Preparing for Week 5!
Congratulations to the Week 3 raffle winners:
The Department of Public Health will send an email requesting your mailing address for the gift certificate to be mailed to. Please look for the email or contact Rita at rhuron@miottawa.org.
Carol Christophel
Kathy Lubbers
Last week, 302 of the 789 people registered reported their activity. Way to go! Let's try to beat this number next week.
Why is it important to record your activity? First of all, you can see the progress toward meeting your weekly health goal every time you enter your minutes. Secondly, being aware of the activity you do each day can help you develop good exercise habits.
Lastly, so that you can have your name entered into the weekly prize drawing! For the week of May 21-27, record your minutes of activity by this Wednesday, May 31. You can record your minutes of activity by entering your email on the Step it Up! login page found at www.miottawa.org/stepitup or by selecting the Record my Activity box found below.
Scroll down to see our upcoming group activities, strength and flexibility movements of the week, healthy eating tips and recipes, and a couple of fun and free events at Ottawa County parks.
About Our Walking Groups
At each group walk, there will be two designated walking groups led by a parks staff member or a volunteer. Walking groups are differentiated by the types of trails the group will encounter, as well as the distance covered in one hour. Guides will travel at a pace that is good for their whole group.
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Group 1: Will travel at a slower pace, following the most accessible route.
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Group 2: Will travel at a slightly faster pace and the trail may be considered slightly more challenging, with varying topography changes, stairs and distance.
All paved paths are ADA accessible.
It is important to remember that pace is subjective. Each year, we hear from many participants who feel we go too slow, as well as those who feel we go fast. Leaders and caboose volunteers are there to provide a guided experience, which may not be at your preferred pace. If the pace isn't quite right for you, we encourage you to visit again to try the trail at a pace that feels right for you.
🛶 Group Activities This Week 👟
Wednesday, May 31 at 6:00 PM: Group Walk at Pigeon Creek
Pigeon Creek Park is mostly known for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing opportunities in the winter. You can rent equipment and enjoy the groomed trails for classic and skate skiing. However, this park has a lot to offer year-round! Along the creek loop you can enjoy woodland flowers and the chorus of frog calls. In the summer, the shade of the beech-maple forest canopy provides a respite from the summer heat. As the daylight hours in autumn wane, lights turn on along the 3-mile lit loop. Pigeon Creek Park is the only park that is open until 10:00 PM year round. Be sure to enjoy all the seasons!
Dogs on leash welcome!
Saturday, June 3 at 10:00 AM: Group Walk at New Richmond Bridge Park
This park is located just north of the historic village of New Richmond in the northwestern part of the county. The centerpiece of this historic park is a fully restored swing bridge which spans 400’ across the Kalamazoo River. This swing bridge, which was originally built in 1879, was restored to its original splendor in 2004. It is listed in the National Register of Historic Places and connects park property on both the north and south sides of the river. Another interesting feature of the park is that there is a very active railroad bridge that runs parallel to the swing bridge. In fact, this railroad bridge is crossed by 30 to 40 trains per day! The railroad bridge, which was built in 1907, is also a historic structure and was originally designed to swing at its center span to allow riverboat traffic to pass. New Richmond Bridge Park includes five fishing piers, a half mile of boardwalk trails that run along the river and through the surrounding wetland areas, several interpretive signs, a restroom building, a small picnic area, and a watercraft launch and parking area.
Dogs on leash welcome!
Upcoming Park Activities
Wednesday, May 31, 8:00 - 10:00 AM: Bird Walk at Crockery Creek Natural Area
Whether you are an avid birder or are just desire to experience birds beyond your backyard, join us and immerse yourself in the sights and sounds of spring bird migration. Trail conditions vary depending on the park. Be prepared for muddy and wet trails.
Registration appreciated.
Saturday, June 3, 12:00 - 1:30 PM: Eat Green. Stay Active. Live Well. at Olive Shores
A taste of summer―the healthiest tour you’ll take of the season! Give yourself a nutritional boost, change up your routine and rediscover healthy eating and the outdoors at its best―all set against the majestic landscapes of woodlands, shorelines and dunes boasting sunshine, wildflowers, and vibrant colors of the peak spring season. Explore new nutritious ways to indulge in summertime’s freshest flavors, taste the ‘pick of the patch’ and discover the top seasonal superstars to power up your plate to make your meals greener, more interesting, and delicious. Bring a camp chair to relax and sit on. Picnic tables will also be available. For the comfort of all our guests, no pets. A parking permit is required at this park.
Registration required, $55 class fee.
May 29 - June 11: Over in the Forest Storywalk at Hawthorn Pond Natural Area
Take a StoryWalk® at Hawthorn Pond Natural Area! In collaboration with Herrick Library, this StoryWalk® features "Over in the Forest" by Marianne Berkes. Pages from this picture book will be posted on signs along the path for your family to read together - along with ideas for things to look for and do as you walk! The story is available to read as you stroll along the path/trail.
No registration required.
Storywalks: A Family Fun Activity
Storywalks are a great way to get your whole family outside and walking! Pages from a featured book will be posted along a path for you and your family to read together. Stories are available during park hours.
- May 15 - 28: You are Here by Zach Manbeck at Hemlock Crossing
- May 29 - June 11: Over in the Forest by Marianne Berkes at Hawthorn Park Natural Area
- June 5 - June 23: Federico and the Wolf by Rebecca J. Gomez at Paw Paw Park East, brought to you in partnership with 5210, Let's Go!
- June 12 - June 25: Out of Nowhere by Chris Naylor-Ballesteros at Riley Trails
- June 19 - June 25: Summer Color! by Diana Murray at Hemlock Crossing
- June 30 - July 16: Green on Green by Dianne Whitte at Paw Paw Park West
- July 7 - July 21: Now by Antoinette Portis at Connor Bayou, brought to you in partnership with 5210, Let's Go!
- July 17 - July 30: Look and Listen by Dianne White at Pine Bend
- July 31 - August 18: The Hike by Alison Farrell at Hemlock Crossing, brought to you in partnership with 5210, Let's Go!
- July 31 - August 18: A Perfect Day by Lane Smith at Paw Paw Park East
- August 14 - August 27: Bird Watch by Christie Matheson at Riley Trails
5210, Let's Go! is an easy-to-remember plan to help you and your family implement healthy habits, including drinking fewer sugary drinks, making healthy food choices, reducing screen time, and adding physical activity into your daily routine. More information to come soon!
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Four Pointes Telephone Reassurance Program
Four Pointes offers free phone-based service connecting seniors with calls from kind and compassionate volunteers.
Calls can be received up to five days a week. No membership required.
To make a referral for yourself or someone you love,
please call 616.842.9210.
Four Pointes mission is to promote the vitality, independence and
well-being of older adults in the North Ottawa County community by providing needed services and information, encouraging recreation and lifelong learning and advocating for solutions to issues of aging.
Learn more about programs and services
💪🏽Movements of the Week from Darebee🧘🏼♂️
This week's movement, and many others, for all different types and levels of difficulty of movement, body part focus and equipment usage, can be found at Darebee.com.
Check out ALL of the Eco Trek Fitness moves, as highlighted in the previous Step it Up! emails, by clicking here.
Warm Up Activities on 8.5" x 11" printable page
Warm Up Activities on 5.5" x 8.5" printable page
Videos of the individual movements and the full warm up can be found here.
Make a goal to do a least three different stretches a day!
This week's healthy and delicious recipe, provided by Step it Up! program partner Ottawa Food.
 About Ottawa Food: Ottawa Food is a collaborative effort of over 45 agencies and individuals in Ottawa County to ensure our community has access to healthy, local, and affordable food. Formerly the Ottawa County Food Policy Council, our members come from a variety of backgrounds: public health, food pantries, human service organizations, farmers, community members, Feeding America West Michigan, the MSU Extension, and more. Learn more at OttawaFood.org
Make Good Nutrition Easy
"Designate a shelf or drawer in your fridge. Stock it with cut-up fruits and vegetables, organic yogurt, nut butters, hummus, whole grain breads and healthy treats for easy grab-and-go. Think about your drinks. Make water and low-fat or fat-free dairy milk, fortified soy or other plant-based milk alternatives, and fresh squeezed fruit and vegetable juices easy options to grab. Have ready-to-go containers filled with healthy foods and drinks in the fridge to take to work or on outings.” Healthy Eating for Kids
Take these healthy homemade snacks and drinks with you when you head out Celery-Apple-Kiwi Juice with Ginger, Pseudo Satay Celery Sticks and Hawaii 5-0 Mix - use organic dried pineapple chunks and mangoes such as Made In Nature for this stir-and-go tasty trail mix treat. Toss this portable power snack in your bag too for an extra energy boost to help fuel your day - Sweet Potato-Oat Energy Bites.
Tips and recipes are provided by Angela Venderley, a professional Nutritionist & Certified Fitness Trainer with Nutrition, Health, Fitness & Sport Group LLC, a Step it Up! program partner.
Step It Up! Group Activity Schedule
Find a list of all the Step it Up! activity dates and locations:
miottawa.org/stepitup
Step it Up! is supported by funds made available from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Center for State, Tribal, Local and Territorial Support, under 1 NB01OT009436-01-00.
Questions: Contact Rajvir Kaur at rkaur@miottawa.org
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