FARGO – Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota (BCBSND) believes that recess should be for everyone. BCBSND is launching a number of new initiatives this fall related to promoting physical activity for children in schools. BCBSND is also looking for ways to encourage fitness and wellness among North Dakotans of all ages.

As part of this effort, BCBSND employees will use the playground at Oak Grove Park during Sunday's Streets Alive event in Fargo to demonstrate how adults can use playground equipment to exercise while at the park with their children.

"People do not need to go to a formal health club environment to exercise," said Mike Carlson, BCBSND's manager of wellness services. "The Streets Alive event provides us the opportunity to demonstrate some basic fitness exercises on standard playground equipment to reinforce the notion that opportunities for exercise and fitness are everywhere."

BCBSND employees will be stationed at the Oak Grove Park entrance at South Terrace Drive in Fargo from noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday, August 26, showing people how to perform exercises with playground equipment. BCBSND wellness experts will show how to use playground equipment for modified pull-ups and bar dips, as well as how a playground slide can be used for pushups or a triceps dip. Handouts complete with photos and instructions will also be provided to help participants the next time they have an opportunity to use their natural environment for exercise.

About Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota
BCBSND is a member-owned, not-for-profit independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. As North Dakota's largest provider of health care coverage, BCBSND is taking BOLD steps to collaborate with doctors, hospitals, clinics and members to ensure affordable access to quality health care in the state. To learn more about BCBSND, visit www.BCBSND.com.