The NPS Wellness Challenge at Wilson's Creek National Battlefield

The Battle of Wilson's Creek was the first major Civil War battle fought west of the Mississippi River and began the war in Missouri. Today the battlefield, near Republic, Missouri, is largely undisturbed land where you can walk trails through woods and fields, rest by the creek, visit the historic Ray House and learn about the six-hour battle. It is one of the seven Missouri parks in the NPS Wellness Challenge, which launched during National Park Week.

You can hike, walk a dog, ride the park's horse trails, visit the newly renovated museum or simply enjoy the outdoors. The park charges an entrance fee.

How to take part

Pick a category — physical, learning or mental — and complete its three challenges to earn that category's badge.

Physical wellness

Get your heart going on Bloody Hill in the soldiers' footsteps, pause to remember the lives lost, or relax by the creek and watch for wildlife.

1. Moving on the tour road — explore the battlefield tour road in whatever way suits you.
2. Explore with your animal companion — the battlefield has more than 10 miles of designated trails.
3. In the steps of soldiers — hike where Federal and Southern troops fought.

Learning wellness

Learn the stories of the Federal and Southern soldiers and of the Ray family, and about the park's work to protect its natural environment.

1. Battlefield museum — one of the nation's finest publicly held Civil War museum collections.
2. Seek and find — look for plants and wildlife as you tour the battlefield.
3. Report for duty — become a Junior Ranger.

Mental wellness

Pause, reflect and unplug: sit on the porch of the Ray House, take in the views from battlefield overlooks, listen to the creek, or think about the soldiers' sacrifices. Bring a journal and write a poem reflecting on the battlefield's history.

1. Reflect at Wilson's Creek — relax by the water and let your mind settle.
2. Let nature surprise you — bring a notebook and write about the nature you find.
3. Ponder on the porch — visit the Ray House and imagine how battle turned the family's home into a field hospital.

The challenge aims to build lasting habits of wellness, in line with the Park Service's Healthy Parks Healthy People programme.

Accessibility

• The Visitor Center has three accessible parking spaces, a paved walk to the entrance, an accessible restroom and everything on one level; a wheelchair is available.
• The park brochure is not online or audio-described yet, but is available in braille at the information desk.
• Give two weeks' notice for an ASL interpreter or for live audio description by staff (417-732-2662).

Sources

• National Park Service, Wilson's Creek National Battlefield, "The NPS Wellness Challenge at Wilson's Creek National Battlefield." https://www.nps.gov/articles/000/wellness-challenge-wicr.htm
• More: the NPS Wellness Challenge in Missouri; accessibility at the battlefield.
• Images: National Park Service. The page's night cannon-firing photo, credited to a park volunteer, is left out.
• Rewritten in hubnx's own words.