Being active outdoors connects us to nature and helps us have balance in our lives. Outdoors, we’re away from the TV, telephone, computer, and other time-consuming, sit-down activities.

While being active outdoors, we become role models for our children, friends, and neighbours. When we’re active as part of a group or team, we build the bonds that help people stay connected. When being active becomes the norm, everyone becomes comfortable being active and involved.

Affordable Ways to Be Active Outdoors

Whatever the size of your community, you can find places and ways to get off the couch and enjoy the outdoors.

Using community facilities and services is a fun and affordable way to be active outdoors. Consider the parks, trails, and programs provided by your local government. If your town has more than 3,000 people, those services may be run by a recreation and parks department. The staff can put you in touch with sports, arts programs, and recreational clubs, and help you choose the activities that fit your interests and abilities. Consider gardening, and see if there are community garden plots available.

If you live in a smaller community, check with your town or village office or with the local agricultural office. It’s also likely that your local recreation centre, county hall, ice arena, or library has information on all sorts of community activities.

Having a place to go also gets us out and about. Beyond work and errands, where else can you go? Many communities offer heritage tours or nature walks. Activities such as orienteering give you things to look for as you walk or run.

You don’t need expensive equipment, just some comfortable shoes or an older model bicycle and maybe a friend for company. Some communities even have programs that give used bikes and other sports equipment to kids and adults who need them. Families can be active outdoors on trails and in parks, playgrounds, and campgrounds.

When choosing a restaurant or theatre, look for one you can reach on foot or by bike. Also think about being active when you plan your holidays. Hiking, swimming, kayaking, golfing…there are so many ways to be active while exploring other parts of the world.

Getting Around Using Active Transportation

Active transportation is another great way to be active outdoors. It can be an environmentally friendly and relaxing way to add activity to your day. Whether walking, cycling, in-line skating, skateboarding, or wheeling a wheelchair, you’re using muscle power rather than fossil fuels to go where you want to go.

Taking an active route to work most days can give you much of the physical activity you need. If you can’t walk all the way to work, consider parking 20 minutes away or getting off the bus early to walk the rest of the way. You may also want to get a group together to walk at lunch time. Try leaving the car in the garage when you do your errands, and walk or bike instead. Besides cutting down on pollution, active transportation is less noisy and helps reduce crime by putting more eyes on the street.

Trails for biking and walking encourage people to use active transportation. A place designed so you can walk anywhere is a walkable community. When people take advantage of walkable design and use self-propelled transportation, they’re helping to create an active, healthy community.

Being Active with Others in Your Community

Being active in a group offers many advantages. The security of numbers can add to personal safety, especially at night. Buddies also help us stick to our goals. What’s more, being active together makes the entire experience more fun.

Longer term, groups that are active together often grow to trust each other, becoming part of the glue that helps communities weather the tough times and celebrate the good.

When finding or forming a group, look for people who share your lifestyle or interests. If you’re a preschool parent, form a stroller brigade, or walk with other parents while your children are in activities together. If you own a dog, invite other dog walkers to join you. If you live near someone who’s headed your way to work, make a point of walking or biking together. If you love to walk or run, check local campuses and running stores for a group you can join.

Setting goals may help you stay active. Wear a pedometer to track your steps, and see how soon you can reach the recommended 10,000 steps a day. Decide to be active at least 30 minutes a day, and chart your progress using a physical activity log.

Getting Out in the Great Outdoors

It’s easy to be active outdoors. Using active transportation and being active with other people are great ways to bring more activity to your day. Choosing activities that are simple, affordable, and fun will mean you’re active outdoors more often.

Source: HealthyAlberta.com

What Is an Active, Healthy Community?

An active, healthy community is a place where everyone can live safely and get involved in activities they enjoy. People feel connected and are quick to volunteer and help each other out. Everyone has easy access to safe places to be active. The community offers inviting and affordable public parks and playgrounds; trails and sidewalks; swimming pools, arenas, and libraries. Low-cost healthy food is readily available, both in local stores and schools.

You’ll find the following features in an active, healthy community:

* the community’s design supports being active;
* everyone in the community has the chance to be active;
* people want to be involved in the community.

Designing an Active Community

Careful design is key to an active community. Communities designed for active living connect people with their environment and with each other, making them want to be active and involved.

Stores, parks, playgrounds, recreation centres, schools, churches, and libraries are located near where people live. Safe, well lit sidewalks and good public transportation help people reach the places they need to go. Street crossings are designed with safety in mind. Networks of trails encourage people to walk or cycle for both business and pleasure, a safe distance from traffic. Streets and walkways are pleasing to stroll along, with activities along the way and interesting places to go.

Everyone Can Be Active

Active communities provide opportunities for all who live there. Everyone can use public facilities and programs, including people in wheelchairs and those who have difficulty getting around. Parks have accessible trails, recreation centres have wheelchair ramps, and people are happy to assist anyone who needs extra help.

Walkways are well maintained and meet the needs of all ages and abilities, with benches, ramped curbs, bicycle parking, drinking fountains, and rest rooms. People who work long or unusual hours have places and programs where they can be active. Children walk to school, parks, playgrounds, and their friends’ houses without fearing for their safety.

Getting Everyone Involved in the Community

In an active, healthy community, citizens are involved. They feel they belong, so they want to make their communities and neighbourhoods great places to live.

Volunteers help coach sports teams, lead 4H clubs, run town councils, work on school committees, participate in community leagues, support local charities, serve on church committees, and advocate for positive change. If a community problem comes up, there are people who want to pitch in to solve it.

Places Where People Can Lead Active, Healthy Lives

Active, healthy communities are designed to help people lead healthy, active lives. There are many places and ways to get involved, and many people participate actively. Public parks, programs, and facilities are welcoming, affordable, and accessible. Volunteerism is popular and valued. People in healthy communities take pride in working together to create places where life is fulfilling and fun.

Source: HealthyAlberta.com