Active adventures await

An Active Adventure Around Ararat walking trail is open to people keen to keep their minds and bodies active.

The walking trail involves a puzzle and features checkpoints that provide clues. Walkers who complete the trail solve the puzzle.

The Heart Foundation ran a competition to encourage communities to come up with innovative ways to get their community to be active.

East Grampians Health Service was successful in its application for the Active Adventure Around Ararat project and received a $10,000 grant.

Initially developed by the health service’s Zosha Jarecki-warke, the project went to Kelsey Weight when Ms Jarecki-warke moved on to other employment.

“Active Adventure Around Ararat is a permanent scavenger hunt-walking trail in Ararat with the aim of encouraging the community to engage with green spaces and parks,” Ms Weight said.

“The trail takes in Alexandra Gardens,

Kokoda Park, the library, Centenary Park and Emu Park, with each checkpoint featuring a different puzzle to solve, and most of the trail is suitable for all ages and abilities.

“You can complete the trail in one hit or in sections, and once you have collected all the clues you will solve the puzzle.”

Ms Weight said the hope was to change the puzzle every month, so challenges on the trail were always fresh.

Ararat Rural City Council also provided help and support for the project and the Ararat Woodies and Ararat Men’s Shed made checkpoint posts.

Ms Weight thanked all involved in the project.

“We are looking forward to seeing residents getting out and about over the coming weeks and months, walking the trail and solving the puzzles,” she said.

People can collect trail maps from front reception of EGHS Community Health Centre in Girdlestone Street, Ararat.