Recreation Month Odds and Ends

I’ll be off next week, so this is my last post for National Recreation Month.  It’s a little of everything—a couple conferences and some tools to help make your community a more active place

 

Bicycling is a great way to get some exercise and enjoy your community.  But it’s important to be safe about it.  A report released earlier this month found that 25% of children who ride bikes never wear safety helmets.  Not surprisingly, children are more likely to wear helmets in state that require them.  In fact, helmet use is twice as high in those states compared to states with no requirements.  Helmet expense was cited by parents as one reason children don’t wear them.  Programs that provide helmets at low or no cost could improve this statistic.

 

A study completed earlier this year found that sedentary, obese seniors improved their functional abilities and reduced insulin resistance (a precursor to several chronic health conditions) through a combination of resistance and aerobic exercises.  While each activity alone resulted in improvements, the greatest gains were made by those who combined both activities.  The complete report is also available on line.  These results are another illustration of the importance of exercise and activity for all age groups.

 

The WI Department of Health Services (DHS) has developed a set of tools to assist coalitions in planning and implementing physical activity programs in their communities.  The tools include assistance with asset mapping (identifying community resources), grant seeking and writing basics, and how to recruit volunteers. 

 

Two conferences later this summer:

 

The Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy will host the Midwest Rural Assembly in Sioux Falls, SD August 10-11.  The Assembly offers opportunities to:

  • Share resources and strategies for rural economic and community development;
  • Talk with policymakers about your rural policy priorities; and
  • Begin building a regional network to advance policies and initiatives that can help revitalize rural communities.

 

UW Extension is hosting the Healthy Wisconsin Communities Conference September 29 in Stevens Point.  Breakout sessions will include:

  • Health Education Curricula and Resources

  • Community and Economic Development to Promote Healthy Communities

  • Health Education with Diverse Audiences

  • Community Partnerships for Health Promotion

July 30, 2009 · KJacobson · No Comments
Tags: , , , ,  Â· Posted in: Conferences and Webinars, Grant Advice, Reports and Studies, Training and Tools

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