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Fitness challenge is being organized
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By Charlie Warner
Argus News Editor
Feeling a little sluggish after the long, cold winter and not getting out into the great outdoors for a little physical activity? Have you been forced to open up that belt one notch to keep things comfortable, and found yourself a little winded when walking up that flight of stairs?
The Caledonia Area Chamber of Commerce and Beaver Creek Valley State Park have the perfect solution for you. They are organizing a fitness challenge. The walking and hiking program includes a series of trails and distances marked on a map of easy, moderate and difficult walks or hikes in the state park. Participants are encouraged to try different trail routes in the park as part of the fitness challenge and record the activity on their physical activity sheet.
The fitness challenge will take place from Memorial Day through Labor Day. Activity sheets will be turned in to employers on Sept. 2. Businesses will total the miles walked by all employees and submit a final tally sheet to the chamber.
To further entice participation, the chamber board has decided to hold a mid-season pot luck dinner at the park shelter building on Wednesday, July 16 from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.
Caledonia area businesses are encouraged to enroll all of their employes in the fitness challenge and to keep track of the miles hiked throughout the season. The chamber will provide certificates of achievement to businesses and individual employees reaching 100, 250, and 500 miles.
“Many employers that sponsor wellness programs have a significant return on their investment, ranging from three to as much as seven dollars for every dollar invested,” noted Anne Selness, of Beaver Creek Valley State Park, who brought the idea to the chamber board. “Providing a wellness program lowers health care costs, reduces absenteeism, improves moral, and is just the right thing to do for employees. Walking and hiking at Beaver Creek Valley State park encourages healthy living, while connecting people with an outdoor recreation destination close to home.
“The state park trails are bursting with color and activity,” Selness continued. “Now is the time for you to discover the top hiking and walking trails in the area. Hikers will se beautiful vistas, discover interesting and unusual birds, plants, and animals, and relax along Beaver Creek.”
All that is needed are comfortable tennis or hiking shoes and a trail map. Participants are asked to register at the chamber office by calling Lori at (507) 725-5477, or email to
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You can contact Charlie Warner at
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