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National Parks Apple Watch Activity Challenge Launching on August 27

Apple's annual National Parks activity challenge is set to take place on Saturday, August 27th, in celebration of national parks worldwide.

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Apple will ask Apple Watch owners to complete a hike, walk, run, or wheelchair workout of a mile to earn a special National Parks award.

Let's celebrate the beauty of national parks everywhere. On August 27, earn this award by recording a hike, walk, run, or wheelchair workout of a mile (1.6K) or more with any app that adds workouts to Health.

Like all Activity Challenges, the award will be accompanied by animated stickers that can be used in the Messages app.

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Apple always celebrates national parks in August, typically introducing an Apple Pay donation program, Apple TV+ content, Apple Music songs, books, podcasts, and more focused on national parks.

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Top Rated Comments

nutmac Avatar
50 months ago

GeoLocation would be better... National Park Challenge should be in a national park, not around your neighborhood. 👨‍🔧
Unfortunately, that would exclude 20 US states:
[LIST=1]
* Alabama
* Connecticut
* Delaware
* Georgia
* Illinois
* Iowa
* Kansas
* Louisiana
* Maryland
* Massachuesetts
* Mississippi
* Nebraska
* New Hampshire
* New Jersey
* New York
* Oklahoma
* Pennsylvania
* Rhode Island
* Vermont
* Wisconsin

And I am not sure encouraging folks to drive or fly out (increasing carbon footprint) is in the spirit of this challenge.
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
50 months ago

Not all states have national parks
Considering that America has an obesity problem, it's not bad though not much of a workout.
A little incentive helps motivate people.
The 1 mile min. limit would at least get some lazy people to just go outside to do something which is better than nothing.

Anything that motivates people to get moving.
Exactly. The whole point is to get people moving. If this inspires a single person to put one foot in front of the other about 2,000 times in one workout, that’s a great thing. For fit people who think it’s weak, they can 100 times that if they want. People can be so judgemental


At least make it mandatory that the workout has to be outdoor type for this one. Just changing the number of minutes/distance isn’t a good differentiator between different badges.
Maybe those people who think it should be mandatory to do this or that should have a challenge where they walk in somebody else’s shoes.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
50 months ago
Love that Apple does these challenges to keep people engaged.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
BJMRamage Avatar
50 months ago

At least make it mandatory that the workout has to be outdoor type for this one. Just changing the number of minutes/distance isn’t a good differentiator between different badges.
I suppose for any disabled or elderly folks who may not as easily get OUTDOORS, this is merely incentive to get active.

What they could do is have a FREE National Park Workout for the Apple Fitness app where it could be a pre-defined park or some other Indoor activity that at least has the idea of being at a park.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Sayewhat Avatar
50 months ago
GeoLocation would be better... National Park Challenge should be in a national park, not around your neighborhood. 👨‍🔧
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
50 months ago

Wait, I didn't know about fitness stickers available in the Messages app. Where do I find this?


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Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)