|
Go the distance to lighten up Iowa Iowa youth are “going the distance” while adults are “lightening up” — all part of a physical fitness program sponsored by the Iowa Department of Public Health, Iowa Games and Iowa State University Extension. It’s the second year of the statewide Lighten Up Iowa campaign and the first year for Go the Distance, a new youth component, according to Lynn Allen, Lighten Up Iowa coordinator. Lighten Up Iowa encourages healthy food choices and increased physical activity among adults. In Go the Distance, youth compete against their peers in an accumulated activity contest. More than 2,700 youth on 220 teams are participating, Allen said. Fifth-grade through high school students, they hail from 41 counties, representing 173 schools, 24 4-H clubs and 23 after-school clubs and other groups. “The kids are really excited about it. They enjoy going online and checking the leader board to see how they compare with other teams,” Allen said. Each youth team has an adult captain to provide guidance and leadership, and to handle the e-mail and online reporting of the team’s activity miles, she added. More than 8,100 adults on 1,108 teams are participating in Lighten Up Iowa, Allen said. “All 99 counties are represented. That’s where Extension really came in handy,” she said. Extension helped get teams started in counties that initially weren’t represented..
|
The Extension Connection is a quarterly publication of Iowa State University Extension. Laura Sternweis, editor, lsternwe@iastate.edu Nondiscrimination statement and information disclosures Last update: April 2004 MORE NEWS * Quick response to BSE issue reaches nationwide audience * Funding boosts entrepreneurism * Universal design kitchen: One kitchen can fit all * 4-H builds leaders for the future * Child care campaign focuses on quality |
