Everybody Walk Across Pennsylvania
- Skill Level
- Beginner Intermediate Advanced
- Language
- English
- Event Format
- Virtual | Live
About The Event
Everybody Walk Across Pennsylvania is a free, eight-week virtual walking program held each spring and fall. Perfect for worksites, schools, community groups, and individuals, this biannual program encourages participants to get moving, stay connected, and support one another in reaching their wellness goals. Whether you're forming a team with colleagues or walking solo, this program offers a fun and flexible way to build healthy habits. For program details, helpful forms, FAQs, and tips for managing multiple teams, visit the Everybody Walk Across Pennsylvania Program Information.
Gather your family, friends, or co-workers to form a team of up to five. Even your pet can be a member of your team! You may also register as an individual participant. This is a virtual walking program, so you may walk wherever you choose – a park, your neighborhood, or your yard.
Each person is encouraged to walk an average of 10 miles (or do the exercise equivalent) each week for eight weeks. Walk with your team or on your own at a time and place convenient for you.
During the program, weekly emails are sent to registrants and will include motivators to keep walking and strategies for eating healthy. Each week, team captains and individuals not on a team will be required to report the total number of miles walked.
This event is being offered at no charge to participants.
Preregistration is required for this event.
This program is for anyone interested in:
- Finding motivation to exercise and maintain a healthy lifestyle
- Walking for exercise, indoors or outdoors
- The impact of physical activity on improving health
- How to increase physical activity by setting weekly goals
- The fun and social aspects of exercise
Guidance Regarding COVID-19
We will follow University and local guidelines and regulations at the time of this event. Individual visitors still bear responsibility for adhering to guidelines and protocols to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.
Please review Penn State's guidelines.
Is there a cost for the program?
This is a free program, but registration is required by 5pm on the start date of the program.
How do we form a team?
Gather up to five family, friends, or co-workers who are interested in developing healthier habits. Choose a team captain (who will need to have e-mail access), pick a team name, and register online. Each person will need to register online.
Choosing a team captain and team name is NOT part of registration. There will be instructions to report this after week one.
We are interested in running this program in our workplace/school/organization. Do you have any tips?
Many workplaces use the Everybody Walk PA program as part of their wellness plan, or just as a way for everyone to get moving and get together as the weather gets nicer. Download our Workplace, School, and Organization Guide for some tips to help with any organization that has multiple teams.
What does the team captain do?
Each team will need to have a team captain. Each week, members of the team will report their miles to the team captain. The team captain is then in-charge of reporting the total team miles. A link will be emailed to the team captain to submit the total miles each week. Download our team captain guide.
How do I keep track of my miles?
Download the Individual Mileage Log. Print it out and keep it handy to track your miles. If you don't have a printer create your own log or just write down your mileage for each of the 8 weeks so you can log your miles into the system each week.
Do we need to walk as a team?
No. Everyone can walk on their own and at their own time. Of course, if you want to walk as a team, that's great! Either way, just let your team captain know how many miles you walked each week.
Do we walk on the weekly route?
You do not have to walk in any specific area. We highlight beautiful areas in our state so participants can learn about them and take advantage of them if their schedules allow.
I exercise in other ways. Can I count it as miles?
Yes, there is an Exercise Conversion Chart that you can download.
I use a fitness tracker. How do I count my steps?
Remember, we are tracking purposeful walking or exercise not activity that 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 that by 2,000 to get the number of miles. (There are approximately 2,000 steps in a mile.) Please report in miles.
What if our team does not walk 70 miles in a 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 than that and others will struggle to get close to that. Do your best, report what you walk, and keep working to improve. This is not a contest and there is no minimum requirement.
Will I be getting emails?
Yes, all registered participants with email addresses will receive a weekly newsletter. The newsletter includes motivators to keep walking, and strategies for healthy eating. The newsletter will also include links to other resources.
A team member does not have computer access. What do we do?
If a member does not have computer access, they will still be able to report their miles to the team captain. The team captain must have computer access to submit the total miles walked.
Another team member may choose to show them the online information or print it out for them as appropriate.
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?
You may want to have two teams and follow the above instructions for teams less than five, or you could try to recruit a few more members. If you do have more than 5 people on your team, average the additional members and use that number for one spot.
Will there be prizes for the most miles walked?
This is not a competitive event. Everyone is starting at a different place with their abilities and this program is meant for people to improve upon their own efforts. The team's actual miles walked will be provided each week. You can certainly have some friendly competition at your work site or with other teams.
Will there be T-shirts available?
We will not have T-shirts available. If you would like to promote team spirit, there are many outlets where you can have small numbers of shirts printed for your team members. We will provide an Everybody Walk Across PA image if you want to use this for your shirts.
Why is this program important?
Most people know that 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 cardiovascular functioning and strengthens bones. Combined with healthy eating, it can help to reduce or maintain body weight and decrease incidence of certain chronic diseases.
Most people also struggle with meeting these goals. By providing a program with social support and fun, it can help participants get in the habit of exercising, recognizing the benefits of physical activity, and create 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.
