What is Walk for Joy?
Walk for Joy (formerly known as Walkabout) is an annual 9-week walking challenge that strives to promote regular physical activity in social settings. It was designed and launched in 2005 by the late Dr. Joy Butler of the UBC Faculty of Education, and it is a partnership initiative with UBC Recreation and UBC Human Resources. A few years ago, the name of the program was changed from its original “Walkabout” to commemorate Dr. Butler.
Participants in this annual challenge will track their daily steps for 9 weeks — all forms of physical activity count! Numerous community partners provide prizes for Walk for Joy participants and those who complete extra challenges, so don’t miss out!
Walk for Joy is open to all UBC and UBCO students, staff, faculty, and community members. Participants can compete in a team with up to 5 members or individually.
Program Details
2025 Dates
February 3 – April 6
Registration
Registration is now closed.
Important Dates
Opening Ceremony: January 29th, 2025 from 12-1 PM
- Location: CIRS BC Hydro Theatre
- Format: In-person or Virtual
Closing Ceremony: TBD
- Location: TBD
Step Counting
- Actual Steps: These are how many steps you take in a day and your equivalent steps (other physical activities that you did not track on your step tracker). Equivalent steps can be calculated using this converter.
- ex. 10,500 steps + 3,540 steps for swimming for 30 min. = 14,040 actual steps
- do NOT double dip! for example, if you track your steps using a watch or your phone and you go for a run and it continues to track your steps, those steps are accounted for. Do not use the equivalent chart to add additional steps to your step count if they are already counted in your step tracker!
- Social Steps: Steps taken with another participant of Walk for Joy double your step count, being included as both actual steps and can be added to social steps! You can only count social steps as an extra bonus once (i.e. steps taken with a group of four will only be doubled once, not per person). Social steps can be counted when done with any Walk for Joy participant, even if you are on different teams.
- ex. 3,000 steps on a walk/roll with another Walk for Joy member = 3,000 social steps
- ex. 4,000 lawn bowling equivalent steps with a Walk for Joy team = 4,000 social steps
- Total Steps: this equates to your actual steps + social steps
- ex. 60,000 actual steps for the week + 32,000 social steps = 92,000 total steps!
Questions?
For any questions or concerns, please contact physical.activity@ubc.ca.
Testimonials
” This is my first winter with the library. The walkabout has had a really positive impact on my well-being and physical health. I have enjoyed many walks with people who I barely knew before the walkabout. These people have helped brighten the otherwise dreary Vancouver winter months.”
–UBC Library
“What a great way to start off the new year! Often we get into the habit of sitting at our desks all day and the Walkabout Program has been that extra motivation that helps me break this vicious cycle. Going for walks help me manage my stress and holding walking meetings has been a great way to get steps in while still being productive.”
–Barbara Hsiao, Director, HR & Administration, Faculty of Land and Food Systems
“THANK YOU for creating the Walkabout. It’s more important to me than I sometimes realize… I am grateful to be a part of this program, that you, in your wisdom and vision, offered to UBC and beyond its gates to a wider community. So big thanks, Joy Butler, and hugs for this gift. You rock!”
–Pat Hogan, community participant