Annapolis County Recreation Services invites all residents to participate in the 2013 Annapolis County Community Winter Activity Challenge.
This year will mark the sixth annual Annapolis County Community Winter Activity Challenge. The program has grown from two pilot communities, Hampton and Parkers Cove in 2008, to 14 communities last winter. More than 680 Annapolis County residents participated in the program to help keep themselves healthy and fit, and for a chance to make their community Annapolis County’s Most Winter Active Community.
The challenge is open to all residents of the county, from Bear River to Margaretsville. All you have to do is record the hours you are active (from January 1 to March 31, 2013). Then each week report those hours to your designated community leader. There will be weekly and monthly prize draws for those who actively participate.
The Village of Lawrencetown was last year’s Most Winter Active Annapolis County Community. They’re the community to beat.
The categories for communities to compete against each other are, “Total Community Physical Activity Hours,” “Community with the highest average hours of physical activity,” as well as, “Community with the most number of participants.”
Importance
“Even though the prizes are awesome and fun to receive, we remind participants that the challenge is about the importance of physical activity in the winter months,” says Brian Orde, recreation projects and programs assistant, Annapolis County Recreation Services. “Often we find it to easy to stay inside when the cold, snow, and icy weather hits. However, winter offers a variety of great opportunities for fun and activities to help keep us all fit.”
The Community Winter Activity Challenge is one way to help motivate people to get up, get out, and get active this winter.
Jo Hacking of Hampton, says, “I like a challenge and try to get as many hours as I can, so in other words, I like to win or I guess that is what motivates me.”
Another past participant Gale Connell says, “I feel you need exercise all year long, regardless of the weather. The Community Challenge is a good motivator, that helps you get out there on the coldest days in the winter when the warmth of the house feels good.”
Get Physical
Would you like to do something to help get your community more physically active this winter? Do you want a chance for people in your community to get out and meet one another? Do you enjoy a little friendly competition?
Recreation Services still needs a few keen people to be community leaders. There are vacant spots for the communities of Lawrencetown, Parkers Cove, and Bridgetown. Orde said the county would also like to add new communities like, Centerlea, Meadowvale, and Nictaux.
“The job is simple and we are here to help,” said Orde. “If your community is not listed and you would like to participate, please give us a call, 532-3144.”
This year’s community challenge leaders are:
Bear River and Area – George Burrell, 467-3692 or gburrell62@hotmail.com
Bear River First Nations – Kathy White, 467-4197 or klaw@eastlink.com
Cornwallis – Elizabeth McMicheal, 638-3416 or elizmcm@mail.com
Granville Centre – Peter Mansour, 532-1379 or granvilleactivity@gmail.com
Granville Ferry – Richard Berens, 532-1515 or richard@berens.ca
Hampton – Jo Hacking, 665-2424 or Us5@eastlink.ca
Maitland Bridge – Mary Logan, 682-2807 or marylogan11@hotmail.com
Melvern Square – Marilyn Wilkins, 765-8158 or mantwilkins@gmail.com
Middleton – Jodie Moase, 825-6611 or recoffice@town.middleton.ns.ca
Paradise – Barbara Bishop, 584-3511 or barabarabishop@ns.sympatico.ca
Springfield – Jessica Holdershaw, 547-2243 or jessicaholdershaw@live.com
Contact
If you live in one of the above mentioned communities please contact the community leader and sign up today. If you don’t live in one of these communities but would still like to participate please call Orde at 532-3144 or email: borde@annapoliscounty.ns.ca
Many more activities await you. So let’s Take the Roof Off Winter in Annapolis County! Enjoy great winter activities such as snowshoeing, cross country skiing, Nordic walking, ice skating, pond hockey, curling, etc. To find out what’s going on in and around Annapolis County for programs, events, services and other happenings visit www.annapoliscounty.ca also check out the County of Annapolis Facebook page.
