NEW BEDFORD, Mass. – The Buzzards Bay Coalition and Southcoast Health today announced a new partnership to promote healthy, active outdoor recreation and exploration on the South Coast through an initiative called Discover Buzzards Bay, unveiled at a public event at The Sawmill in Acushnet.

Discover Buzzards Bay is a resource to help local residents across the South Coast find unique and exciting ways to explore the outdoors, get some exercise and connect with nature. Whether you’re looking for a new trail to walk, route to cycle, waterway to paddle or shellfish bed to dig, South Coast residents can use Discover Buzzards Bay to get outside and discover woods, wetlands and waterways from Fall River to Wareham and beyond.

The centerpiece of Discover Buzzards Bay is www.savebuzzardsbay.org/discover, a portal to hundreds of outdoor adventures across the South Coast and the Buzzards Bay region. Local residents can use the website to find outdoor events, ideas for new activities to try with friends and family, and information about more than 100 public parks, trails, beaches and boat launches around the area.

“People take care of things they know and love; unfortunately, fewer people today know Buzzards Bay’s beaches, salt marshes and streams. Through Discover Buzzards Bay, more people will be able to experience – and connect with – the Bay and its watershed,” said Buzzards Bay Coalition President Mark Rasmussen. “We’re thrilled to partner with Southcoast Health to share this resource with thousands of South Coast residents.”

“We are incredibly excited to partner with the Buzzards Bay Coalition to bring these healthy activities to the people in the communities served by Southcoast Health,” said Kerry Mello, Community Benefits Manager for Southcoast Health. “At Southcoast Health, we believe that an active lifestyle is the first step to better health. We are proud to support organizations that share this belief and deliver wellness to our region.”

At the Discover Buzzards Bay launch event at The Sawmill, Dr. Robert McGowen of Southcoast Health led members of the public on a walk along the park’s trails, sharing the benefits of outdoor recreation to physical and emotional health. Along the edge of the Acushnet River, the Coalition’s environmental educators showed visitors how to search for animals in the water using nets, buckets and magnifying glasses.

As part of the Discover Buzzards Bay partnership, the Coalition and Southcoast Health will be leading a series of monthly walks called “Sunday Strolls” at trails across the South Coast. The first Sunday Stroll will take place on Sunday, Dec. 4 from 10-11 a.m. at William Minot Forest in Wareham.

To find an outdoor place, event or activity near you, visit www.savebuzzardsbay.org/discover.

The Buzzards Bay Coalition is a non-profit organization dedicated to the protection, restoration, and sustainable use of Buzzards Bay and its watershed. The organization works to improve the health of the Bay ecosystem for all through education, conservation, research and advocacy and is supported by more than 8,500 members.

Southcoast Health is a community-based health delivery system with multiple access points, offering an integrated continuum of health services throughout Southeastern Massachusetts and parts of Rhode Island. Southcoast Health’s mission is to promote the optimal health and well-being of individuals in the communities it serves. To achieve this aim Southcoast Health has built an integrated “Community of Care” that delivers safety, quality, convenience and an exceptional patient experience in an environment that offers the greatest opportunity for improved health.