Free program helps you learn more about Kansas while staying healthy this summer

Did you know that Dodge City is listed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration as the windiest city in the United States, with an average daily wind speed of 13.9 miles per hour?

Have you met Valeda III? She is a life-size, talking, transparent model (the only one of its kind in the United States) located at the Kansas Learning Center for Health in Halstead, which is the second oldest health museum in the country.

Ever been to Elk Falls, located in Elk County? Elk Falls bills itself as the “World’s Largest Living Ghost Town” and in November each year has an annual outhouse tour.

Want to stay fit and healthy during the summer and learn more about our state of Kansas and all that it has to offer?

Lawrence Memorial Hospital is a major sponsor of WellCommons.

You can learn more about these and other interesting Kansas trivia tidbits, as well as unique Kansas destinations for fun and interesting trips, by registering for UKANDOIT at Lawrence Memorial Hospital.

UKANDOIT 2016 is a free, six-week wellness incentive program that you do on your own or with a group of your own creation. The program begins July 11 and continues through Aug. 21.

Each Monday during the program, participants will be emailed three challenges in the areas of nutrition, fitness and miscellaneous health and wellness. Participants may opt to complete one challenge, two or all three.

At the end of the six weeks, those who have completed at least six challenges will receive a small wellness incentive reward. In addition to weekly wellness challenges, participants will receive Kansas trivia information and tips on fun and interesting day trips and destinations within the state.

Examples of weekly wellness and health challenges include eating one or more meatless meals each day for seven days; completing 60 minutes of laps during the week either at a pool and/or a track; learning more about sun safety; or spending some time outdoors stargazing or photographing Kansas nature.

Greg Windholz, director of wellness at Lawrence Memorial Hospital, says: “Wellness challenge programs are a great way to engage employees as well as the general public in fun, educational and motivating health and wellness activities and learnings.”

UKANDOIT is just one of four yearly wellness challenge programs offered by Lawrence Memorial Hospital. The others are WALK-tober, held in October; the 12 Days of Fitness in December; and Drive Away the Winter Doldrums, offered in February and March.

If you have questions or wish to enroll in UKANDOIT, send an email with your name, address, contact phone and email address to aynsley.anderson@lmh.org or call 505-3066. Or you can enroll online at lmh.org/events and search for UKANDOIT. The deadline to register is noon July 7.

— Aynsley Anderson Sosinski, MA, RN, is Community Education Coordinator at Lawrence Memorial Hospital, a major sponsor of WellCommons. She is a Mayo Clinic Certified Wellness Coach. She can be reached at aynsley.anderson@lmh.org.