The problem: 

According to Kentucky by the Numbers current physical activity statistical data collected in Metcalfe County, 34.8% of adults report NO Leisure-time Physical Activity.  The percentage of  adults diagnosed with Diabetes is 12%, and 41.3 % have a BMI of 30kg/m2 or higher.  Adults in Metcalfe County reported an average of 5.1 physically unhealthy days with 15.5 % reporting fourteen or more physically unhealthy days per month.  Adults in Metcalfe County reported 6.1 mentally unhealthy days out of the past thirty days with 20.1 % reporting fourteen or more days of poor mental health in the past month.  In 2022, Kentucky ranked number one in the nation for childhood obesity.  Improved access to mental health and well being resources was rated at 4.3/very high need, in the most recent UKCES statewide community needs assessment.  The CDC Move Your Way physical activity campaign, lists benefits of physical activity including improved quality of life, reduced anxiety, reduced risk of depression, slowed weight gain or weight loss, and improved physical function. 

The educational program response:

In response to requests from multiple program stakeholders, the Metcalfe Co. Extension Agent for FCS Education, provided multiple opportunities for different types of free, physical activity within our community during the 2023/24 program year.

Hatha Yoga based Mind/Body stretching, deep breathing, and simple meditation provided twice a month to the Metcalfe Co. Elementary School 21st Century afterschool program.  Sixteen, thirty-minute sessions were provided during the 23/24 school year and all enrolled youth participated monthly.  

Spring group hiking and post hike stretching series at Mammoth Cave National Park.  Metcalfe County Extension Agent for FCS Education was asked by a homeschool family who recently moved to Metcalfe County, to lead some group hiking experiences on the hiking trails at Mammoth Cave National Park during the spring season of 2024.  This Agent planned three group hikes with varying length and difficulty, starting with the two accessible hiking trails, with a total distance of 1.2 miles on the first date, moving up to two moderately difficult trails and a distance of 2.7 miles on the second date, and a 3.5 mile trail with interesting historical sites to learn about along the way, on the final date.  

Head to Toe stretching and strengthening exercise Monday mornings at the Metcalfe County Public Library.  This program series began in the spring of 2024 with nine dates for hour long classes scheduled.  Exercise sessions focus on providing education and guidance from the following research-based resources: CDC Resource guide for Physical Activity Breaks for the Workplace; CDC Stretches, Tai Chi and Yoga exercise resources; CDC Growing Stronger Strength Training for Older Adults; NIH Health and Wellness resources on exercise and stretches and the UK Fit Blue app.  

After the third session, participants requested an extension of the program past the initially scheduled nine consecutive Mondays.  The Metcalfe Country FCS Agent was able to continue and schedule most Monday mornings up to January 2025.  Several participants who care for aging parents or grandchildren, requested a session be recorded via zoom so they could participate at home if unable to attend an in-person class, and/or to utilize between classes, this was provided to all participants after session five.  All participants completed the UKCES Assumption of Risk, Release and Waiver form prior to beginning their first session and have been advised not to share the video link with anyone else.

The participants/target audience

All youth enrolled in 21st Century afterschool programs at Metcalfe County Elementary school.

Community members interested in learning more about hiking and the available trails, at Mammoth Cave National Park.

Adult community members at the Public Library.

Other partners (if applicable)

Metcalfe County Public Schools, Metcalfe County Library

Program impact or participant response.

21st Century teaching staff observed the progress made by youth participants during the mind/body exercise hatha yoga based stretching, deep breathing, and meditation classes during the year.  They were asked at the start of the program to note the level of engagement with their student groups: ability to balance; follow verbal promoting into various exercise postures/breathing/movements with the exercises presented.  At the beginning of the year: it took an average of ten minutes to get the groups participating with the exercise program without talking, or stepping off of their exercise mats; 2/3rds of students were able to follow verbal prompts into postures/exercises with roughly 1/3rd requiring repeated instruction and/or observing teacher prompts, to listen to the instructor and follow along; most participants had difficulty balancing on one or both sides while standing on one foot and in a balance posture on the hands and knees with sixteen participants who regularly fell down while trying to balance; only 1/4 of youth participants were able to quiet down and  relax on their mats at the end for three minutes.  

By the final Elementary school mind/body exercise session: 100% of the participants were able to remove their shoes, find an exercise mat, and start exercising as a group in under five minutes;100 % of participating youth indicated they look forward to Hatha Yoga based Mind/Body exercise class, and became able to follow verbal prompts on the first iteration; teaching staff no longer had to redirect participants as 100 % of students were fully engaged with the Metcalfe Co FCS Agent instructor, and following the modeling and verbal prompts provided on the first try; all students improved in their ability to balance both while standing on one foot and lifting opposite arm/leg while on the hands and knees, with no students falling in the final four sessions; 100 % of participants looked forward to final relaxation, and enjoyed the opportunity for a short, quiet meditation.

Adult Hatha Yoga based stretching written pre and post evaluations (post conducted after the 10th weekly session) show that participants have increased their level of understanding with regard to the following objectives: Benefits of regularly stretching from head to toe, brief warm - up exercises to do before engaging in stretching exercise, knowing how to safely practice a variety of: upper body standing stretches, exercises to stretch the spine and strengthen the core muscles while on hands/knees, various lower body stretching exercises while sitting on the mat, and various hip and spinal stretches while laying on the back.  Participants have also indicated gains in their level of flexibility as a result of the ten weeks of practice.

Only one of the participants for the group hiking and post hike stretching programs at Mammoth Cave National Park had previously hiked on the trails there, prior to participating with this program.  All participants learned how to warm - up by starting slow then increasing exertion only after the first 5 - 10 minutes of the hike.  Participants received post exertion stretching instruction and practiced simple standing stretches, post hike.  All participants verbally indicated they intended to  continue to utilize the hiking trails and two participants indicated they might even try the bike trails, during the summer and fall seasons this year,  as a result of participating with the group hikes.