"Get Your Tail on the Trail," the community-based initiative geared to promoting outdoor fitness activities in a family fun environment, recently was recognized by American Trails, the national nonprofit organization working on behalf of all trail interests.

At the 2015 International Trails Symposium held May 17-20 in Portland, Ore., "Get Your Tail on the Trail" won American Trails' "Trails for Health Award" for recognizing a community's commitment to improving access to trails and promoting their use and importance for increasing physical activity.

The program was created in 2013 by Elissa Garofalo, Executive Director of the Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage Corridor; Dr. Bonnie Coyle, St. Luke's Director of Community Health, and Kenneth Szydlow, Vice President of Marketing for St. Luke's University Network in an effort to get families off their couches and onto ways to exercise more.

The 165 miles of scenic trails that makes up the D&L Corridor seemed a natural location in which to base a family friendly fitness initiative.

"Get Your Tail on the Trail" was a hit from the get-go.

The initial 165-mile challenge was launched in May 2013 with the thinking that 250 people participating in the program would mark the program as a success. In the first six months of the program, 2,455 people signed up. They logged 255,392 miles.

Further development of the program saw bike and hike outings, school field trips, barge rides, health fairs, history walks and more.

"Get Your Tail on the Trail" has 4,870 participants who have logged 1,124,295.62 miles.