Catch the activity bug: Community collaboration that gets kids active

Physical inactivity and unhealthy eating continue to be significant contributors to the rising rates of overweight and associated chronic diseases among children in the United States. In Pennsylvania, it is estimated that 35% of children do not meet the recommended weekly physical activity level of 240 minutes. In 2008, a multi-agency collaborative in York, Pennsylvania developed Catch the Activity Bug, a summer-long initiative that encouraged children and parents to get outdoors and be physically active by letterboxing over a three-month period. Thirty “bug-specific” letterboxes, with varying degrees of difficulty, were hidden in parks and along trails throughout York County. A program Field Guide provided participants with clues to each letterbox, facts and recommended library books about each bug, and a place to affix a unique letterbox stamp. Over 8200 Field Guides were distributed through a new partnership with the local library system; 13.5% of these were returned at program completion. Completed Field Guide information was utilized to calculate program outcomes. Participants who successfully located all thirty letterboxes walked approximately 21 miles, and a total of 16,535 miles was walked by all participants who returned their Field Guides, not accounting for family members who accompanied participating children. Additional outcomes, such as frequency of park/trails visits and unanticipated issues, will be discussed. A similar program, to be conducted in partnership with the local library system and creative arts community, is under development for summer 2009 and will promote physical activity, educate about the creative arts, and encourage reading. Outcomes from that program will also be shared.