West Virginia University Extension Service’s Summer Steps program is marching into its fourth year for West Virginia residents and WVU employees. The primary goal of the challenge is to encourage West Virginians to be active this summer. In addition to setting and achieving personal goals, participants can also help their county win bragging rights for logging the most miles.

Summer Steps, which runs from June 1 through Aug. 31, is designed to be fast and easy. Individuals across the state can register, indicate the county they wish their mileage to count toward, and track their personal mileage through WVU Extension’s online tracker at fh.ext.wvu.edu.

This year, Summer Steps will expand to encourage friendly competition between WVU departments. WVU employees will have the opportunity to log mileage as county residents, or on behalf of their specific WVU unit.

Participation is free, anyone is eligible, and participants can sign up at any point during the competition.

“Summer Steps continues to help West Virginians keep an active lifestyle because it gives them a goal to work towards,” explained Elaine Bowen, Ed.D., WVU Extension health promotions specialist.

Other forms of exercise such as swimming, bicycle riding or soccer can be counted in the Challenge as well. Twenty minutes of physical activity can be logged as one mile.

The county with the most miles logged at the end of the competition will receive a walkability assessment from the WVU Extension Service Community, Economic and Workforce Development. County size or population isn’t as important as the commitment to being active. Thirty counties participated in the 2014 challenge. Monongalia County logged the winning mileage, followed by Pendleton and Mineral counties. Previous first–place winners include Wood and Monroe counties.

The West Virginia Association of Counties partners with Extension to organize and promote this program to encourage community-based walking groups in counties across the state. Since its inception, West Virginians have logged tens of thousands of miles.

The WVU Extension Service is a primary outreach division of West Virginia University. With offices in each of the state’s 55 counties, Extension faculty and staff develop and deliver programs in leadership, rural and community-based economic development, youth development, workforce development and health education.
For more information on health and wellness initiatives in your community, contact your local county office of the WVU Extension Service or visit ext.wvu.edu.

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CONTACT: Cassie Thomas, WVU Extension Service
304.293.8735 or Cassie.Thomas@mail.wvu.edu
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