Get your rear off the couch and get active.

To prod you and your family along, free activities will be offered in Post Falls and Coeur d'Alene from Saturday through April 28 as part of Unplug and Be Outside Week.

"It's a time for children and families to unplug and play outside, create, explore and participate in activities, and to spend more time with family and friends," said Josh Oakes, Post Falls recreation coordinator and an organizer of the event.

"Unplug Week is a fun and innovative way to improve children's well-being by reducing the use of entertainment screen media."

Activities include yoga, archery, basketball, tennis, art, martial arts, fishing, golf, gardening and a hike.

"People are more active when they're outside and that's healthy," said Whitney Fehringer, coordinator of Physical Activity and Nutrition for Panhandle Health District, among the event's partners. "Families who do activities outside show kids an entertainment alternative to watching TV or playing computer games."

Unplug and Be Outside is Idaho's extension of the national Screen-Free Week that started in 1996.

The initiative in Idaho started in Boise last year, local recreation officials caught wind of it at a conference and Post Falls' department thought it was a good idea for Kootenai County.

"We thought getting your kids outside would be something people could get excited about," Oakes said. "Maybe some families don't know where to start and this can help."

Each child who attends three or more of the local events is eligible to win prizes.

According to Be Outside Idaho, kids spend an average of more than 30 hours a week in front of a screen. By the time the average person reaches 70, they will have spent the equivalent of seven to 10 years in front of a screen.

Several agencies and individuals came together to make the Unplug event sponsored by Blue Cross of Idaho and Be Outside Idaho happen.

Other partners include: The Press, cities of Post Falls and Coeur d'Alene, Idaho Fish and Game, Peak Health and Wellness Center, University of Idaho Extension, Roots CSA, Terra Sports, Peak Health and Wellness Center, Kootenai Environmental Alliance and volunteer session instructors.

Info: Oakes at 773-0539, the Coeur d'Alene Recreation Department at 769-2250 or visit www.unplugandbeoutside.com.

(All activities are free, family-oriented and open to the public)

SATURDAY

Post Falls

11 a.m.-1 p.m. - Unplug Week Kickoff, Q'emiln Park: bike rodeo, zumba class, step class and other activities

Coeur d'Alene

10 a.m. - Community Garden Prep Party sponsored by Roots CSA, Dalton Gardens plot

2-4 p.m. - fly fishing with Joe Roope, McEuen Field in front of City Hall

SUNDAY

Post Falls

3-6 p.m. - Archery with the Coeur d'Alene Bowmen, Hastings Field above Corbin Park, 567 S. Corbin

Coeur d'Alene

Noon-3 p.m. - Earth Day Fair by Kootenai Environmental Alliance, Coeur d'Alene Library

MONDAY

Post Falls

4-7 p.m. - Recycled art with Christina Camp-Hankinson, Q'emiln Park trailhead building

Coeur d'Alene

5:30 p.m. - Fly tying with Joe Roope, Castaway Fly Fishing Shop

TUESDAY

Post Falls

8:30-9:45 a.m. - Yoga with Cindy Jacobs, Bushenkai Akido Studio, 3122 W. Seltice Way

3-5 p.m. - Basketball tournament and shoot around, Post Falls Peak Health and Wellness Center

5-6 p.m. - Martial arts (ages 5-8), Bushenkai Akido Studio

6:05-7:05 p.m. - Martial arts (ages 9-12), Bushenkai Akido Studio

Coeur d'Alene

10:15 a.m. - Book Babies Lap-Sit Program (ages 0-2), Coeur d'Alene Library, Story Room

11 a.m. - Tales for 2s and 3x Story Program, Coeur d'Alene Library, Story Room

5-6 p.m. - Martial arts with Derek Cleveland, Iron Lion Jiu-Jitsu Academy

WEDNESDAY

Post Falls

8:30-9:45 a.m. - Yoga with Cindy Jacobs, Bushenkai Akido Studio, 3122 W. Seltice Way

6-7 p.m. - Basketball skills and drills clinic with the Running Rebels girls' basketball team, Ponderosa Elementary

Coeur d'Alene

10:30 a.m. - Trees are Great presented by Katie Kosanke (for preschool-aged children), Coeur d'Alene Library, Story Room

4 p.m. - Trees: Natures Best Invention presented by Katie Kosanke (for school-aged children), Coeur d'Alene Library, Story Room

4-5:30 p.m. - Recreation Game Day, Coeur d'Alene Peak Health and Wellness Center

5:30-6:30 p.m. - Tubbs Hill Walk with Mark Waedick, Third Street entrance

THURSDAY,

April 26

Post Falls

4-5 p.m. - Kids' Boot Camp, Post Falls Peak Health and Wellness Center

4-7 p.m. -Tennis Come and Play Days with Frank Cruz-Aedo, Q'emiln Park Pavilion

5-6 p.m. - Martial arts (ages 5-8), Bushenkai Akido Studio

6:05-7:05 p.m. - Martial arts (ages 9-12), Bushenkai Akido Studio

7:45-9 p.m. - Yoga with Cindy Jacobs, Bushenkai Akido Studio

Coeur d'Alene

5 p.m. - Frisbee disc golf with Jack Wardian, Bluegrass Park

FRIDAY,

April 27

Post Falls

8:30-10 a.m. - Yoga with Cindy Jacobs, Bushenkai Akido Studio

3 p.m.-dusk - Work Bee and Bonfire sponsored by The Good Soil Project - Community Garden, Poleline Road just east of Highway 41

4-7 p.m. - Tennis Come and Play Days with Frank Cruz-Aedo, Q'emiln Park Pavilion

Coeur d'Alene

10:30 a.m. - Book Babies Lap-Sit Program (ages 0-2), Coeur d'Alene Library, Story Room

5 p.m. - Introduction to golf with Neal Bishop (ages 5 and up), Ponderosa Springs Golf

5:30-6:30 p.m. - Bicycle Safety Awareness Ride by Terra Sports, Terra Sports

SATURDAY,

April 28

Post Falls

9 a.m.-4 p.m. - Department of Fish and Game fishing for youth, equipment available, Falls Park ponds

Coeur d'Alene

9 a.m. -2 p.m. - Summer Swap/Health and Wellness Fair, Kootenai County Fairgrounds

1-3 p.m. - Kids' Combat Challenge sponsored by Coeur d'Alene Fire, Fire Station 3, 1500 N. 15th St.

1-3 p.m. - Smoke trailer sponsored by Coeur d'Alene Fire, Fire Station 3, 1500 N. 15th St.

* For more information, call Josh Oakes, Post Falls recreation coordinator, at 773-0539 or the Coeur d'Alene Recreation Department at 769-2250 or visit www.unplugandbeoutside.com.