Get active this May: Take the Stairs
April 30, 2018 •
Are you looking for an easy way to add more exercise to your day? Take the stairs! According to a recent study publicized in the New York Times, short exercise breaks — even a couple of minutes of brisk walking or stair climbing — add up to real health benefits.
UCOP’s Take the Stairs campaign, sponsored by the Global Food Initiative’s Healthy Campus Network (HCN), kicks off on May 1 at the Franklin Building with a scavenger hunt (May 1-16) and floor competition (May 8 and 10) challenges in the southeast stairwell. On May 16, the last day of the campaign, add another activity boost by taking part in the ninth annual UC Walks.
Although practical considerations limit this year’s campaign to the Franklin Building, any UCOP employee who is able to participate will be eligible for prizes. (If you are physically unable to participate in Take the Stairs campaign but would still like to be eligible for the prizes, please send an email to TakeTheStairs@ucop.edu.) And all UCOP employees are encouraged to take the stairs whenever and wherever you can!
Scavenger Hunt (May 1 – 16)
Take the southeast stairs of UCOP’s Franklin Building every work day between the 5th and 12th floors and find the activity image posted in the stairwell. Send a quick email to TakeTheStairs@ucop.edu with the date, floor number where the image was posted, and activity in the image. Limited to one entry per person per day. Prizes will be awarded on May 8 for week one and May 16 for week two, with a grand prize drawing for the most participation over the two-week challenge.
You can enter once a day, and the more days you participate, the greater your chance to win.
Floor Challenge Competition (May 8 and 10)
Take two flights of stairs during the designated challenge window and enter to win a prize.
- May 8, 11:45 a.m. to 12 p.m: Pick up your ticket at the 5th floor southeast stairs, climb to the 7th floor, and someone will be on hand to take your ticket and enter you into the drawing.
- May 10, 12:45-1 p.m.: Pick up your ticket at the 9th floor southeast stairs, climb to the 11th floor, and someone will be on hand to take your ticket and enter you into the drawing.
Prizes include:
- $10 gift certificates to High XII Café
- $10 gift certificates to Fountain Café
- 20-minute chair massages (provided by Michael O’Keefe, licensed massage therapist)
- Hydro Flask water bottles
Take the Stairs survey (May 9 and May 16)
To help UCOP improve, stop by the Franklin lobby on May 9 or May 16 to complete a quick anonymous survey about your stair use, barriers to taking the stairs, and thoughts on the Take the Stairs campaign. If you would like to participate in a prize drawing, you will need to include your contact information. Surveys will be available in the morning (7:45 – 9 a.m.) and at lunchtime (11:45 a.m. – 1 p.m.).
Send questions to TakeTheStairs@ucop.edu.
It would be great if the stairs in the Kaiser building could be opened by our card key to enter into our floors, like the Bart employees are able to do.
I agree with Sue, and would like to see the same access in 1111 Broadway.
Thanks for your comments Sue and David. We will share these with our Building and Administrative Services team.