Crook County keeps on moving

What are the contributing characteristics to a long, healthy life? The answer just might live in Prineville and nearby unincorporated communities.

In 2016, the Crook County Foundation gathered the community around an idea to apply for an Oregon Healthiest State grant to become a designated “Blue Zone.” Any community in the world can become a Blue Zone by dedicating itself to nine common characteristics believed to promote a long, healthy life among its people.

The nine characteristics were developed by researchers with Blue Zones who partnered with National Geographic to study the lifestyle and environment of populations around the world with the highest life expectancies. Researchers uncovered commonalities such as natural movement, a sense of purpose, stress reduction, healthy eating, a sense of belonging, and notably, moderate wine consumption among other factors. A grant from Blue Zones would help fund community programs toward this goal.

Armed with their mission, in August 2017, more than 100 people in Crook County attended a meeting in Prineville to learn about the project and demonstrate to the state that they were behind the effort and supportive of undertaking the work.

In the end, the community didn’t receive the grant, but everyone involved decided the work was worthwhile and important, even without the Blue Zone funding. From this effort, Crook County on the Move was born as a volunteer effort led by community member Donna Barnes and supported by the Crook County Foundation, the Crook County Health Department and St. Charles Health System, which provided a $25,000 grant to get this effort off the ground.

“This has been a completely grassroots, community-driven movement, and St. Charles has been one of our biggest cheerleaders,” Barnes said. “They have played an invaluable role, not just in funding, but with connections to community expertise and resources that already supported our goals. They are helping us create relations that strengthen our collective efforts and limit the common work previously done in siloes.”

Since its inception, Crook County on the Move has spearheaded efforts around a community garden, healthy eating education, and improved access to fresh produce for its residents with the help from an Oregon Food Bank grant. The group helped create a walking map with routes around Prineville, and has encouraged outdoor movement for the elderly by strategically placing resting benches along outdoor trail systems. In partnership with St. Charles Health System, the group kicked off a summer Keep Moving Challenge, now in its second year. The challenge encourages a fun, bingo-style game of walking, biking and other healthy ways to keep moving, be nourished and stay refreshed.

“Crook County Health Department’s goals are to improve health and Crook County on the Move is a great partner moving us in that direction,” said Muriel Delavergne-Brown, public health director at Crook County Health Department.

Most recently, on June 7, Crook County on the Move assisted Children’s Forest of Central Oregon, The city of Prineville and Crook County Parks and Recreation with a launch of a new Kids in Parks program designed to help kids unplug from devices and have more outdoor adventures. Together, the groups designated trails along Barnes Butte, the Crooked River Wetlands and Rimrock Park for this program with fun, educational activities for kids all summer long. Kids in Parks is a national program, and this unveiling marks the first participating trails in Oregon.

To learn more about Crook County on the Move, click here. To participate in the Crook County Keep Moving Challenge this summer, click here. To learn more about Crook County’s Kids in Park activities, read this story here.