CONTACT: Daniel Vandever, Public Information Officer
Phone: 928-810-8510
Email: dwvandever@gmail.com
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Navajo Parks & Recreation staff take an hour on Wednesday to be more active and go to the Window Rock Tribal Park for a hike and healthy lunch.
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Parks takes part in Recreation for Healthy Living initiative
WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. –The Navajo Parks and Recreation Department usually spends much of its time monitoring its six Tribal Parks, but on Wednesday afternoon Parks took part in some recreation by hiking up the Window Rock Tribal Park as part of its Healthy Living for a Healthy Office initiative.
Healthy Living for a Healthy Office is a new plan constructed by Department Manager Ray Russell and his staff to encourage healthy living through work. Healthy exercise and nutrition is stressed, to not only stay productive in life, but also in the office.
The plan relies on self-discipline and is based off of trying to complete seven healthy goals each day. In addition to the goals, the office partakes in one healthy activity each week as a group.
“Last week we cooked a healthy lunch for the entire office that consisted of lean meat, squash, cabbage and other vegetables,” explained the Planner for Healthy Living, Murray Lee. “This week we climbed Window Rock and next week we are planning a dance exercise.”
Parks and Recreation wasn’t the only department taking part on the hike. Art Moore of the Department of Design and Engineering Services joined in the healthy initiative.
“I think it’s a good idea and that every department should get involved,” stated Moore. “And it’s great how we do a new activity every week. Some people just get on a treadmill and that’s it, but with a new activity each week, you get something new.”
Parks and Recreation hopes that the plan catches on and that more people become involved because obesity is a growing problem not only in America, but the Navajo Nation as well.
According to the Tuba City Medical Center, about 40% of Navajo kids, around 15 – 16 years of age, are obese. The percentage of obesity increases to 51% when dealing with the Navajo Nation as a whole.
“We as a nation need to start being more aware of the health issues that are out there,” stressed Healthy Living president, Carm Laughlin. “The statistics are astonishing and we Navajos need to be more aware of what we are doing to our bodies, not only for us, but our kids too.”
In addition to the hike, Parks and Recreation also had a healthy snack at the end of their venture. The snack was held at the base of the Window Rock in one of the new ramadas that Parks and Recreation is constructing around the park.
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Norma Bowman leads the way for Navajo Parks & Recreation staff during a luncheon hike at Window Rock Tribal Park.
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