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Burn Calories While You Give Back


Want to feel the sun on your face, shrink your waist, and help the environment? Give one of these eco-friendly activities a try.


by Marissa Stephenson

  • Team up with Grand Canyon Trust Volunteers on a free six-day backpacking trip to remove invasive trees from the banks of the Paria River. You'll work your entire body and burn 500 calories per hour. Go to gcvolunteers.org for information.


  • Take to the woods with the American Hiking Society on a weeklong vacation in a state or national park ($245, including lodging and meals; americanhiking.org). Between hiking and clearing paths, shoveling and repairing walls, you'll work off 480 calories an hour.


  • Give the seafloor a sweep during the Ocean Conservancy International Coastal Cleanup. On September 20, volunteers will scuba dive for debris—torching 240 calories per half hour in the process. For information, visit oceanconservancy.org.


  • Gather your pals for a day of canoeing for the American Rivers National River Cleanup. Log on to americanrivers.org and you'll get free bags to collect trash that ends up in our waterways. Bonus: Paddling ticks away more than 200 calories per hour.

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