Families Encouraged to Unplug and Be Outside

Children and adults are invited to get active, have fun and play at dozens of free events offered at the fourth annual Unplug and Be Outside week. Unplug Week is a time for children and families to get outside and enjoy outdoor activities. Nationwide, children aged 8 to 18 spend an average of 53 hours each week indoors, plugged in to electronic devices. All this indoor time has been linked to significant increases in childhood overweight and obesity, depression and mental health disorders in our children. The solution is easy - go outside and play! Unplug and Be Outside Week will help your family enjoy a wide variety of outdoor activities. From hiking, fishing and biking to playing in a park, painting or bird watching, your family can participate in many outdoor activities at locations throughout the Treasure Valley and Idaho Falls areas. Events in the Treasure Valley will be offered April 19-26, while events in Idaho Falls will be held May 3-10. Idaho Fish and Game's "Take-Me-Fishing" trailer will be on-hand at various locations to help introduce anglers of all ages to the joys of fishing. Win a prize! Children who collect three or more stickers on a passport card will be entered into a drawing for great prizes. For a list of events, please see www.unplugandbeoutside.com. Unplug and Be Outside is designed to inspire and empower families to get off the couch, get active and enjoy the outdoors. This annual program is hosted by the High Five Children's Health Collaborative, Be Outside, Idaho!, Fit One, and over a dozen partner organizations.