Registration Opens for Fall Walk Across Arkansas Initiative

The Cooperative Extension Service has officially opened registration for its popular biannual health initiative, Walk Across Arkansas. This fall, residents are invited to form teams within their workplaces, neighborhoods, or communities to participate in the program, which aims to encourage physical activity and promote healthier lifestyles.

Heather Wingo, a family and consumer sciences program associate with the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, highlighted that Walk Across Arkansas has been a staple in promoting health across the state for approximately 20 years. “The primary objective of the program is to boost physical activity,” Wingo said. “Our goal is to help Arkansans address the state’s high obesity rates and combat chronic diseases over the course of their lives.”

Participants in the eight-week program will track their daily physical activity, which encompasses more than just walking. Activities such as running, gardening, and playing or coaching sports are all included. “Many Arkansans have access to parks or trails,” Wingo noted. “It’s wonderful to see these resources being utilized.”

In the spring 2024 session, 65 teams with 346 participants collectively logged over 986,000 minutes of activity.

The registration period for the fall session began on August 26 and will remain open until September 8. The program runs from September 9 to November 3. Interested individuals can sign up by visiting https://walk.uada.edu/walk/.