Registration opens Feb. 27 for spring edition of Walk Across Arkansas
Feb. 10, 2023
By Rebekah Hall
U of A System Division of Agriculture
Fast Facts:
- Registration opens Feb. 27
- Participants track minutes of physical activity from March 13-May 14
- Register at walk.uada.edu/walk/
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(Newsrooms: With art at https://flic.kr/p/2ofYUzR)
LITTLE ROCK — The start of a new year often includes resolutions to develop better exercise habits and improve physical health. Walk Across Arkansas, an eight-week, group-based exercise program supported by the Cooperative Extension Service, is designed to help Arkansans get moving.
The no-cost program is offered each spring and fall by the Cooperative Extension Service, part of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. Participants log the total number of minutes spent being physically active each day, which includes any moderate to vigorous physical activity that boosts the heart rate — not just walking.
Teams can consist of one person to 30 people. Heather Wingo, extension health program associate for the Division of Agriculture, said she suggested teams consist of three to eight participants. Individuals and teams can register for the program and record their exercise minutes at walk.uada.edu/walk. Registration for the Spring 2023 session opens Feb. 27. The session starts March 13 and ends May 14.
Wingo said the Walk Across Arkansas program has had numerous benefits for past participants.
“The benefits of participating in the Walk Across Arkansas program are endless,” she said. “No matter what the physical activity is, the benefits outweigh the cost of poor health.”
Past participants of Walk Across Arkansas reported better sleep, improved energy, better brain function and reduced feelings of anxiety and depression after their experience with the program.
“The link between physical activity and chronic disease prevention is well established,” Wingo said. “Physical activity is one of the most important things and individual can do for their health.”
For the Fall 2022 Walk Across Arkansas session, 152 teams, consisting of 776 people from 61 of the state’s 75 counties, participated. Together, they reported 239,998,176 minutes of physical activity.
Anyone can participate in Walk Across Arkansas. Division of Agriculture employees must use a personal email address, not their work email address, to register. Visit walk.uada.edu/walk to learn more and register or talk to your local county extension agent.
To learn about extension programs in Arkansas, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit www.uaex.uada.edu. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram at @AR_Extension. To learn more about Division of Agriculture research, visit the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station website: https://aaes.uada.edu. Follow on Twitter at @ArkAgResearch. To learn more about the Division of Agriculture, visit https://uada.edu/. Follow us on Twitter at @AgInArk.
About the Division of Agriculture
The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture’s mission is to strengthen agriculture, communities, and families by connecting trusted research to the adoption of best practices. Through the Agricultural Experiment Station and the Cooperative Extension Service, the Division of Agriculture conducts research and extension work within the nation’s historic land grant education system.
The Division of Agriculture is one of 20 entities within the University of Arkansas System. It has offices in all 75 counties in Arkansas and faculty on five system campuses.
The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture offers all its Extension and Research programs to all eligible persons without regard to race, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, age, disability, marital or veteran status, genetic information, or any other legally protected status, and is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.
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Media Contact:
Rebekah Hall
rkhall@uada.edu
@RKHall_
501-671-2061