Family Health & Fitness Day (Second Saturday in June)

Family Health & Fitness Day, celebrated every second Saturday in June, is a national initiative that promotes family-centered physical activity and well-being. Supported by the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA), the day encourages families to get moving together—whether through games, walks, cultural activities, or healthy meals.

This initiative aligns beautifully with Native values, where family (or “extended kin”) and balance with nature are central. For generations, Native families have engaged in physically active traditions: fishing, gardening, dancing, hunting, and drumming. Yet today, many of these practices are being lost due to urban living, lack of safe spaces, and rising screen time.

The result? Higher rates of obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and depression—especially among Native youth.

But it’s not too late to reconnect with movement and culture.

Culturally Inspired Activities:

• Host a “Powwow workout” session featuring intertribal dances
  

• Family hikes in NYC parks, led by Native guides or storytellers
  

• Gardening projects using traditional seeds and planting methods
  

• Canoeing days or nature scavenger hunts with children
  

• Family cooking classes on healthy versions of traditional dishes
  

Why It Matters:

• Builds trust and bonding across generations
  

• Reduces chronic disease risk
  

• Boosts mental health and reduces anxiety
  

• Keeps traditional knowledge alive

By moving together, we’re healing together. Family Health & Fitness Day isn’t just about working out—it’s about reclaiming Native joy, wellness, and togetherness.