Physical Activity
The Piscataquis Public Health Council supports a variety of programs and services aimed at increasing healthy physical activity among children and adults. Among our many initiatives, we seek to :
- increase the number of youth involved in physical activities,
- increase the number of towns with bike paths or trails,
- increase physical activity opportunities for aging adults, and
- increase the number of local business that offer physical activity options within the worksite.
Resources:
Town Recreation Departments Provides a list of activities in area towns.
Map your walk, run, or ride These sites allows you to map your walk, run, or ride.
Waterfall guide to Southern Piscataquis County Provides a waterfall guide for the area. www.piscataquischamber.com/waterfall_guide.asp
Healthy Maine Walks provides information on how to find a walking route near you, to share information about walking routes, or to find out about how to create one www.healthymainewalks.org/
The Piscataquis County YMCA has a great exercise facility with a weight room, cardiovascular machines, indoor pool, racquetball courts, and many programs to help individuals become physically active. www.prymca.org/
The Maine Chapter of the Appalachian Mountain Club provides news and information about upcoming activities, hiking trails, rafting, family outings, and other outdoor functions. www.amcmaine.org/committees/paddling/
Moosehead Lake Region Activities and Resources helps people find activities such biking, hiking, fishing, hunting and many others around the Moosehead Lake region. www.mooseheadlake.org/index.shtml
Bicycle Coalition of Maine promotes bicycling through safety, education and access, to enhance Maine communities, environment, and economy. www.bikemaine.org/membership.htm
What You Do Matters is your door to simple, easy-to-understand health and wellness information in Eastern Maine Communities. http://www.whatyoudomatters.org/
The Maine.gov Coordinating School Health Programs website provides information on school nutrition, physical activity, health promotion and other resources to school personnel, parents and students within the state of Maine, and also beyond Maine’s borders. www.mainecshp.com/
Geocaching is a high-tech treasure hunting game played throughout the world by adventure seekers equipped with GPS devices. The basic idea is to locate hidden containers, called geocaches, outdoors and then share your experiences online. Geocaching is enjoyed by people from all age groups, with a strong sense of community and support for the environment. www.geocaching.com
Geocaching Maine contains information and resources about geocaching, or high-tech treasure hunting, in Maine. www.geocachingmaine.org/
The Surgeon General's Call to Action to Prevent and Decrease Overweight and Obesity provides information on the prevention and treatment of obesity and ways to become physically active. www.surgeongeneral.gov/topics/obesity/
The National Center for Bicycling & Walking (NCBW) is a national, nonprofit corporation established in 1977 with a mission to create bicycle-friendly and walkable community www.bikewalk.org/
Shaping Americas Youth provides the latest and most comprehensive information on programs and community efforts across the United States directed at increasing physical activity and improving nutrition in our nation’s youth. www.shapingamericasyouth.com/Default.aspx?aspxerrorpath=/index.html
The American Council on Exercise (ACE) provides “fit facts” resources for educators, worksites, and schools about exercise and nutrition. www.acefitness.org/fitfacts/default.aspx
Eastern Maine’s Move and Improve program is held every spring and allows schools, worksites, and individuals to challenge themselves to become physically active. The website also contains many fitness and wellness tools for individuals. www.moveandimprove.org/
