By Dixie Reid
Sacramento State’s version of the storybook Yellow Brick Road is a two-mile campus loop made for walking, running – or even skipping along like Dorothy and Toto.
University President Robert S. Nelsen will dedicate the Healthy Hornet Path at 4 p.m. Monday, Sept. 23, in front of The WELL. The ribbon-cutting ceremony kicks off Healthy Campus Week, which continues with activities through Sept. 27.
The pathway, marked with distinctive green-and-gold sidewalk decals, was created as a part of Sac State’s contract with the Partnership for a Healthy America (PHA) and its Healthier Campus Initiative.
Map of the Healthy Hornet Path
Sacramento State joined the initiative in June 2018, committing to implement 23 guidelines within three years.
“Wellness is a vital component of our lives,” said Jennifer Campbell, a registered dietician with Student Health & Counseling Services (SHCS) and Sac State’s liaison to PHA.
“By implementing these 23 guidelines, we are helping our campus community eat more nutritious foods, take part in programs that promote well-being, and be more active.”
The Healthy Hornet Path is the biggest component of the activity commitment. Users can jump in anywhere along the route, although distance markers are laid out in quarter-mile increments starting north of The WELL.
Pedestrians using the Healthy Hornet Path will pass by such campus landmarks as the Ernest E. Tschannen Science Complex, University Union expansion, Guy West Bridge, the grassy North Quad, John Smith Baseball Field, Hornet Stadium, and Broad Fieldhouse.
The pathway was conceived and implemented by Facilities Management, UTAPS (University Transportation, Parking and Support Services), University Print & Mail, and SHCS.
Sac State has completed 11 of 23 Healthier Campus Initiative commitments, including a subsidized bicycle-purchase program (at Peak Adventures); cooking-skills classes for students that incorporate fresh fruit and vegetables; free water in all dining, recreational, and educational facilities, and personal nutrition assessments and counseling for students.
By June 2021, the University plans to complete 12 additional commitments, including an annual integrated, comprehensive wellness program; a campus-wide program that encourages public transportation; and more local, sustainable food available on campus.
In addition to the pathway dedication, these activities are scheduled for Healthy Campus Week. All take place at The WELL:
- 5-6 p.m. Monday, Sept. 23 – Yoga, on the lawn.
- 10:30 a.m.-noon Tuesday, Sept. 24 – Nap Class, in the Feather Studio.
- 2-3 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 25 – Mindful Meditation, in the Cove.
- Noon-1 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 26 – Cook Out Your Cravings cooking demonstration, in the Cove.
- 4:30-7:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 26 – Condom Cart, in the lobby.
The campus community is invited to participate in the Fruit n’ Veggie Friday Social Media Challenge, on Sept. 27. Participants post a photo of themselves eating a colorful fruit or vegetable, using the hashtags #FNVFriday and #SacStateHealth.
"Sacramento State's Healthy Campus Week encourages our students to take care of themselves and to participate in health-promoting behaviors," said Nicole Burdock, the SHCS student assistant who helped plan the events. "We are excited to dedicate a week to help our hard-working students practice self-care."