Did you know that only three out of 10 people do enough exercise, but eight out of 10 of us think we do? The “Walkabout” project at UBC seeks to bridge this chasm by combining physical activity and fun with educational learning through nine weeks of tracking participants’ daily physical activity, converting it into steps, and then into kilometers to see how far we walk. On January 16th, the Faculty of Education’s “Walkabout” committee launched its 7th annual program highlighting fitness-steps to a healthier individual and community. This year’s event is co-sponsored by The Year of Indigenous Education initiative (www.yie.educ.ubc.ca).
Students, teachers/principals, parents, community members, and UBC faculty and staff have formed 27 teams of five. Each team member uses a pedometer to keep track of distance walked each week over a 9-week period. At the official launch, Dr. Mark Edwards shared with enthusiasts key motivations to our healthier selves: the British Heart Foundation (BHF) and the Centre for Disease Control (CDC) say 10,000 steps a day (about 5 miles/8 Km) can give you a healthy heart and reduce body fat. Fitness educators offer even more revealing news. Based on the classification of pedometer steps to determine physical activity in healthy adults, 4,000 or less steps/day points to a “sedentary lifestyle “; 6000 steps/day is considered “low active”; 8,000 steps/day denotes “somewhat active”; 10,000 steps/day constitutes “active“; and 12,000 steps/day equates to being “highly active”. Most of us only walk 4,500 steps a day.
Not only does the 2013 Walkabout encourage personal wellness; as a learning activity, the project also offers a ‘virtual’ or ‘online’ opportunity to increase participants’ awareness and knowledge of Indigenous peoples, communities and organizations throughout British Columbia. Jessica Dunkley, a graduate student worked with over 75 Indigenous communities, organizations and centers to acquire their approval to be virtually visited during the 2013 Walkabout Tour. To name a few, are the Xa’xtsa Nation, Secwepemc Museum, T’it’qet Nation, Westbank First Nation, Heiltsuk Nation, Chalo School- Fort Nelson, BC Assembly of First Nations (BCAFN), Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Center, and Metis Nation BC. Participants can answer on-line questions about the different partnering communities, collect visa stamps for their team ‘passport,’ and win prizes. Watch for the results at the April 3, 2013 Closing Ceremonies to be held at the UBC Longhouse.
Donna Lester-Smith
