Thursday, July 21, 2011

Action Plans and Event Closing


Before the closing of the event, individual teams had time to complete their Action Plan composed of their intentions to implement concepts and ideas gathered from the conference each other and from the other states attending. Holly Alperin closed the event with a slideshow of the participants in action over the last few days, thank-yous, and well wishes for a safe trip home.

Inspiring Keynote by Mark Fenton



On the closing day of the event (and after leading a brisk Walk Audit with participants in the AM), keynote speaker Mark Fenton energized and inspired the teams in his engaging presentation entitled "Healthy, Active Schools and Students". Fenton's talk outlined how communities and schools are utilizing Safe Routes to School and related efforts as a catalyst to comprehensive efforts to provide more children more physical activity more of the time and included an overview of the challenges to increasing student physical activity, including walking and bicycling to school. Mark also covered how the five Es (engineering, encouragement, education, enforcement, and evaluation) are central to a successful policy, systems, and environmental approach to increasing physical activity, and illustrate their implementation with real-world examples.

Day Three Begins

The final day of "Strengthening Our Practice: Furthering Our Impact" opened up with a greeting from Holly Alperin and the teams review of Day Two.

Walk About Boston with Mark Fenton

Catching an early morning break from the Boston area heat-wave, Mark Fenton led early-rising participants on a energizing and thought-provoking "Walk About" of the Boston neighborhoods near the hotel before the event took up again on Thursday morning.

Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Mark Fenton

Something I do to “Strengthen My Practice”… I have been active in my community as an elected member of the planning board, advocate for trails and sidewalk development, and worked with my wife (my hero) as she has launched a successful Safe Routes to School program in our community.

A fun fact I would like to share with the audience
… I am a former competitive racewalker (did the 50 kilometer event), and still take part in some foolishly long-distance hiking with friends to make sure I remain at least sort of fit.

READ MARK's BIO

Quack, Quack, NPD


Wednesday evening many participants had a great time riding brightly colored amphibian vehicles on the famous Duck Tour of Boston. Half on land, half by sea, there were so many sights to see. Whether a Last Minute Man or Major Tom was had as the conDUCKtor there were many laughs and good time all around.

Some Moments from Day Two