NOVA Walk Week Recap: Celebrating Success and Looking Ahead

September 25, 2024 / Get Well

The Office of Employee Wellness and Wellbeing (OEWW) and our Walk Week Partners would like to thank you for your active participation in the Fall 2024 NOVA Walk Week! Whether you joined one of the scheduled walks, ventured out on your own, led a walk and/or served as a PUSH Pal, we want to express our appreciation for you, congratulate you, and encourage you to keep the momentum going.

If the weather holds, get out there this week and “Walk the Talk” of wellness. Competition anyone? Campus Recreation has you covered. For October, they are hosting a  Fitness Challenge, “Walk 30 miles in 30 days.”

We want your feedback. How did we do? We value your thoughts. Please take a few moments to fill out the Fall Walk Week Survey .

Thank you to everyone who made this NOVA Walk Week a resounding success. Despite the weather challenges; we didn’t let a little rain stop us. Let’s take a moment to acknowledge our incredible colleagues from College Recreation and Intramurals, the Daily Flyer team, Campus Community Relations, Auxiliary Services, CommonHealth Wellness Liaisons, Campus Wellness Committees, our all-star Push Pals and other planning partners who worked together to spotlight the benefits of walking. The execution of such a successful week was truly a team effort that made us proud to be a part of this community.

Moments of Wow. Special shoutout to Annandale Campus and Provost Mucci with the most registrants (including faculty, staff, students and alumni/friends). Honorable mentions: runners-up: Woodbridge Campus with Provost Hill and Medical Education Campus with Provost Powers. As well as the Pender Location with the most employee registrants of any Campus/Location. Impressive! We’re proud to share that we had over 330 registrants, eight published walks and many impromptu walks on our beautiful campuses and throughout the community. Many participants discovered new trails on their respective campuses, and colleagues enjoyed jamming out to our curated Spotify playlist.

Much appreciation to everyone who helped plan and coordinate the walks. Applause to the campus heroes in security and facilities who work tirelessly to create safe spaces for the NOVA community. Cheers to our leaders from across the College who led and joined walks and encouraged their teams and students to participate.

For a few Walk Week highlights—check out the pictures, articles and Walker Wisdom messages on our Padlet Celebration Wall.

Don’t stop now! Below are a host of opportunities to help keep the momentum going! 

Keep It Up And Be Fly—Walk. Run. Dance. Play. Move Your Way. Maintain the Walk Week Spirit. 

At the College. 

  • Fitness Challenges and Virtual Wellness Classes. NOVA’s Recreation and Intramurals (NOVA Rec) can always be counted on for fresh, new offerings.
    • Check out the Be FLY (Fit, Lean[er] You)! challenges for a series of monthly movement challenges. For October, the Fitness Challenge is to “Walk 30 miles in 30 days.”
    • Sign up to compete in the collegewide Cornhole activity, scheduled for October 1 through 16!
    • All members of the NOVA community (employees and students) are invited to join these Zoom sessions. Please register in advance and share the links.
    • For You History Buffs: The Manassas Campus Wellness Committee will host Hiking With the Historian, Friday, October 25 from 3:30 p.m. until 4:30 p.m. Interested? Please contact Thuy Ngo-Nguyen at tngonguyen@nvcc.edu to register.
    • Calling all Pickleball Enthusiasts! Ready to unleash your inner pickleball champion? NOVA Annandale Campus Colleagues are offering an exciting opportunity to connect through pickleball on Fridays throughout the semester. Interested? Contact Professor Pirabalini Swaminathan (piswaminathan@nvcc.edu) to join the fun.
    • Check OEWW’s curated list of physical wellness opportunities for these and other spotlighted campus, college and community wellness partners.
    • Thinking of starting an on-campus walking group? Curious about Virtual Walking Groups? Where to Walk? Need additional support to take that next step?
      • Here is a link to maps of a selection of trails on our beautiful campuses.
      • Reach out to the Walk Week point of contact on your campus, campus wellness committee members, the campus CommonHealth Liaison and/or for Annandale/Alexandria, your respective fitness facilities professionals.
  • Moving outdoors is for everyone: Boardwalk Hikes in Northern Virginia – Explore seven beautiful boardwalk hikes in Northern Virginia on trails close to nature and unique wetland habitats near Washington, D.C. All of these boardwalk trails are level and easy, and many are stroller and wheelchair accessible.

Virtually.

Do You Need Additional Help to Stay Motivated?

Glad you asked! The next time you need a boost to keep going, check out these resources:

“Every action you take is a vote for the type of person you wish to become”.  James Clear, Atomic Habits

Green and Gold NOVA Logo, horizontal line, Office of Employee Wellness and Wellbeing. Diverse group of people standing in the shape of a heart.

Submitted by:
Dahlia Henry-Tett, Chief Wellness Officer, employeewellbeing@nvcc.edu