Get Healthy Stay Healthy Journal Entry for June 11, 2013

Less than two weeks before the end of the Pedometer Challenge (June 21st)! I have to date heard from the following schools about their progress and some of the school activities… Skeetchestn – Rattling Ramble a 5 k school/community run and walk. Sts’ailes – Annual 10 k Community Walk and the Hope Lookout Trail Hike Eugene Joseph – solving the case of the missing pedometers (lost in Mr. Merriman’s Office) Rosie Seymour – Sun Run Team Sen Pok Chin – Over 2 million steps to date

Many individuals have contributed their “steps” to the cause. Michael O’Hagen from the UBC Languages Dept has parked his car and is now bussing and walking to UBC, averaging over 20,000 steps per day. Brian Howard at FNESC, he’s the one who sends out the computers to your schools and answers your questions about the equipment is averaging 10-12,000 steps a day. Lorna Williams is walking her steps as she travels, first in New York and Six Nations and then in Regina.

PLEASE add your name or school to the list… send me news about your Pedometer Challenge, how many steps, where you walk, changes in your lifestyle, special events and activities. All news is welcome.

For teachers, I am attaching an editorial from the Vancouver Sun May 25, 2013. I believe that by encouraging our children and youth to “get off their butts” and walk can go a long way in solving the problem of sedentary and unhealthy lifestyles. Feel free to post and share the editorial’s comments with your students.

Last week I was honored to visit Coldwater and Skeetchestn. There the staff and students welcomed me by demonstrating the different ways in which they are now Getting Healthy and Staying Healthy. Daily physical activity (DPA) in both schools occurs just before recess and school meals are incorporating healthy ingredients into daily menu selections. What I witnessed made me literally jump and run, and boy can those kids run!

Skeetchestn Rattlin Ramble`` Skeetchestn `DPA`

Coldwater `Skipping` as part of their DPA

Coldwater ``Apple a Day…``

Off to Sen Po Chin and Ntamtqen snma’?m’aya?tn later this week. Send me your progress reports so I can post where we are in our Pedometer Challenge as we enter the last week of the challenge. Cheers for now, Eric