Arboretum offers early, free entry for walking challenge

PICAYUNE, Miss. -- Participants of the Walk Mississippi challenge can log some of their miles at the Mississippi State University Crosby Arboretum free of charge during the challenge.

The Arboretum will open one hour early on Saturdays during the challenge -- from Oct. 11 through Nov. 15 -- for individuals and groups who are participating in the new exercise and nutrition initiative of the MSU Extension Service.

Walkers can enter with no admission fee between 8 a.m. and 9 a.m. on the specified Saturdays.

Walk Mississippi and Live Healthy…One Step at a Time is a six-week health challenge encouraging people of all ages to be more physically active and to adopt a healthier diet. The challenge runs from Oct. 11 to Nov. 21.

The program’s objective is to encourage Mississippians to walk 180 miles -- the equivalent of the width of Mississippi -- and adopt lifestyle habits from MSU Extension’s Walk-A-Weigh wellness program.

The Crosby Arboretum is an award-winning, 104-acre native plant conservatory dedicated to research, education and conservation of the native plants of the Pearl River Drainage Basin of south-central Mississippi and Louisiana.

To register for the Walk Mississippi challenge or learn more, visit http://msuext.ms/walkms. For more information about The Crosby Arboretum, visit https://crosbyarboretum.msstate.edu.

MSU is an equal opportunity institution. For disability accommodation or other information, contact Kathryn Jeffers at 601-799-2311.