In today's "wired and wireless" world, you can use all kinds of high-tech devices and tools to  keep in touch with friends, meet new people and organize or participate in all kinds of group physical activities.

Whether you like to run, walk, hike, bike – or are involved in any number of physical activities – you can make good use of today’s technology to help you keep on top of all the action.

Using the Internet, cell phones and e-mail to get involved with group activities, track down information, or register for programs and classes is just the beginning. With other high-tech tools such as smart phones, GPS devices, social networking sites, mapping applications and more, there are all kinds of new ways to connect with different groups about physically activities.

Group Physical Activity: A Great Idea
Here are some common reasons why people like to participate in groups when doing a physical activity:

• You can find extra motivation to be active when you’re involved in a group. If you commit to a time and place to be physically active, you are more likely to follow through.
• If others are working out harder or longer than you normally would, you might be inclined to do the same, which helps you to improve your fitness and gain more health benefits.
• Group activities are social; a social component can make physical exertion less like a chore and more like fun.
• Social aspects of groups are good for you, e.g., it’s great fun if you go out for a beverage or snack after your group activity.
• You can connect with like-minded people you haven’t met before, who enjoy being active.
• Many walkers, cyclists and joggers feel safer when they go to parks, ravines and river valleys in a group.
• Organizing or participating in groups can be satisfying because it’s often part of being “community-minded.”

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Using High-tech Tools to Enrich Your Life
Matthew Dance, a graduate student in geography at the University of Alberta, is studying how people can use the Internet, smart phones and various apps (software applications) to add value to outdoor activities and therefore promote participation.

For example, he describes how a runner he knows will often post an invitation to a group of runners on Facebook, providing potential participants with a link to a map of the intended route.

“It’s a powerful way to invite many other people to join you, in a way that lets them know what they’re getting into," explains Dance. He also suggests that people who organize groups in this way are interested in contributing to their community.

Dance offers that Facebook and other social media sites contain all kinds of information, users and links to sites dedicated to physical activity events, programs or activities. He notes two examples:

• Pedalhead Bicycle Works, an Edmonton-based bike shop, uses its Facebook pages in part to help customers and contacts find information about training rides.
• 5 Peaks, a BC-based company that specializes in promoting off-trail running, uses Facebook to keep in touch with customers and contacts, promote participation in different running events and post running routes and times. The company has a Northern Alberta and a Central Alberta presence on Facebook, promoting a series of race events in both of these areas.

Whether you use social networking, the phone book, the Internet or other sources, there are all kinds of physical activity programs or activities out there that you can get involved in.

If you have a busy schedule, why not try a drop-in class? Or, check in with your local parks and recreation department; they are a great source of information about parks and trails, as well as classes, programs and activities at local facilities. In most cases you can register online.

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City of Edmonton Gets in on the Action
Ian Hosler, manager of the City of Edmonton’s Walkable Edmonton program, says that people are increasingly using web-based tools like wikis to share or find out more about their favourite activities. Wikis are collaborative websites where users contribute to and edit the site.

“Wikis are just a fancy way of asking your neighbour,” Hosler says. “They can include additional information about things like nature notes, history and geography along a favourite trail.” 

Hosler notes that the City of Edmonton is currently working on a collaborative project with the University of Alberta to create an online wiki that focuses primarily on Edmonton's river valley parks.

Talk About More Tools
Walkers, runners, hikers, cyclists and others can draw on a wealth of web-based mapping tools and global positioning system (GPS) devices that make it easy to plan a route and share it with others.

For example, anyone can create a map with tools such as Google Map Maker and OpenStreetMap. With such tools, a map of the route can be combined with photos and text. Other key information can also be added, such as meeting places, what to wear, start and end points, distances covered, level of difficulty, hazards, degree of slope or steepness, landmarks and other sights or features along the way.

GPS-enabled smart phones can be used to trace where you are and where you go. The City of Calgary is using this technology to encourage citizens to get out and be active on city trails, as part of this year's 100th anniversary celebration of City of Calgary Parks.

A city-wide "geocache" challenge is taking place during the summer of 2010, involving a total of 100 hiding spots. People are invited to participate in a “treasure hunt,” using GPS devices to find hidden containers in outdoor locations.

To promote involvement of people who don't own GPS devices, three dozen GPS units are available on loan from city libraries, as well as the Inglewood Bird Sanctuary.

Hosler says that the City of Edmonton is upgrading its mapping data to locate things that are of interest to citizens who want to be active on the trails and in their neighbourhoods. For example, although the city has data on the entire trail system, many of the stairs in the river valley are not currently mapped. The city is also working to make more of its data accessible to citizens who would like to create their own maps or applications.

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Other Benefits of Using High-Tech Tools
Here are some other suggested benefits of using social networking and mapping tools to boost or encourage physical activity:

• Although you can use the phone or e-mail to invite friends to join you in an activity, social networking tools and smart phones allow you to connect with more people and make more detailed plans.
• Social networking tools make it easy to send out reminders or post changes.
• Perhaps best of all, you can connect with like-minded people that you haven’t met. For example, a leader can set up a wiki, website or Facebook page that helps people get together to pursue a physical activity they all enjoy.

Stay Connected and Get Moving

It’s fun and motivating to get active with friends or fellow fitness enthusiasts. Most of us enjoy physical activity more if we can share it with others.

With the power of the Internet and newer tools in hand, such as smart phones, mapping tools and more, it’s easier than ever for groups to make plans for physical activities and events.

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Learn More

Using Mapping and Social Networking Tools to Promote Physical Activity
A great article from WellSpring, published by the Alberta Centre for Active Living.

Calgary Parks 100th Anniversary Geocache Challenge
Encourages citizens to be more active and explore the city. Treasure hunters are invited to use GPS devices to locate hidden containers in Calgary parks, and share their experiences online.

The Edmonton Walking/Hiking Meet-up Group
A local group that meets often for hikes and walks.

Google Map Maker
A service that allows you to tailor your own maps, mark locations, add detailed information about locations and share the content with others.

OpenStreet Map
Allows you to view, edit and use geographical data in a collaborative way from anywhere on Earth.