Lack of physical activity contributes to multiple health conditions in adults and youth. It is common for adults specifically to get very little exercise and physical activity on any given day. The Cumberland County Family and Consumer Sciences agent implemented a 6-week activity challenge in the spring to encourage people to get active in preparation for the summer season. Participants were encouraged to log their physical activity by time/steps/miles. Each week, they received a newsletter with tips and encouragement to continue to be active. Adults and children participated in the program with 26 completing the 6-week challenge.

At the end of the challenge, 2,684 miles were logged by participants. In follow up evaluations, participants noted being physically active between 20 and 30 days out of the last 30 days. When asked about mental health and stress, 22 of the participants shared a positive report of mental health and low stress each day of the past 30 days. In reporting level of exercise/activity, 22 participants reported being moderately active 3 or more times per week. Three of the participants shared that the challenged helped to motivate them to get back in the habit of walking again and others reported an increase in family time spent being physically active.

Program impact or participant response.