History, Entertainment and Liking the Hiking!- The new Eureka! h.e.a.l.t.h. walk.

Were you aware that walking a mile uses practically the same amount of calories as running a mile? Did you know that inactivity has the same effect on the heart as smoking twenty cigarettes a day? Go on, google it if you don't believe me! I didn't know until I went on a course to become a qualified walk leader with the ‘Walk It’ scheme; where I found out about the amazing health benefits of walking.

Let me take you back to the beginning. One morning a couple of months ago we were told about an idea to develop a mile long walk, using Eureka!’s learning through play ethos,centred on Eureka! for one of the activities during the ‘Healthy Halifax’ weekends in May. I thought it sounded like a great idea and put my name forward to be considered as a walk leader. I immediately started doing a bit of research and got quite excited about the project. I was delighted when I found out I was one of the chosen three. The other two were Kevin Field and Michelle Holroyd; both equally delighted and enthusiastic.

We all went on a training course at Mixenden outdoor centre and learnt a lot of the important stuff such as how to do risk assessments and fill in the paperwork. We talked about barriers and motivation and did a short walk ourselves. We all came away determined to try and get more people walking. Our idea was to come up with a session that would be so full of fun and fascinating facts that people wouldn’t even realise they had walked a mile by the end of it.

I began by concentrating on the local history of the buildings and structures visible from the perimeter of the Eureka! site (The perimeter, coincidentally, being around about a mile!). I couldn’t believe the things I was finding out about places I have been walking past for years. Cluniac Monks, criminals, archbishops and ghosts – oh, and Gary Lineker! Gas explosions, ancient beacons, stalactites, church bells and chocolate; it’s all here.

Kevin and Michelle were, meanwhile, coming up with some great ideas for incorporating some nature detective activities for use on the walk and for the walker’s pack. We walked the perimeter and decided on the places we would be stopping for talks and activities; we even incorporated a couple of sing-alongs. Kevin put together a colourful route plan and Michelle even took herself off on a local walk all about ‘the dark side of Halifax’ and discovered a few new ghoulish facts!

Our development and preparation finished, we sent off our risk assessment and finally the day arrived to test our walk; so we invited any Eureka! staff who were interested to join us after work for our h.e.a.l.t.h. (History, Entertainment and Liking the Hiking!) walk. We ended up with fifteen people; a real cross section of staff. The walk was a great success with everyone joining in on the singing and marching and we didn’t lose anybody on the way, not even at the local pub (which is 600 to 800 years old, by the way, and has a ghost)..

We did learn one thing, however, “don’t carry a 2 litre bottle of diet cola around in your rucksack for an hour and then open it”. I guess you could say I came to a sticky end!

We will be trying out our h.e.a.l.t.h. walk on the public this weekend as part of the Healthy Halifax Family Fun Days so pop by on 7 – 8 or 21 – 22 May to have a go on our walk and please tell us what you think.

Jill Ward is an Enabler at Eureka! The National Children’s Museum