Everybody Walk Across PA - Spring 2026 Week 8 Newsletter

Over the past eight weeks, the Penn State Cancer Institute has periodically shared tips to help you improve your health and reduce your risk of certain cancers and other chronic diseases. Healthy habits make a big difference and can add years to your life. Now is a great time to reflect on the changes you've made during this program.

Consider the following ideas to maintain healthy habits:

• Start small. It may be hard to change everything at once. Pick one or two things to focus on, such as increasing your activity or drinking more water and less soda.
• Set goals. Be specific about what you want to change. For example, instead of "I want to eat healthier," consider "I want to eat at least one fruit or vegetable at every meal." 
• Share your plans with family or friends. They can provide support and encouragement and help hold you accountable. 
• Think about the "why." Why do you want to get healthier? Identifying a reason for a change is a strong motivator and will help you make healthy choices. Maybe your "why" is about spending more time with family, traveling, or having more energy.
• Keep moving. Celebrate your successes along the way. Do not be discouraged if you have a few setbacks. Remember, setbacks can happen and are just temporary. You can always get back to focusing on the goal when you are ready.

Photo Scavenger Hunt

Master Gardener Tip: Wise Water Usage

Managing water in the garden can become burdensome during dry periods, unless you plan ahead. Good planning with the help of rain barrels, soaker hoses, or drip irrigation, proper mulching, and plant selection will be at the top of the list when growing a vegetable garden. You will need supplemental water to have a successful harvest. Soaker hoses and drip irrigation are easy to install and deliver the water to where it needs to be—at the root zone.

When selecting plants for the landscape, choose those that can tolerate the site conditions. If the soil is dry or wet, choose a plant community that is appropriate. Read the Creating a Water-Wise Landscape article from Virginia Tech to learn more.

Recipe of the Week

• Retro Melon Ball Trio - This colorful combination of fresh melons is an exciting way to add variety and enjoy more fruit.

Resource Highlights

• Seek Progress, Not Perfection - Discover how setting SMART goals can improve your chances of success.
• Journey to a Healthier Heart - Introducing major changes into our daily lives can be challenging. Choosing a heart-healthy lifestyle is like setting off on a journey: It requires a step-by-step approach.
• Strategies for Making Healthy Changes Last - Many people find it difficult to follow through on their plan to get healthy. Here are some tips to keep yourself on the road to success.

Upcoming Events

• Let's Cook at Home: Charcuterie Boards - Learn how to make a charcuterie board for a fun meal or appetizer with friends and family.
• Let's Cook at Home: Herbs and Spices - Learn how to cook flavorful, healthy meals using herbs and spices in this one-hour virtual class featuring seasoning tips, cooking techniques, and ways to add more vegetables to your diet.
• Let's Cook at Home: Plant-Based - Learn to prepare healthy plant-based meals, plan a balanced diet, and apply simple cooking techniques to add more plant foods to your daily routine.
• Mental Health First Aid - Mental health awareness is such an important factor in knowing how to help those in crisis find the help and care they need.
• Understanding Alzheimer's and Dementia - Learn during this webinar the basics of Alzheimer's and dementia.
• 10 Warning Signs of Alzheimer's - Learn during this informative virtual event to recognize the common signs of Alzheimer's Disease.
• Plants in the Park - Explore common forest plants on a guided walk with a forestry extension educator. Learn basic identification skills, observe key features, and connect with nature on an easy, scenic trail.

Want to continue your walking journey?

Consider joining Extension's Walk-a-Weigh Plus social media walking campaign on Facebook! Walk-a-Weigh Plus encourages participants to walk 30 minutes a day for 30 days, and to share their journey with others by posting pictures of their efforts and accomplishments.

This free collaborative effort among 14 Extension organizations throughout the country provides information about—and resources for—wellness and healthy living. The program has more than 2,500 members and continues to grow! Join the Facebook group by searching "Walk-a-Weigh Plus (30 for 30 Extension Collaborative)" and clicking "Join Group" to keep moving year-round.

2026 Get Outdoors (GO) Program updates coming soon!

Be sure to check out the websites below and/or visit your local library come June 1st to participate in the Get Outdoors (GO) Program this summer!

• Get Outdoors (GO) Adams County
• Get Outdoors (GO) Cumberland County
• Get Outdoors (GO) Franklin County
• Get Outdoors (GO) Lancaster County
• Get Outdoors (GO) Lebanon County
• Get Outdoors (GO) Union County
• Get Outdoors (GO) York County

 If you participated in the Healthy Franklin County program, please complete this survey, Everybody Walk Across PA Participant Survey  – Fill out form deadline is June 5