Here’s what I think about when I think about Participaction Canada, annual school fitness tests. I only ever got a bronze and I knew bronze was the best I could ever get thanks to the dreaded flexed arm hang. Ugh!
Even Wikipedia has bad things to say about that test. “The Canada Fitness Award Program was a national fitness test and evaluation program operated by the Government of Canada department Health and Welfare Canada from 1970 to 1992. Millions of primary and secondary school children participated in the program. It was discontinued in part because it discouraged those it was intended to motivate.”
Yes, yes, it did discourage!
But now it looks like a kinder, gentler, more encouraging sort of place. Participaction came to my attention recently with the 150 play list. They’ve identified 150 activities for Canadians to try during our 150th birthday year.
Have a look at the ParticipACTION 150 Play List.
The ParticipACTION 150 Play List was created by over 465,000 votes from people across Canada. Including 150 physical activities that make us uniquely Canadian, the Play List is a challenge to Canadians in communities, schools, workplaces, and even abroad to see how many different activities they can complete in 2017. Official Tour Stop and community events will be happening across the country as partners join together to inspire Canadians to sit less and move more.
It’s a pretty good list. Here are the some of the entries: marco polo, obstacle course racing, building a snow person, mini-putt, and hopscotch.
The idea is you register, try the activities, and log your progress through the list.
The website has a very helpful section on inclusion. There are suggested strategies for including girls and women, lgbt persons, indigenous people, and people with disabilities.
Anyway, have a look and enjoy! Give it a try! It’s got to be better than the push up challenge, endless speed sit ups, and the dreaded flexed arm hang.
What’s the flexed arm hang? “The flexed arm hang is a popular military testing exercise. It’s purpose is to measure upper body strength and endurance by timing how long someone can hang with their chin above a bar. Members of the Marine Corps are required to pass the Physical Fitness Test (PFT) twice a year.” See here.
I love this — let’s make a date to do some of the things!
Yes. It’s a fun list. I like the idea of bloggers doing this!