Join a Campus Walk to Catch Pokémon
LIVE FOR LIFE hosts a walk Aug. 17 at Duke Gardens around Pokémon Go
Are you trying to “catch ‘em all”?
Pokémon GO enthusiasts of all ages are invited to a special event next week at Sarah P. Duke Gardens.
LIVE FOR LIFE, Duke’s employee wellness program, will host its first Pokémon GO group walk at 5:30 p.m. Aug. 17 for Duke employees and their family members. With two dozen PokéStops and three gyms for team battles at Duke Gardens, Duke employees and their family members can join employee wellness staff who will lead participants along walking trails to collect PokéBalls and catch Tauros, Exeggcute, Slowpoke and the ever-present Pidgey.
“Exercise is such a big part of this game, it made sense to bring people together to enjoy it in a fun, social setting,” said Taylor Leach, fitness specialist with LIVE FOR LIFE. “Finding PokéStops, catching wild Pokémon and even walking to hatch an egg means you’re working to hit the minimum requirements for exercise without even realizing it.”
The event is free and walkers will meet outside the Doris Duke Center. Duke employees must to bring their DukeCard IDs to check in. All participants should wear comfortable clothing and shoes for walking. Parking in the Duke Gardens Lot is free after 5 p.m. No RSVP is required, but employees can join the walk’s Facebook event page for update and reminders.
Pokémon GO, an augmented reality game played on smartphones or tablets, is currently one of the most popular apps in the country. In order to accumulate Pokémon and items to play the game, users must go for walks, runs or bike rides to find the animals in “natural habitats.”
To aid in catching Pokémon, “lures,” which attract the animals, will be setup at PokéStops at Duke Gardens. As walkers wind their way from one end to the other, they can pause to catch an Oddish or other Pokémon and also participate in a brief exercise activity led by LIVE FOR LIFE staff.
A member of the Duke Gardens will also join the fun to answer any questions about the space or the flowers and plants Pokémon trainers may encounter.
In case of inclement weather, follow Duke Today: Working@Duke and the event’s Facebook page for updates.