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Ravalli County

WINter Wellness

Published: 2019
By Katelyn Andersen
In partnership with MSU College of Nursing interns, a winter wellness program was created to encourage Ravalli County residents to engage in physical activity during the cold, dark months from November 15-February 15. Participants who engaged in at least 10 minutes of daily activity could log their efforts and enter into a drawing to win prizes. Over $2,000 in prizes were donated by local foundations and businesses to encourage participants to keep active. WINter Wellness is the fourth health-incentive challenge offered by MSU Extension in the past three years. During this challenge, 211 adults from every community in the county logged over 4,192 entries of physical activity during this three month challenge. Participants reported the following impacts: • 30% improved mental health • 32% increased physical activity • 31% increased motivation to move due to this program • 8% increase in social ties to the community A Hamilton resident shared, “I will continue with my indoor planks, squats, etc. and walking down the hill and back up again to the mailbox. Your program has helped me to be stronger because it has given me incentive to keep up daily exercise.” In addition to the personal incentives for physical engagement, three wellness-focused educational classes were held with community partners and engaged more than 115 adults. Programs included: Sound Bath and Mindfulness with Bitterroot Sound Healing, Walk & Talk with Bitter Root Land Trust, and Full Moon Hike at Teller Wildlife Refuge with RCKN IT! Outdoors and MPG Ranch.
Community members engage in a hike to Lake Como with an educational class led in partnership with MSU Extension. Photo by Katelyn Andersen