2. The mission: Create a sustainable, accessible, affordable and welcoming walking program that entices your community to get with the benefits of walking during the colder, darker months of winter.

3. Get W.I.T.H. It! (Walking In The Halls)  Wildly Successful  Grassroots Initiative  Community Driven  Sustainable  Uses Existing Infrastructure  No Costs to Participants

4. : A road in your community?

5. Planning…  Local Champion; individuals or a group. Consider a Student Project Coordinator to help… a great experience for a student interested in health promotion  Partner With Stakeholders in your community (School board, Long-Term Care Centre, etc)  Insurance (local Health Unit, School board (Example: 1 year, low risk activity $225.00)  Recruit Volunteers & Solicit Local Business Support  Communication (local paper, letters of invitation to schools, organizations…)  Promotional Material (logo, T-shirts, posters)  Present to your Town/City Council  Consider applying for grants in your region

6. Launching…  Local Champion(s) geared up & ready to go!  Volunteers in place  Registration/waiver forms, surveys, ‘I’m With It!’ cards  Walking routes clearly marked by level of intensity  Muscle Moment Stations hosted by students  Media (TV, print) and partners present for ribbon cutting ceremony  Free t-shirt, prizes, guest DJ

7. Highlights…  Twice weekly walks in a local facility hallways  All ages & activity levels  Walking tunes, PA tips, logo shirts & theme nights  Consider a Pedometer Lending Program – lots of interest!  Consider Muscle Moment Stations  Health Promotion Activities: Displays, workshops, special guests  Consider Free Transportation for those in need

8. Over 450 community members from a town of 4,000 (Deep River & Surrounding Area) got ‘with it’! Over 10% of the population. … how did the very first Get W.I.T.H. It! go?

15. K eys to Success…  No cost to participants  Safe, accessible, all ages & abilities  Community support: Business sponsors & partners … location, transportation, physio stations, health promotion activities  High energy. Great music, enthusiastic volunteers, pedometer lending  Always a welcoming & social atmosphere … have fun! Happy Stepping!

16. ‘Get W.I.T.H. It’ provides an opportunity for communities to utilize schools/local facilities and help residents become more physically active. The template is transferable… are you ready to ‘Get W.I.T.H. It’? Contact StepsCount at 1.866.342.2328 if you have any questions or would like a digital copy of our customizable templates and/or muscle stations!