Green Steps Challenge Information
The Spring 2011 Green Steps Walking Challenge is complete. The following information is available for reference for those who would like to learn more about the program for the future. See you in 2012!
Green Steps Walking Challenge Information
Below you’ll find information pertaining to registration for and rules of the Green Steps walking challenge. Please contact us at wellness@depaul.edu if you have any additional questions after reading.
What is Green Steps?
Green Steps is a walking challenge designed to provide structure and accountability to DePaul faculty and staff who want to engage in regular physical activity. The program provides an opportunity to improve health, do something positive for the environment, and spend valuable time and friends and colleagues. Research indicates that exercisers who have a plan and a supportive social network are more likely to stick with physical activity than those who don't.
Who can participate?
Participation in the program is only open to current DePaul University faculty and staff members, although participants are welcome to recruit others to be walking buddies!
How much does it cost?
There is no cost to participate.
How does it work?
Participants use pedometers to track the number of steps taken each day as a measure of lifestyle activity, and record this information on a program website. Participants will strive to hit individual targets, and are also placed into teams of four to provide opportunities to walk together and/or hold each other accountable in a friendly way.
What is the goal?
The daily goal is to average 10,000 steps in a day, which helps individuals achieve the recommended amount of regular physical activity. It sounds like a lot, but is actually very attainable! Depending on a person's stride length, 10,000 steps equates to approximately 5 miles. Walkers can achieve this distance by doing simple things such as taking stairs instead of elevators, parking in the perimeter of a parking lot, and taking brief (10-minute) walks at various times of the day. Keep in mind that this 10,000 step goal is an average, so on any given day you may have more or less.
What’s in it for me?
In addition to supporting your health, the environment, and your community, there are other benefits:
- We’ve upgraded the pedometers available for the program (Omron pedometers), which the first 150 registrants receive FREE. (Update: All free pedometers have been claimed for Green Steps 2011.) Digiwalker brand (high-end) pedometers are available for purchase at the pro shop at The Ray Meyer Fitness and Recreation Center for $25.45, tax included.
- You’ll have access to our online step-tracking tool, Motivation. Here you’ll be able to enter your steps and track your progress, as well as the progress of your team and other teams. Motivation also has the capability of helping you track other goals, such as weight and blood pressure, and includes informational articles on a variety of wellness-related topics.
- You’ll receive brief weekly emails from the Campus Rec staff with updates on the program, helpful health tips, and tips on living a more sustainable lifestyle.
- There are also incentive prizes at stake! Individual walkers (not the team collectively) will be recognized during this quarter-long program after attaining 350,000 steps (about halfway through the program, as a guideline) and again after 700,000 steps. Sound like a lot? It’s absolutely attainable. If you hit the recommended daily (average) target of 10,000 steps per day, you will have walked 700,000 steps in 10 weeks (10,000 x 7 days x 10 weeks = 700,000 steps)!
When is it?
The challenge begins on Monday, April 4 and goes through Sunday, June 12. Participants may join at any time, even after the official kick-off date. Just be aware, however, that starting late may make it more difficult to attain the milestones, and that Campus Recreation will not “pro-rate” any step totals or make any other related concessions.
How do I register for Green Steps?
To register for Green Steps, please download and print the registration form, which will be available when registration opens Monday, March 21. After completing the form, please submit the form via email to wellness@depaul.edu, or drop it off in person at the front desk of The Ray Meyer Fitness and Recreation Center.
The daily goal is to average 10,000 steps in a day, which helps individuals achieve the recommended amount of regular physical activity. It sounds like a lot, but is actually very attainable! Depending on a person's stride length, 10,000 steps equates to approximately 5 miles. Walkers can achieve this distance by doing simple things such as taking stairs instead of elevators, parking in the perimeter of a parking lot, and taking brief (10-minute) walks at various times of the day. Keep in mind that this 10,000 step goal is an average, so on any given day you may have more or less.
How are teams formed?
Teams consist of four people. You may register a team of participants in advance, or you may request on the registration form that we assign you to a team. If you know who you would like to team up with, please register by selecting “team stepper” on the registration form and include all team members on the same form. If you do not currently have a team and would like Campus Recreation to assign you to one, please select “individual stepper” and we will take care of the team placement for you. One person on each team will be designated the team captain.
What does a team captain do?
The team captain simply serves as the primary contact for the team in the event that Campus Recreation needs to relay information to the team. The brief weekly emails that include general program updates and health/fitness tips will still go to all participants for whom we have contact information.
What if we don’t have four participants, but we still want to be on the same team?
No problem! Simply check the box on the registration form to indicate that you don’t have a full team and would like Campus Recreation to assign other teammates to your roster. You may be paired with other walkers from your department or from other departments, with preference given to those on the same primary campus as you.
How do I get one of the free pedometers?
Free Omron pedometers are available to the first 150 registrants and may be picked up on either the Lincoln Park or Loop campuses while supplies last, and are available only to Green Steps participants.
- Lincoln Park: Pick-up is available at the Ray Meyer Fitness & Recreation Center beginning March 23 by visiting Membership Services (8 am - 8 pm, Monday - Friday; 9 am - 4 pm, Saturday; 12 - 3 pm, Sunday).
- Loop: Pick-up is available on the 11th floor of the DePaul Center (lounge area) at 11:30 am - 1:30 pm, on March 24 & 30, and April 5.
- For participants interested in high-end pedometers that are among the most durable and most accurate available, we offer Digiwalker brand pedometers for sale our pro shop for $25.45, tax included.
Do I have to use a Campus Rec pedometer?
No. You are free to use any pedometer you’d like to, as long as you are able to see a grand total of steps taken at the end of the day. Many GPS-enabled cell phones also have pedometer applications available! Since we’re using the “honor system” for participants to track and record their steps, Campus Recreation will not be checking, calibrating, or otherwise monitoring pedometers.
How do I record my steps?
Record your daily pedometer step tally on the Motivation website, a wellness-oriented site full of education and useful tools. Participants will be provided logon credentials for the site after submitting the registration form, and will then be able to see individual step count, as well as totals for teammates and competing teams! Instructions on how to record steps on the site can be found here.
What if I miss a day?
We recommend that you only enter daily step totals for days on which you wore your pedometer. Again, since this program is based on the “honor system,” we are counting on participants to enter accurate information in fairness to other walkers. Your daily step totals should come from your pedometer. Do not estimate your step total or use other inaccurate methods.
What if we have a team member drop out of the program?
If a teammate drops out of the program, or if they simply are not participating, your team can continue on the program. Your eligibility for individual incentive prizes will not be affected. However, we do encourage you to provide a little friendly peer pressure to encourage your teammate to keep up the fight! The motivation and accountability provided by teammates is one of the best aspects of Green Steps. Remember the acronym, T.E.A.M.: Together Everyone Achieves More! It sounds corny, but it's true!