Walk Kansas

Walk KS Logo

March 30 - May 24, 2025

Walk Kansas is a team-based program that will help you and others lead a healthier life. Join this program and

Be more active with support from friends and family
Make healthier nutrition and beverage choices
Learn helpful techniques to reduce stress

This marks the 25th Walk Kansas program!! Each year brings a renewed focus on helping participants meet the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans and increasing the amount of fruits and vegetables they eat.

The team packets, with Captain's Guide, Individual Guides, and Tracking Log can be picked up at the Extension Office in March.

How does Walk Kansas work?

Co-workers, family members, friends and neighbors form teams of 6 people who will track minutes of physical activity and food choices during the 8-week challenge.

Each team identifies a goal, or challenge, it wants to reach. Three challenges are offered. As your team moves across or around the state, you will learn about points of interest in Kansas by viewing progress of your team on the online map. The challenges are different this year, but teams will travel distances similar to last year.

2025 Challenges

Challenge 1- is "Explore the 8 Wonders of Kansas," and would require each member to reach the minimum guidelines for physical activity, 150 minutes for each participant.

Challenge 2 - "Go Cross Country," will take the team on a diagonal track of Kansas and suggests 4 hours per week for each participant.

Challenge 3 - will allow teams to "Explore the Little Balkans (SE KS) and then head to Nicodemus." This challenge is 1200 miles and a 6-hour-per-week goal for each participant.

Challenge 4 - "Follow US Route 56" This trail actually begins in New Mexico, but it won't take you long to reach Kansas and then trek across the state.

Going Solo - The Purple Power Trail is the solo option, beginning in Manhattan - home of Kansas State University! All trails unlock interesting waypoints along the way, giving you a glimpse into Kansas history and attraction. Try this option if you are busy and want to go at your own pace.

Walking isn't the only activity that counts. Read through your "Activity Guide" to learn about moderate and vigorous activities that count, and strengthening exercises. Just a reminder – any activity you report should be performed for a minimum of 10 consecutive minutes.

Participants record daily fruit and vegetable consumption.

Team members report progress to their team captain each week. Team captain reports totals to local program each week.

Friendly competition can be motivating so check team progress on the Walk Kansas Online website.

Enrollement Directions and Information:

1. Captains, gather your team of 4-6 individuals

2. Captains- Collect information for your team. You can pick up a registration packet from the Extension office to help with this. (But it is not necessary to have a packet)

Registering Online:

Before you start your registration you will need to recruit team members (at least 4 to start - more can be added later.) You will need names and emails of your team members (each person needs to have a different email address.) If a person does not have an email address you will need to have them go online and sign in as an individual and ask to be put on your team. When they do the registration they will have to use a fake email address like theirname@noemail.com to be able to finish their enrollment. Or they will
need to fill out a paper copy of the registration and turn it into Thomas County Extension office. When you register your team, you will be asked to pay for the number of people participating ($10/person), so be prepared to pay with credit card online or follow up by mailing us a check.
Talk with your team and select a goal based on the amount of moderate/vigorous activity each person will commit to per week - 2.5 hours,
3.3 hours, 4 hours, or 6 hours. Also , choose a team name (anything goes!)
T-shirt orders are being done online through our vender and you will order directly from them and your items will come straight to you instead of you having to come to the extention office to pick them up. Click Walk Kansas Apparel to see your color options and different styles of shirts available. (in order to get shirts you will need to order and pay online).
You can pay online with a credit card/PayPal or bring a check for your entire team's registration to Thomas County Extension office. Checks need to be made out to Thomas County Extension Council.

3. Captains, go to walkkansasonline.org to select your challenge and register your team. If you reach a point, during the process, where you don't have all of the information you need, click CANCEL and start over later. Please do not exit out of the system without hitting CANCEL!

Don't have a team? No problem. You CAN register as an individual to be placed on a team later. However, if you do have a team then PLEASE let your team captain register you first. Or if you know your team name you can ask to be put on that team.

Also new this year if you dont have a team and you do not want to be added to one you can "Go Solo" and try the new solo walk they have added this year.

If you are not paying online then you will need to bring/mail your payment to the Thomas County Extension Office.

Full details about the program can be found on the state Walk Kansas page. Click here!