Get Healthy McCreary Walking Series

Importance:   McCreary County consistently ranks in the top five counties for the following; Diabetes (18%), Hypertension (43%), Obesity (38%), Overweight (73%) Smoking (36%), Physical Inactivity (33%), and Heart Disease. According to County Health & Roadmaps McCreary County is ranked 113 out of 120 counties for Overall Health, 120 out of 120 in Quality of Life (health related), Health Factors 116 out of 120 and Health Behaviors 118 out of 120.

Our population is a very unhealthy population and most of those factors are related to lack of physical activity.  

Educational Program: The Lake Cumberland District Health Department secured a $10,000 Diabetes Education Grant from Marshal University for the Get Healthy McCreary County Health Coalition to conduct diabetes education programs.

McCreary County has over 200 miles of trails in the Daniel Boone Nation Forest, Big South National River and Recreation Area and Cumberland Falls State Resort Park.

One segment of this grant was to development a guide to ten hiking/walking trails that were rated easy and two miles or less in length. The brochure was developed with description and directions.

The other segment of the grant was conduct a ten week walking series to walk these trails as a group. The goal was to select trails that people who were physically inactive would feel comfortable walking.  The main goal was to get people out and moving and experience the trails system we have. As part of the walking series walking/hiking stick and backpacks were purchased. Health informational media pieces were also giving out.    

Role of Extension: The Extension Agent serves on the Get Healthy McCreary County Coalition.  The Extension Agent determined the best ten trails for the program, prepared the information for the brochure, researched and found the hiking/walking sticks and backpacks, conducted an orientation for potential participants and lead nine of the ten walks.    

Impact:

• Forty four people participated in the program
• The average number walking each day was 19
• The average mile per walk was 2.10
• Total miles walked by participants were 346

Questions on ending survey.

1. Did this program increase your knowledge of what a day pack should contain? Yes 88%          No 12%

2. Did some of the “walks” challenge you physically? Yes 76%          No 24%

3. Are you more aware of places to walk in the county than before you participated in this program?   Yes 96%    No 4%

4. Did you become more physically active while participating in the program? Yes 92%  No 8%

5. Will you continue to increase exercise - such as walking after this program is over?  Yes 96%            No 4%

6. Have you returned with family/friends to any of the places we went? Yes 42%  No 58%

7.Does walking make you feel healthier?  Yes 100%   No 0%

8.Have you been diagnosed as Diabetic or Pre-Diabetic? Yes 31%     No 69%

9.On a scale of 1-3 with 1 being a little and 3 being a lot how much fun has your walking experiences been?       1 0%  2 0%   3 100%

10.  Have you increased your friend network through the walking program?  Yes 81% No 19%

11. Should the program continue?  Yes 100%     No 0%

12. Please share anything else you want us to know? 

• I had such a good time I want to go again and again!
• I think Extension does great things for our community. I am especially thankful for all the programs the Extension provides for kids.
• The Get Healthy hikes are just on more example of opportunities provided by the Extension
• Our walking group ranges in age but this program worked for each and every one of us. If one person didn't know what a plant was someone else did.
• We worked great as a group. I would like the program to continue if at all possible.
• I have to brag on Greg he did a fantastic job.
• Just thank you for this program and Great leader please continue it
• I really enjoyed my time outdoors and hope the program will continue this fall or earlier if possible.
• Would like this program to branch out, to other areas for different age groups. Maybe some longer walks and eventually host a 5k race to appeal to

           younger people and runners.

• I’ve really enjoyed these hikes, got to know good people, needs to be a lot more hikes and more places. I don’t think it should end. You’ve left us wanting more, this has got a lot of older people exercising so why quit?!
• This program was wonderful. I think everyone felt safer as a group hiking and this program needs to continue.
• Great Program Had a wonderful time, hope it continues in the fall
• Went to my grandson’s soccer game, I had to climb 75 steps, would not have been able to do it if I had not participated in this walking program.

Evaluation Method: Participants were given a written survey at the end of the program.