Corporate Fitness and Active Aging

Health Fairs have become a standard offering as part of corporate wellness programs and it’s common for our staff to coordinate these events. Because traditional health fairs have been around for so long, we place a lot of emphasis on being innovative when organizing experiences. Without a creative approach, you get the same old, boring fair with the same vendors, the same pamphlets, and the same cheap pedometers/stress balls/water bottles. Still, when you’re coordinating your seventh health fair, it’s tough to come up with something new. Ultimately, health Fairs are about education so here are a few ideas on how you can give your event a breath of fresh air.

Go Wild

It’s a known fact that people love their animals! So much so that many consider them part of the family. Studies show that pets can offer a sense of enjoyment, love and add companionship to a person’s life. You can see how pets go hand in hand (or paw) with health. Try working with your local pet adoption agencies to see if they are willing to bring a variety of pets for adoption. Employees will get to see/pet/love them in person and discuss the considerations of adoption. It may turn out to be a hot spot for your health fair, so plan head with ample space to draw a crowd and a bunch of smiles.

Get Your Hands Dirty

Sustainable farming is becoming an important part of our future and along with this, so is urban farming. Small gardens, bee hives and chicken coops are popping up all across the country in people’s backyards. Community gardens are also making a name for themselves so if you don’t have the space or you don't want the daily commitment, you can volunteer at a farm co-op. There’s so much to learn about sustainable living while enjoying time outside in the fresh air, getting your hands dirty. Research what urban garden contacts you have in your community to come offer information on this topic.

Socialize

We know people are less social because of all the technology available drawing us away from community. There are some perks to the tech of course, but there is also a pretty big down side. People are losing touch, staying to themselves more, and not getting the health benefits of human contact. Ask some of your local social networking companies to attend your health fair. These groups host numerous get together's for people who may like to hike, attend events as a group, get coffee on the weekends, have discussions at book clubs, and even travel the world. Meetup is a website where you can find a variety of events in your area to join. This site gives you group options like food, music, dance, hobbies, family, photography and much more. There's something for everyone! Don’t under estimate how vital socializing can be for good health.

Hit The Road

Alternative transportation is a thriving business so why not put some options in front of your employees? In Denver, the buses and light rail welcome people’s bikes aboard as they head for their destination. We also have an automated bike sharing system where you can check out one of Denver B-cycles where they offer 700 bikes, at 82 of their bikes stations throughout the city. Just return your bike to the B-cycle station or the one closest to your destination when finished. I’m sure your city has some type of alternative transportation system, so do some research and see what you can offer about this topic at your next health fair.  

The most important take away is to keep your health fairs exciting and offer the most up-to-date information with a touch of something new and exciting. Don’t get pegged in to a corner on what type of vendors you can offer either, there’s a whole world of possibilities. Click below to access more creative program ideas from our staff.