Everybody Walk Across Pennsylvania Program Information

What is Everybody Walk Across Pennsylvania?

Join Penn State Extension in a free virtual walking program. Staying mentally and physically active is essential for well-being, and we hope this virtual physical activity program will help you remain healthy and connected with others. You will have the opportunity to walk individually or on a team.

If walking isn't possible or your preferred activity, an Exercise Equivalent Chart is available to convert many activities into reportable miles. This is a great time to be creative with your physical activity, so you may want to consider dusting off those exercise DVDs or check out physical activity websites, apps, and virtual classes being offered to help complete your miles! Each week, individuals and team captains will report total miles walked.

There will be an introductory email sent one week before the program starts with instructions on how to report miles. Weekly email newsletters will start during Week 1 and sent to all who register online and provide their email address. Newsletters include a healthy recipe, motivational message, wellness resources, and walking tips. To receive newsletters, those participating as part of a team or as an individual are required to be registered.  All team captains must also be registered to report their team’s weekly miles.

Everybody Walk Across Pennsylvania is an excellent program for worksites, organizations, schools, and any other group. Form a team of up to five members – even your dog can be a member of your team!

Each team member will try to walk or exercise an average of 10 miles per week for eight weeks. Individuals with all levels of physical ability are encouraged to participate, and we encourage you to create your own weekly goals to personalize the program for you! 

Contact Stacy Reed at 717-394-6851 or sls374@psu.edu or Laurie Weinreb-Welch at 570-433-3040 or law27@psu.edu with program questions.

Register Here

Register for Everybody Walk Across Pennsylvania 

How the Program Works

Everybody Walk Across Pennsylvania is an eight-week, semi-structured walking program to encourage increased physical activity and healthy eating habits.

Participants have the option to walk as an individual or form a team of up to five people. If you start a team, you must choose a team captain and create a team name. Everyone on the team and those who are registered as an individual are required to register to receive the weekly email newsletter. If someone doesn't have an email address, a team captain can relay the information to the team member. Team captains must be registered to report miles.

Each week, individuals will track and report miles to their team captain. The team captain is responsible for submitting the weekly team miles through the weekly email newsletter. Team captains will need to have regular access to email and the internet.

Registered participants will receive an email newsletter including healthy recipes and other wellness information.

The goal is for each person to walk or exercise the equivalent of 10 miles per week during the program. If you can't complete 10 miles every week or feel as though you can achieve more, feel free to adjust your personal goals to accommodate your abilities! Walk with your team or on your own at a place and time convenient for you. You do not have to walk together, and you can walk anywhere.

Helpful Guides and Forms

There are a variety of forms and guides for team members and captains to track miles, convert exercise to miles, and manage multiple groups within one organization.

Team Captain Guide provides information about the team captain's roles and responsibilities during the program.

Individual Mileage Log may be printed for each participant to complete and track their miles each day and week. 

The Team Captain Log is only for the team captain, who may use this to track each team member's total weekly miles and report the miles through the link sent every week.

How to Calculate Exercise Equivalents helps participants convert other exercises into miles walked.

Workplace, School, and Organization Guide will help you run the program in your workplace, organization, school, or other community group when you have multiple teams.

FAQ

Is there a cost for the program?

Everybody Walk Across Pennsylvania is a free 8-week program. Registration is required by 5 pm on the start date of the program.

How do we form a team?

Gather 5 family members, friends, or co-workers interested in developing healthier habits. A team should identify someone with an email who would like to serve as a team captain. The team captain will need to identify themselves as such and create a team name. Information on submitting a team name, identifying the team captain, and logging miles will be included in the first week's email newsletter.

Work together to select a team name. Each person on a 5 person team will need to register online if they would like to receive the weekly email. If a team member does not register, the team captain or another team member may share the newsletter with those not registered.

Can I register as an individual?

Yes, while the program is designed to be a team walking activity, you may register yourself as an individual and participate in the program. When asked for a team name, individuals should use their own name or initials or come up with an individual team name.

We want to utilize this program in our organization. Do you have any tips?

Many workplaces use the Everybody Walk Across Pennsylvania program as part of their wellness plan. It's a great way for everyone to get moving and get together. Download our Workplace, School, and Organization Guide for tips to help organizations with multiple teams.

What does the team captain do?

Each week, the team captain will request the total weekly miles from each of their members and report these miles through a link sent to the captain. Download our Team Captain Guide for more information. If walking as an individual, you serve as the team captain.

How do I keep track of my miles?

Whether you are participating as a member of a team or an individual, download and print the Individual Mileage Log to track your miles. If you don't have a printer, create your own log to track your mileage. Team members will then report their weekly miles to the team captain who logs the miles into the system each week. Individuals, not part of a team, will log their miles directly into the system themselves.

Do we need to walk as a team?

You can walk on your own at a time convenient for you. Of course, if you want to walk as a team, that's great, too! Either way, just let your team captain know how many miles you walked each week.

I do other exercise. Can I count it as miles?

Yes. See this document, How to calculate exercise equivalents, to determine how to convert various activities into miles.

I use a fitness tracker. How do I count my steps?

We are tracking purposeful walking or exercise and not activity which is part of your regular day, such as steps walked while at work. If you use a fitness tracker, you can use it to calculate your walking. Note the number of steps taken on your walk and divide by 2,000 to calculate the number of miles on your walk. (There are approximately 2,000 steps in one mile.) You will always report your activity in miles.

What if our team does not reach its goal each week?

The goal of this program is for every participant to try to walk at least 10 miles per week. Some will do much more while others may do less. Do your best, report what you walk in miles, and keep working to improve. This is not a contest, and there is no minimum requirement.

Will I receive emails?

All registered participants with email addresses will receive a weekly newsletter. The newsletter includes motivating tips for increasing activity, healthy eating, and other health and wellness information. The newsletter will also include links to valuable resources and recipes.

A team member does not have computer access. What do we do?

Only the team captain is required to have computer access to submit the total miles walked by the team. For those without online access, another team member may choose to share the weekly newsletter and Individual Mileage Log.

Can we have less than 5 people for our team?

If you have less than 5 people on your team, average the miles walked by your team members for the week. Use that average to fill in your empty spot and then report your total. It will then be as if you had 5 members on your team.

Can we have more than 5 people for our team?

No, if you have more than 5 people, you will want to create two teams.

Will there be prizes for the most miles walked?

This is not a competitive event. Everyone is starting at a different place with their fitness level, and this program is meant for people to improve over time. You can certainly have some friendly competition at your worksite or with other teams.

Why is this program important?

Most people know they should increase their physical activity and develop healthier eating habits. Moderate activity, such as walking, reduces stress and fatigue and increases mental alertness. It improves heart health and strengthens bones. Combined with healthy eating, it can also help to reduce or maintain body weight and decrease the risk of various chronic diseases.

Most people also struggle with meeting their own personal health goals. By providing a program with social support and fun, we hope this helps participants get in the habit of exercising, recognizing the benefits of physical activity, and creating healthier eating habits.

I have additional questions. Who can I contact?

For additional program questions, contact Stacy Reed at 717-394-6851 or sls374@psu.edu or Laurie Welch at 570-433-3040 or law27@psu.edu.