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Get Outdoors Employers Toolkit

The Get Outdoors Employers Toolkit helps Colorado organizations improve the health and well-being of their employees through outdoor activities. Based on the Governor's health initiative, the Colorado Outdoor Recreation Industry Office created the toolkit with the Center for Health, Work and Environment at the University of Colorado School of Public Health to encourage a healthier workforce.

Americans are spending less time outdoors. Roughly 90% of their time is spent inside buildings or vehicles. Less active lifestyles are linked to a rise in health issues. Research shows that outdoor recreation presents physical and mental health benefits including reduced stress, improved well-being, and increased social connectedness.

Overview

Type: Consulting/technical assistance

For: Businesses and nonprofit organizations

OEDIT division: Colorado Outdoor Recreation Industry Office

Over 50 organizations completed a survey and received a report with personalized results and recommendations on how they can improve their employee wellness programs. The survey was open in early 2020 and measured how well organizations use the outdoors to improve employee health and well-being through workplace initiatives.

Businesses that took the survey in early 2020 were eligible for the Governor’s Award presented at the annual Health Links event.

CafeWell
This app is the healthcare industry’s leading consumer activation platform. CafeWell’s solutions help employers connect employees with personalized health improvement resources, making it easy and rewarding for employees to complete actions that optimize their health and well-being.

Colorado Mountain Club Corporate Memberships
These memberships help businesses encourage employees to get outside. Colorado Mountain Club works with corporate members to create custom lunch-and-learns or company-specific hikes to get people out of the office.

Colorado OutdoorRX Report (PDF)
Developed by the Colorado Outdoor Recreation Industry Office, this report examines the current challenges and opportunities in using the outdoors as a way to improve health, particularly in Colorado.

Health Links
This mentoring program champions health and safety at work. It offers evidence-based healthy workplace certification and advising to help organizations and their team members achieve total worker health.

incentaHEALTH
This Colorado-based digital health company developed patented incentive technology that rewards individuals for improving their nutrition and exercise, which reduces healthcare costs for employers, health plans, and communities.

Metro Denver Nature Alliance
This growing coalition of nonprofit, government, research, and private sector partners that aligns nature-based efforts to ensure more equitable access to nature and to promote healthy people, communities, and natural places.

ParkRx
This resource is an information hub for park prescriptions and space for knowledge sharing in the practitioner community.

Thriving Weld Dashboard
This dashboard shows strengths, challenges, and opportunities in Weld County.

Ampt Biking
This organization provides outreach with the purpose of encouraging and empowering amputees through biking, whether it be road, mountain, BMX, or any other kind of riding.

Boulder PLAYPass
This pass reduces barriers to fee-based participation in sport and recreation programs, so all Boulder youth have the opportunity to thrive and live healthy, active lifestyles.

Colorado State Parks Free Entrance Days
Mark your calendar for these fee-free days.

Montbello Walks
This organization connects Montbello residents, youth, local businesses, elders, and more with one another and their surroundings through walking. The walks range in length and span a variety of paces, abilities, and conditions.

National Parks Free Entrance Days
Mark your calendar for these fee-free days.

Walk2Connect
Through connection-focused walking, communities become resilient voices that advance the importance of their own health, connection to their own community, walkable community design, and their distinctive pedestrian/mobility experience.

Adult Health and Nature Fact Sheet
This fact sheet reviews the current state of adult health and published literature supporting the physical and mental health benefits of nature.

American Heart Association Move More Campaign
This campaign offers different forms of exercise you like and stick with and can help you build more opportunities to be active in your routine.

Calisthenics Parks
This guide lets you know which Colorado parks have calisthenic exercise stations.

Cairn Guides
This organization specializes in customizing adventures based on what you want to experience.

Colorado Tourism Office Outdoor Activity Recommendations
This website provides a list of outdoor activities to explore Colorado.

COTREX App
This website and app was created by the State of Colorado and provides free access to Colorado trails.

Hiking Project
This website and app helps you get out on the trail with detailed maps shared by hikers like you.

Exercise is Medicine
This initiative provides physical activity assessment and promotes a standard in clinical care by connecting health care with evidence-based physical activity resources for people everywhere and of all abilities.

Mountain Bike Project
This website and app provides access to mountain bike trail maps.

Move Your Way
This physical activity campaign from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services promotes the recommendations from the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans.

National Parks by Chimani
This travel guide app for national parks includes maps and audio tours.

Oh, Ranger! Park Finder
This app helps you find nearby public land and includes forests, refuges, and parks.

San Luis Valley Great Outdoors
This organization provides residents and visitors throughout the San Luis Valley with accessible and inclusive outdoor recreation opportunities that connect communities, improve wellness, encourage stewardship, and contribute to the economic vitality of the region.

SHIFT Rx Challenge
Take your doctor’s recommendations for physical activity outside with the SHIFT Rx Challenge.

Trailforks
This trail database provides both a map and management system for users, builders, and associations.

Trailhead Institute
This consortium of public health experts is for anyone and everyone connected to today’s public wellness sector.

Recreate Responsibly Colorado Coalition
This coalition includes over one hundred government agencies, nonprofits, and outdoor businesses, all brought together by a love of Colorado’s outdoor spaces and a desire to help everyone safely enjoy the benefits of nature while protecting our public lands and waters. 

Are You Colo-Ready?
This resource includes tips for preparing for Colorado outdoors and Leave No Trace principles.

Care for Colorado Principles Toolkit
The Colorado Tourism Office and the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics created the Care for Colorado Principles in 2018 to inspire Colorado residents and visitors to protect Colorado’s special places.

Leave No Trace
This organization provides research, education, and initiatives so every person who ventures outside can protect and enjoy our world responsibly.

Sunwise
Get daily forecasts of the sun’s harmful radiation and ways to protect yourself.

Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado
This organization works with conservation and land agencies and relies on thousands of people annually to provide a volunteer workforce for outdoor stewardship projects.

Program Manager

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