Here are some links to some ideas and resources for enjoying an Active Michigan Summer.  If your organization offers physical activity options and is interested in listing their web site here, please email tfraas@michiganfitness.org.

Click on the titles below for links to your favorite form of activity

Biking

A family bike ride is a fun way to spend time together and exercise too! Visit the League of Michigan Bicyclists website at: www.LMB.org for biking tips, safety issues and information on rides throughout the state.

The Michigan Mountain Biking Association has information for all ages and skill levels on where to find trails, calendar of mountain biking events, forums and a library of mountain biking information. Go to: www.mmba.org

The National Bicycle Tour Directors Association (NBTDA) website lists a variety of biking tours which are 3 days or longer throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico and France. Your next biking adventure starts at: www.nbtda.com

Search for trails in and around Michigan’s parks, recreation areas, and forest campgrounds, Go to: http://www.michigandnr.com/parksandtrails/TrailsSearch.aspx

For a guide to trails and biking events in the Upper Peninsula, go to: www.upmtb.com

The Trail Atlas of Michigan is the only comprehensive guide of non-motorized trails for Michigan. The Atlas covers hiking, cross country skiing, mountain and road biking, in-line skating and nature trails. Over 680 trail systems are featured!  Go to:  http://www.michiweb.com/trailatlas/

For a great toolbox for maps, safety tips and great rides around the state  go to:  http://www.michigan.gov/mdot/0,1607,7-151-9615_11223---,00.html for the Michigan Department of Transportations biking in Michigan page. 

Trails.com has the most comprehensive collection of trail descriptions and trail maps available on the Internet, now totaling over 30,000 trails! Each trail comes with a detailed route description, driving directions, guidebook-quality trail maps, photos, and trail ratings and reviews from our members.

A great space to find Michigan trail books and maps is: http://www.trailsfromrails.com/michigan.htm

The adventure cycling association follows its mission of inspiring people of all ages to travel by bicycle for fitness, fun and self-discovery. A great cycling resource can be found at: http://www.adv-cycling.org/

Canoeing/Kayaking

A directory of Michigan canoe liveries offering canoe, kayak, raft, and tube rentals can be found at: www.michigancanoe.com

A compete guide to paddling in Michigan, including descriptions and weather reports for rivers and lakes throughout the state, is found at: http://www.paddling.net/places/MI/

Golfing

FORE!!! If you are looking for a golf course in your area or somewhere in the US, visit: www.golfguideweb.com/golfcourses.html

A complete guide to disc golf courses in Michigan can be found at: http://www.discgolfdirectory.com/michigan.php

Outdoor Recreation

Michigan has more than 1,300 miles of rail-trails covering the diverse land we share and providing opportunities to run, bike, or walk your way across Michigan. To obtain more information and a trail directory, visit the Rails to Trails Conservancy web site at: www.railtrails.org/field/michigan

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has information on where to find outdoor activities such as camping, biking/mountain biking, hiking trails and pathways. The 2004 Recreation and Camping Guide will help you locate a State Park or Forest Campground. The DNR’s website is: www.michigan.gov/dnr Look under the heading of Recreation and Camping to find the above stated information.

If you’re looking to take advantage of Michigan’s beautiful outdoors, look no further. Find a beach to go swimming, a campground with pathways for hiking, a biking trail, or a golf course; all of this can be found at: travel.Michigan.org

Oakland County Parks have 11 parks and golf courses with hiking, biking and cross country ski trails.  Information regarding the Oakland Trails Advisory Council, an 18 member partnership, specifically focusing on trail opportunities in Southest Michigan is found at: www.co.oakland.mi.us/parksrec

The National Park Service has a listing of all the National Parks within the US. If your traveling to another state on vacation and want to explore a National Park, this is the place to go for information. You can even stay in the state of Michigan and visit a National Park: Sleeping Bear Dunes. For more information regarding US National Parks, go to: www.nps.gov

Physical Activity Ideas

Michigan Recreation and Park Association’s Walk Michigan program is a non-competitive walking program held in locations throughout the state. Participation makes you eligible for local prizes and a trip to Mackinac Island. To find a Walk Michigan program in your area, visit the MRPA web site at: www.mrpaonline.org

A new, national healthy lifestyle initiative is sweeping the country and Michigan is on board!  Are you willing to take just a few simple steps to prevent weight gain and improve your health and quality of life?  Find out more at:  www.americaonthemove.org/mi

The National Association for Sports and Physical Education (NASPE), Shape Up America and the MET-Rx Foundation for Health Enhancement joined forces to produce “99 Tips for Family Fitness Fun.’ It includes tips for the home, school, work, and many more. Read the message on healthy weight and physical fitness from former Surgeon General C. Everett Koop, M.D. The “99 Tips for Family Fitness Fun” can be found at: www.shapeup.org/publications/99.tips.for.family.fitness.fun/

Physical Activity Ideas: Here are a few suggestions on how to include more physical activity to your (and your family’s) summer. For more information, visit: preventdisease.com/home/weeklywellness123.shtml

You’re it. Get fit! The President’s Challenge is a program that encourages all Americans to make being active part of their everyday lives. No matter what your activity or fitness level, the President’s Challenge can help motivate you to improve. It only takes a small change. Instead of telling yourself you can’t, tell yourself you can. For more information regarding the President’s Challenge, go to: www.presidentschallenge.org

Looking for activities for children ages 9-14? The After School Physical Activity website has a number of games and activities to keep children entertained and physically activity. Each activity includes: a brief overview; equipment needs; and step – by – step instructions. For more information and activity ideas, visit: www.afterschoolpa.com/home.html

For a number of family activities to do for exercise around the house, check out:  www.lds.org/hf/display/0,16783,4283-1,00.html

Kalamazoo Dance is a commmunity dance for couples, singles, college students and dancers of all skill levels. We dance swing, Latin and ballroom. Each dance begins with a one-hour beginner dance lesson instructed by a professional dance instructor. Every September we coordinate a week of dance events during National Ballroom Dance Week that includes dance studios and community dances throughout west Michigan. Kalamazoo Dance is a charter of the United State Ballroom Dancers Association (USADBA). Michigan also has USABDA charters in Northern Michigan (Petoskey), Lansing and Saginaw. For more information, go to: www.kalamazoodance.org

VERB™ is a national, multicultural, social marketing campaign coordinated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The VERB campaign encourages young people ages 9-13 (tweens) to be physically active everyday. For more information on VERB, go to the website: www.cdc.gov/youthcampaign

Michigan’s Team Nutrition has a list of books which links literacy with nutrition and physical activity education. The booklist can be found at: http://www.tn.fcs.msue.msu.edu/booklist.html

Recreation Centers

Interested in a YMCA? There are more than 2,400 YMCAs in the US, and each one offers different programs and events. For more information on any US YMCA, start your search here: www.ymca.net/index.jsp

In every community, boys and girls are left to find their own recreation. An increasing number of children are at home with no supervision. The Boys and Girls Clubs of America offer programs and services to promote and enhance the development of boys and girls in a safe atmosphere. To find more information about the Boys and Girls Clubs of America, visit their website at: www.bgca.org

The Capital Centre is a state of the art multi-sport/activities facility featurinng daily ice skating, figure skating, hockey, soccer, lacrosse, basketball, dodgeball, volleyball and kids sports summer camps. The centre offers programs for all ages; 3 to 99, competitive and non-competitive for the serious athlete as well as someone who just wants to get some exercise. The Capital Centre's goal is to provide healthy, body, and spirit enhancing activities to the youth and adults in our community. For more information about the Capital Centre, visit: www.capitalcentre.com

Running/Walking
Michigan Recreation and Park Association’s Walk Michigan program is a non-competitive walking program held in locations throughout the state. Participation makes you eligible for local prizes and a trip to Mackinac Island. To find a Walk Michigan program in your area, visit the MRPA web site at: www.mrpaonline.org

Is running or walking your thing? If you’re interested in finding a race to run or walk, finding more information about the sport, or finding training information, go to the Michigan Runner and Fitness Sports website at: www.michiganrunner.com

Are you looking for a specific running event in the state? Would you like to see results from a race you participated in? Go to the Run Michigan website at: www.runmichigan.com

The American Running Association is a nonprofit membership organization dedicated to supporting runners by providing accurate and non-biased information related to training, nutrition, and injury prevention and treatment. Our programs and services are designed to meet the needs of all runners, whether they are beginners or have been running for years. For more information, go to: www.americanrunning.org

The Urban Walkers are a non-profit group dedicated to fitness through walking whether it is walking or racewalking. The Urban Walkers publish a newsletter 4 times a year to all members. For more information, please visit: home.comcast.net/~urbanwalkers/

Kalamazoo Valley Walkers Club (KVW) was established in 1991.  KVW is simply an organized group of individuals who enjoy various forms of walking and wish to promote walking.  They are fitness walkers, race walkers and trail walkers.  They partner with community organizations to promote walking for health:  Michigan Senior Olympics, Borgess Run for the Health of It, etc.  KVW annually conducts a 10-week winter Walk Clinic at the Portage YMCA and partners with Gazelle Sports to conduct the Doo Dah Walkin' Think walking clinic.  Their members host neighborhood walks that are open to the public.  To discover walking opportunities in Greater Kalamazoo and beyond, visit their website at:  www.kvwalkers.org

Cool Running is a complete online resource for runners of all abilities. This site has a large collection of information, services and tools for the running community, including the Web's most complete and accurate calendar of running events around the world, including your local community. Visit them at: http://www.coolrunning.com/   

Runners' training resource, complete with free online workout programs, injury advice, nutrition guide, fitness logs and more can be found at: http://www.runningplanet.com/index.asp

Sailing/Boating

Michigan’s DNR page focusing on boating in Michigan. You can find it at: http://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,1607,7-153-10365_10884---,00.html

The official directory for boating in Michigan is located at:  http://www.michigan.org/travel/outdoors/?m=4;2

Michigan water skiing association is: http://www.mwsa.org/

Swimming

Anyone up for a dip in a pool? Go to the ClubSwim website at: www.clubswim.com and click on Pool Locator to find a pool in your area. This website can find a pool in any state. After a state is chosen, a list of counties and local areas will appear. Don’t forget the sunscreen!

The official site of Michigan swimming is: http://www.uss-michigan.com/

Jim Dreyer is a Michigan marathon swimmer who swam across all 5 great lakes and has 14 world records. His homepage is at: http://swimjimswim.org/

Triathlons

For easy access to the 2006 Michigan triathlon calendar, check out  http://www.trifind.net/nf/mi.html. This comprehensive webpage features all the information you need to find a duathlon, triathlon or other multi sport event in your area.  

Other
Got something you want to learn how to do? Exciting things happen through 4-H: youth discover by doing. They achieve their unique potential. And they gain confidence that will guide them as adults. Only at 4-H can young people enjoy university-based youth programs for diverse interests. And only 4-H reaches youth in every county in the United States by engaging nearly seven million young people nationwide with exciting, hands-on learning adventures. There are no barriers to participation—geographic, ethnic, economic, or otherwise. All youth ages 5-18 are welcome. In fact, diversity is the hallmark of our movement. As it has for the past 101 years, 4-H adapts its programming to the needs of the youth we serve. For more information regarding 4-H, visit: www.4h-usa.org/

Girl Scouts of the USA is the world's pre-eminent organization dedicated solely to girls — all girls — where, in an accepting and nurturing environment, girls build character and skills for success in the real world. In partnership with committed adult volunteers, Girl Scouts cultivate their full individual potential. The qualities they develop in Girl Scouting — leadership, values, social conscience, and conviction about their own self-worth — serve them all their lives. To learn about the Girl Scouts of the USA, visit: www.girlscouts.org/

The National Council of the Boy Scouts of America supports more than 300 local councils that provide quality youth programs, including Cub Scouting, Boy Scouting, and Venturing. To learn more about the Boy Scouts of America, visit: www.scouting.org/

The Department of Natural Resources unveiled its first issue of an e-newsletter designed to promote the natural, cultural and historical resources in Michigan's state parks, recreation areas, harbors and boating access sites. Follow the link to learn more!  http://www.michigan.gov/som/0,1607,7-192--144915--,00.html