Take a Wyoming Walk: UW Extension Encourages Community Engagement and Physical Activity

Not just exercise 

But Wyoming Walks aren’t just about physical activity or even getting outdoors. These excursions also provide unique opportunities for participants to build new friendships and explore—or rediscover—local history, culture, and recreational opportunities. 

 

Each event is organized by a county extension educator in partnership with a local volunteer or partnering organization. At least one extension educator attends every walk, introducing the program and helping facilitate. 

 

Community collaborators have included museum docents, conservation district representatives, business owners, artists, geologists, arborists, and authors.  

Walks typically last 45 minutes to an hour, depending on the topic, location, and expert. Some walks, such as museum tours, are more structured; others feature hands-on activities like scavenger hunts or nature photography. In some cases, such as library story walks for children or museum walks for seniors, events are tailored to a specific age group. 

 

While the program highlights a wide variety of local attractions, all events share a common goal: to nurture community connections and well-being.  

“It’s about bringing people together to improve health, foster connection, and spark curiosity and learning about the places they call home,” says Joddee Jacobsen, a UW Extension educator based in Natrona County. 

 

Take a tour of  your hometown 

In 2023, Wyoming Walks launched pilot programs in just a few counties. By 2025, the program had expanded to include 13 counties, with a total of more than 1,300 participants attending 45 walks.  

 

Some walkers have quickly become familiar faces at local events, even traveling to other counties to participate. Others are more selective, choosing walks based on theme, location, or difficulty level. 

 

Highlights have included an art walk in Casper featuring the city’s colorful downtown murals, a “Mile with the Mayor” in Gillette, tours of Cody’s Buffalo Bill Center, and a tree identification hike on Casper Mountain led by a state forester. 

 

Other favorites, some recurring, have included nature photography walks at Edness Kimball Wilkins State Park and scavenger hunts at county fairs across the state.  

 

Some Wyoming Walks have featured local businesses, including a Natrona County flower farm and historic ranches in Big Horn County, as well as cemeteries and public libraries.  

 

Platte County’s “Haunted History” tour in October 2024, organized by extension educator Mary Evans, attracted a record number of walkers and inspired educators across the state to plan similar events in their home counties. 

 

Especially for participants who have lived in the same community for a long time, Wyoming Walks provide fresh perspective, whether that means taking a closer look at a well-known landmark or learning something new about the area’s natural history. 

 

“This was a wonderful experience! I have lived in Casper my entire life and now I know so much more. I was able to exercise too,” one participant wrote in a post-event survey. 

 

Walking indoors and outdoors 

In true Wyoming fashion, UW Extension educators rarely—if ever—cancel a walk. Sometimes that means slogging through wind and cold; other times, it means getting creative and walking indoors. 

 

In January and February, for instance, Olsen leads walks at the Campbell County Recreation Center. In the heat of summer, Jacobsen and colleagues organized a “behind the scenes” tour of the Ford Wyoming Center in Casper. 

 

In Cody, Big Horn County extension educator Melissa Cook has partnered with the Buffalo Bill Center of the West to provide opportunities for older people to walk safely in the winter while exploring local history and connecting with peers. In 2026, three museum walks attracted a total of 254 seniors. 

 

After the 45-minute tours, participants often stick around to peruse the exhibits and chat with fellow walkers, Cook reports. 

 

In post-walk surveys, seniors identified both physical and social benefits of the program. One mentioned adopting a new habit of taking the stairs instead of the elevator; others highlighted the importance of social interaction and the opportunity to form new friendships. 

 

“I especially enjoyed it because I met a couple of new friends there,” a Wapiti resident shared. “Sometimes there is a social aspect that may be as valuable as the event itself.” 

 

In addition to coordinating senior walks at the Buffalo Bill Center, Cook has organized summer walks at outdoor locations ranging from the historic Pitchfork and Caroline Lockhart ranches to the Red Gulch Dinosaur Tracksite near Greybull.  

 

“I enjoy this program because it builds community capacity through new friendships and offers opportunities for newbies in our small communities to meet their neighbors,” she comments.  

 

What’s next? Wyoming cycles! 

As the Wyoming Walks program continues to grow, it has inspired other UW Extension wellness initiatives. In Campbell County, Olsen now organizes group bike rides as well as walks. 

 

After a brief discussion of topics like sports nutrition, training, and rules of the road, the Wyo Cycles group heads out. While the program is open to cyclists of all experience levels, most participants meander along the bike path at a leisurely pace, often accompanied by their families.  

“I took the Wyoming Walks philosophy and made it into a biking group,” Olsen explains. “It’s not a race…It’s about community, meeting new people, and providing a safe group ride.” 

 

Whether it’s a bike ride, downtown stroll, or museum walk, UW Extension’s wellness programs offer participants a new way to engage with their communities and hometowns—while also getting some exercise. 

 

To learn more about programming in your area, contact your local extension office.