Kids in Parks Receives National Award

The Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation’s Kids in Parks program accepted the Project Excellence Award at the Society of Outdoor Recreation Professionals annual conference in Duluth, Minnesota this May. The award recognized Kids in Parks’ recent work expanding outdoor recreation and public health initiatives across South Carolina through a growing network of TRACK Trails and the program’s TRACK Rx initiative.

The award was presented during the 2026 National Outdoor Recreation Conference (NORC), which brings together outdoor recreation professionals, policymakers, land managers, and advocates from across the country to share best practices and advance the field. The 2026 Project Excellence Awards, along with the Individual Service and National Recreation Resource Leadership Award, were announced during the NORC Awards Luncheon held May 12 in Duluth. For a list of all those who received awards and recognition, click here for a recap of the conference.

Over the past three years, Kids in Parks has led a strategic expansion of South Carolina’s outdoor recreation infrastructure. Supported by a four-year investment from the BlueCross and BlueShield of South Carolina Foundation, the program is building a statewide network of more than 150 TRACK Trails designed to engage kids and families in outdoor recreation activities that foster lifelong wellness through meaningful connections with nature.

At the center of this work is Teddi Garrick, South Carolina Program Manager for Kids in Parks. Through her leadership and collaborative approach, Garrick has convened more than 35 community meetings involving over 500 stakeholders, including park managers, school nurses, healthcare providers, county administrators, mayors, and local community organizations. These meetings help communities identify local needs, build partnerships, and select trail locations that best serve their residents.

Through this collaborative process, Kids in Parks has established more than 70 TRACK Trail locations in 33 South Carolina counties. “Teddi’s work demonstrates how outdoor recreation can bring communities together around shared goals for health, wellness, and access,” said Adam Roades, Director of Kids in Parks. “This award reflects the incredible partnerships that make this program successful, from local governments and park agencies to healthcare providers and community organizations across South Carolina.”
 

The initiative has also inspired innovative recreation opportunities tailored to local needs. In counties with limited trail infrastructure, Kids in Parks has worked with local partners to create Fitness TRACK Trails at community centers, install Fishing TRACK Trails along the Black River, and develop Agritourism TRACK Trails on privately owned farms. In other communities, partners have expanded existing trail networks and added bilingual educational materials to improve accessibility and engagement.
 

Garrick’s work has also helped grow the program’s TRACK Rx initiative, which now includes more than 50 healthcare sites across South Carolina. Through TRACK Rx, hospital systems, pediatricians, and school nurses prescribe visits to TRACK Trails and outdoor recreation opportunities as part of efforts to improve children’s health and encourage active lifestyles.

Since the statewide expansion began, children and families have completed more than 175,000 adventures on South Carolina TRACK Trails, walking more than 225,000 miles, spending 115,000 hours outdoors, and burning more than 35 million calories. Families participating in the program have also reported improved physical and mental health, stronger family bonds, and memorable outdoor learning experiences.

Founded in 2008, Kids in Parks is a proven program that encourages families to explore the outdoors through a network of TRACK Trails created in partnership with municipal, state, and federal land agencies. Today, there are more than 375 TRACK Trails in 18 states and Washington, D.C. Nationwide, children have completed more than 2 million TRACK Trail adventures through the program.

About SORP
The Society of Outdoor Recreation Professionals (SORP) is a national nonprofit organization that supports and advances outdoor recreation planning, management, and policy. For more information, visit recpro.org.