This information is brought to you by the folks at
Island County Public Health (ICPH)
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Island County Public
Health
Physical
Activity Project
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Kären Grossman
Project
Coordinator
Coupeville Public Health Office
360-678-7932 or
321-5111 x7932 |
PUBLIC HEALTH - Always
working for safer and healthier communities
Background: Regence/Blue Shield has funded 4 county coalitions
(Island, Skagit, Whatcom and San Juan), for a period of three years, to design and
implement interventions that will support and encourage increased physical activities by
children, families and seniors. The Island
County Coalition was formed in April 2002 and is composed of community members who share a
passion for community involvement and an interest in increasing physical activity for all
county residents. There are two sub groups
who currently meet regularly, one on Whidbey Island and one on Camano Island. These sub groups have each developed a plan for
the first year.
CAMANO
ISLAND:
For Year Three on Camano Island, the local
project, called Camano In Motion (CIM),
is continuing to focus on seniors with
a safe walking program in more than 30
designated neighborhoods. There are volunteer coordinators in each neighborhood who
are committed to walking three days a week or more, at a specified time, so any area
resident can “plug into” any of the walking times they wish. There are brochures and community education
presentations being offered throughout Camano Island to increase awareness of the program
and encourage more citizens to join in. In addition, CIM is developing a pedometer program for
elementary aged children to increase awareness of the importance of being physically
active and to motivate students to take more steps every day.
For more information call Joyce Christiansen, RN at the Camano
Public
Health Office 360-387-0184.
WHIDBEY ISLAND:
For Year Three on Whidbey Island, the local project, called Whidbey In Motion (WHIM), has expanded to
include publishing Activity Guides every few months throughout the year. The
Guides include an insert containing trail maps as well as listings of activities offered
throughout the island for families, children, adults and seniors. In May 2004, WHIM hosted
a Community Forum with attendees from school administration, school boards, school nurses,
teachers, parents and students as well as the Board of Health, Health Department and other
interested parties. The goal of the forum was to inform and encourage
island schools to review and improve their nutrition and physical activity plans.
WHIM continues to focus on a 4th Grade Pedometer Program
and Island Trails - signs and maps. The
4th Grade Pedometer Project provides pedometers, teacher curriculum and
program implementation support to schools with the goal of teaching the importance of
healthy habits and encouraging regular physical activity. The
Island Trails Signage Project
involves identifying and informing the public
about public trails throughout Whidbey Island,
and working with stake holders to install
trail signs at trailheads to more easily identify
trail sites, build or improve information
kiosks at trailheads, and install signage
within trail systems that encourages walkers with information on length of trail, average
walking time, and tips for staying healthy. WHIM also continues to host an
educational and informational website for the community, Whidbey In Motion at www.whidbeyinmotion.org. The website has
listings of activities, events, articles of interest, links to valuable resources and
downloadable maps of local walking trails.
For more information call Kären Grossman, Project Coordinator,
at the Coupeville Public Health Office 360- 678-7932
or 321-5111 ext 7932.
Other Links:
Whidbey In Motion
Pedometers, Logs and Measuring Devices
CDC: Physical Activity and
Health
The Physical Activity Pyramid
(graphic)
ICPH
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