was four tickets to a Dayton Dragons 2024 Game along with four Dayton Dragons Ball Hats from Dayton Dragons Professional Baseball Team.

The drawing was made back in September at the Warren County Park District Commissioner's meeting where 7-year-old Michael Lamb's name was drawn as the winner.

Along with Michael winning the grand prize, all participants, who turned in their form, received a goody-bag filled with items to help them keep learning, exploring and eating. Companies that donated something to the kids for the 2023 program were:

Also, each child received a letter of congratulations for completing the challenge from both State of Ohio House Representatives Adam Mathews of District 56, which covers Mason and Lebanon and Scott Lipps of District 55, which covers the rest of the Warren County, and Congressman Greg Landsman of District 1, which includes all of Warren County.

To learn more about the Friends of Warren County Park District visit Friends of WCPD or the Park District's Facebook Page.