For HOAs, neighborhood associations and lifestyle directors
A neighborhood walking challenge residents will actually finish.
Lifestyle directors, HOA boards and neighborhood volunteers use eFit to run walking and activity challenges for their communities. Residents sign up with one link, steps sync from their phones, and the organizer never collects another weekly step form.
Why communities run walking challenges
Lifestyle events bring neighbors together, and a walking challenge keeps them together for a whole month. Residents wave on the trails, compare notes at the pool and finally meet the family three doors down. The community’s sidewalks, trails and parks become part of the event.
It also meets a real health need. The U.S. Physical Activity Guidelines recommend at least 150 minutes of moderate activity a week for adults, and most adults fall short. A friendly challenge with neighbors is one of the easiest ways to start.
Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, 2nd edition, 2018.
Why paper and form challenges lose residents
Most community step challenges run the same way: print a calendar, write down your steps, add them up and submit a weekly total through a form by a deadline. Here is what that costs the organizer and the residents.
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Residents forget to submit
A weekly deadline is easy to miss on a busy weekend. Residents who miss one often stop tracking altogether.
Steps sync from each resident’s phone every day. There is nothing to remember and nothing to submit.
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Volunteers do the math
Someone has to read every form, copy it into a spreadsheet and check it, every week, for a month.
The organizer sees every participant’s progress on one screen, already added up.
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Doubts about the winners
Self-reported totals can spark grumbling about whoever finishes on top, and neighbors have long memories.
Activity comes straight from each resident’s phone or tracker through Google Health.
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The same few people win
A prize for the most steps goes to the marathon runner every time. Retirees and busy parents quietly drop out.
Everyone is scored against a goal, and 70% of it counts as success. Reward every finisher, or hold a prize drawing among them.
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Not every move is a step
Residents who swim, cycle or use a wheelchair have to convert their minutes into steps with a chart.
Active minutes count alongside steps, so every kind of movement is recorded as it happens.
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Silence until the end
Nobody knows how the community is doing until the last forms are tallied, so there is little to share along the way.
Residents see their Activity Score, badges and Walking Journey map daily, and you can post group progress in the newsletter each week.
The resident’s month, two ways
| Week | Calendar and weekly form | eFit |
|---|---|---|
| Before kickoff | Register by form and print a tracking calendar | Register with one link and connect the phone once |
| Every day | Write down the day’s steps | Walk |
| Every Monday | Add up the week and submit the total by noon | Check progress, if they like |
| After a swim or bike ride | Convert minutes into steps | Nothing: active minutes count |
| Final week | Wait to hear who won | See their own score and reach the goal |
Challenge ideas for neighborhoods
Village against village
Make a group for each village, section or street and post group progress in the community newsletter each week. Friendly rivalry between sections gets people out the door.
Walk the trails together
Pair the challenge with weekly group walks on the community’s trails or around the lake. New residents meet neighbors, and regulars bring a friend.
Everyone who finishes wins
Hold a prize drawing at the closing event among every resident who reached the goal. Retirees and busy parents have the same chance as the fastest runner.
Walk to somewhere fun
Add up the community’s miles to “walk” to a nearby beach, a state park or across Texas. Each resident can also follow their own route on eFit’s Walking Journey map.
Household teams
Family members can join the same group, which gives households a shared goal for the month.
Partner with a local sponsor
A hospital wellness program, clinic, gym or neighborhood business can sponsor the challenge and the prizes. Hospital wellness teams can see how eFit works for them on the hospital corporate wellness page.
How to launch a community challenge
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Choose a month and a goal
Pick four to six weeks and a simple daily goal, such as 5,000 steps or 20 active minutes.
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Set up groups
Create a group for each village, section or street, and ask a neighbor in each to cheer the group on.
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Announce it everywhere residents look
Share the sign-up link or a QR code in the newsletter, the community app, the clubhouse and the resident Facebook group. Offer a sign-up table at a lifestyle event to help people connect their phones.
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Share progress each week
Post group standings and a photo from the trails. Celebrate residents who reach the goal.
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Celebrate at a community event
Close with a group walk or a gathering at the clubhouse, recognize every finisher and hold the prize drawing. Residents who reach the goal also receive a completion certificate.
Frequently asked questions
Questions from community organizers.
Have a different question? Tell us about your group and we will help map the right challenge.
Email support@efit.healthDo residents need a fitness tracker?
No. A smartphone is enough. Activity comes in through Google Health from a phone or from many popular watches and tracker apps, so nobody has to buy a device.
Do residents have to report their steps each week?
No. Steps and active minutes sync from each resident’s phone or tracker every day. There are no forms, no calendars to fill in and no Monday deadline to miss.
Can retirees and residents with limited mobility take part?
Yes. Active minutes count alongside steps, and each person is scored against a goal, with 70% of it counting as success. A resident walking a few blocks a day can finish alongside a marathon runner.
Will neighbors see each other’s step counts?
Only if they choose. The leaderboard is optional, and each resident decides whether their name appears on it.
Can we split the community into teams?
Yes. Create a group for each village, section, street or building, and follow participation for each one side by side.
Who pays, and how is it priced?
Pricing is per participant. The association, the developer or a sponsor can be invoiced for the whole community. Send the expected number of residents and your dates and we will put together a quote.
Start the conversation
Plan your community’s walking challenge.
Tell us roughly how many residents you expect, how the community is divided and when you would like to start. We will help you set up groups and the sign-up link.