Healthy Living Programs
Healthy Living
Numerous studies have shown that as we grow older, our health may decline from lack of exercise and, more importantly, loneliness and isolation. Join Timucuan Parks Foundation for walks featuring Jacksonville’s parks and preserves and learn about the physical and mental benefits of recreating outdoors.
The popular Healthy Living walk series gets folks outdoors to explore new parks, meet new people, and enjoy low-impact exercise.
Previous Healthy Living virtual presentations are available for viewing at the links below.
Our Healthy Living series typically takes you on kayaking, hiking, and other adventures in the wilderness parks, helping to bring awareness about these special places and how spending time in nature may improve our social, physical and mental well-being.
Join the list for 2023 events by signing up on the form below.
Healthy Living Registration
Register here to get added to our Healthy Living email list.
Virtual Hike Into Historyat American Beach
During the Jim Crow era of segregation in the United States, African Americans were denied access to most of the beaches along Florida’s spectacular shoreline. American Beach was developed to deal with this issue and to provide an environment where individuals could enjoy recreation and relaxation without humiliation.
Will Dickey’s Nature Photography in the Parks Virtual Walk
Discover the parks through the lens of award-winning photographer Will Dickey as he presents inspiring images of Northeast Florida’s spectacular landscapes, seascapes, and wildlife and shares tips and techniques for capturing nature that could help level up your photo-taking skills.
The Isle of SarabayVirtual Walk
Take a virtual tour of the rich Native American history of Big Talbot Island State Park, with special emphasis on the Grand Shell Ring (AD 1000) and the Mocama Timucua village of Sarabay (AD 1500-1610), presented by Keith Ashley, UNF Assistant Professor of Anthropology.
Mark Woods' National ParksVirtual Walk
Mark Woods, columnist for The Florida Times-Union and author of Lassoing the Sun: A Year in America’s National Parks, talks about spending one year in the national parks, working on a project about the future of the parks.
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Go365
Duval County ranks 42nd of 67 Florida Counties in overall health with critical concerns about obesity and mental health. Mayor Curry recognized how important it was for our residents to improve their overall health, announcing two initiatives – Journey to One and a Million pound weight loss program. We at the Timucuan Parks Foundation believe our preserves can be instrumental in building a healthy city and we are doing our part through our community health initiative.
As part of that health initiative, the Timucuan Parks Foundation is pleased to announce that they have teamed up with Humana, Inc. to offer a unique opportunity for Jacksonville employers and employees who offer the Go365 wellness program.
Go365 is a wellness and rewards program where participants check in to “Beacons” and accumulate points on their smartphone Go365 app for rewards and incentives. Timucuan Parks Foundation has placed 25 Go365 “Beacons” in 22 of Jacksonville’s parks and preserves, offering Jacksonville employers who support Go365 and their employees new motivation and inspiration to get active. If you work for one of the following employers, you can start earning awards today.
Employers who support Go365
- City of Jacksonville (ALL COJ employees are eligible to register for Go365, even if they do not have Humana as their insurance carrier)
- Community Hospice and Palliative Care
- CSI Companies
- Digital Risk
- Jacksonville Transportation Authority
- KLS Martin
- OPIS
- PACE Center For Girls
- PGA Tour
- Stellar
- Westminster
Note: This is a pilot project (Jacksonville is the first in the country!) and we are happy to report, the beacons are installed and working at the Timucuan Parks!
Youth Education
In partnership with City of Jacksonville, Florida State Parks, and National Park Service, our outdoor youth service-learning programs provide a fresh, hands-on approach to the ways learning can be integrated with the outdoors, empowering students to become avid learners, and enabling them to begin building a lifelong connection to the wilderness parks and other public lands.
Our goal is to encourage outdoor recreation and environmental stewardship as life-long pursuits.
Therapeutic Parks Advisory Group
Timucuan Parks Foundation has created an inaugural Therapeutic Parks Advisory task force to assist the City of Jacksonville with the updating of Castaway Island Preserve as a therapy park. Members include professionals from City of Jacksonville Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Services; Brooks Rehabilitation; Jacksonville University Brooks Rehabilitation College of Healthcare Sciences; Mayo Clinic; and University of North Florida Department of Public Health, Brooks College of Health. These stakeholders are enthusiastic about our moving forward with this Castaway Island Preserve pilot project to serve as a template for physical and mental rehabilitation in the parks for patients and their caregivers.
Castaway Island Therapeutic Parks Advisory Group
| Name | Affiliation | Title |
| Dr. Todd Sack | Timucuan Parks Foundation | Board member, Timucuan Parks Foundation Retired, Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Borland-Groover Clinic |
| Dr. Kenneth Ngo | Brooks Rehabilitation Hospital | Medical Director, Brain Injury Program Comprehensive Spasticity Management Program; Associate Medical Director, Brooks Rehabilitation Hospital |
| Dr. Heather Hausenblas | Jacksonville University, Brooks Rehabilitation College of Healthcare Sciences | Associate Dean, School of Applied Health Sciences; Professor, Department of Kinesiology |
| Dr. Megan Bewernitz | Jacksonville University, Brooks Rehabilitation College of Healthcare Sciences | Associate Professor of Occupational Therapy |
| Dr. Michael Justiss | Jacksonville University, Brooks Rehabilitation College of Healthcare Sciences | Associate Professor and Department Chair of the Doctor of Occupational Therapy |
| Dr. Cesar Keller | Mayo Clinic | Critical Care Specialist, Internist, Pulmonologist |
| Dr. John Odell | Mayo Clinic | Thoracic and Cardiac Surgeon |
| Valerie Callahan | Mayo Clinic, Gabriel House of Care | Executive Director |
| Dr. Erin Largo-Wight | University of North Florida | Associate Professor & Program Director, Department of Public Health, Brooks College of Health |
| Cara Stewart | Brooks Rehabilitation Hospital | Recreational Therapy Coordinator, Brain Injury and Pediatric Unit |
| Daryl Joseph | City of Jacksonville, Parks, Recreation and Community Services | Director |