30-Minute WEBINAR
Wednesday, February 18 • 12 PM ET
Wins, Woes, and Wisdom:
What 23 Seasons of Walktober Have Taught Us
What started more than 2 decades ago as a simple walking challenge has grown into a workplace tradition embraced year after year. In this webinar, we’re pulling back the curtain to share what 23 seasons of Walktober have revealed about participation, motivation, and lasting engagement.
Join Rachel LaBerge and Emily Doyle, our resident Walktober experts, for a focused 30-minute session packed with real-world data, stories, and insights from organizations of all sizes.
Whether you’re evaluating Walktober or simply looking to strengthen participation in any wellness initiative, this session offers practical lessons you can apply right away.
Learn More and Register
What You Will Learn
This is a candid look at what consistently drives engagement — and where even well-intentioned programs can miss the mark.
The Data Behind the Momentum
We’ll share key statistics and participation trends from the past 3 years of Walktober growth, highlighting what motivates employees to join, stay engaged, and return year after year.
Wins and Woes from the Field
Hear real examples from workplace campaigns — what worked, what didn’t, and how those lessons shape Walktober’s evolution each season.
Actionable Best Practices
Learn proven strategies for maximizing participation while keeping administration simple and manageable for wellness and HR teams.
Optional: Walktober 2026 Preview
Stay for a brief 10-minute walkthrough of the current Walktober experience and what’s new for our 24th season.
Wins, Woes, and Wisdom:
What 23 Seasons of Walktober Have Taught Us
Wednesday, February 18 • 12 PM ET
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Why Every College and University Needs a Walktober Tradition
Each fall, something special happens across college and university campuses. Step counts rise, and conversations spark in offices and campus pathways — with faculty and staff encouraging one another, whether they’re walking with colleagues or solo between classes. For many employees, Walktober isn’t just another wellness challenge — it’s a campus tradition that brings people together during one of the busiest times of the year.
Every year Walktober pushes me to strive to be more active. The support and communication/pictures from the Wall helps greatly! It keeps me focused and shows that we aren’t on this journey alone.
Kristen D.
University of Rochester
Every year Walktober pushes me to strive to be more active. The support and communication/pictures from the Wall helps greatly! It keeps me focused and shows that we aren’t on this journey alone.
Kristen D.
University of Rochester
Momentum That Builds Year After Year
Now in its 24th season, Walktober continues to grow — not just in participation, but in impact. From 2024 to 2025, the number of organizations offering the program, including colleges and universities, jumped 21%, and returning clients saw average participation rise 16%.
That momentum builds naturally. Once faculty and staff experience the camaraderie and fun of Walktober, they look forward to it each fall — often inviting new colleagues to join in. It becomes part of campus culture: friendly competition between departments, wellness walks around the quad, and shared pride when goals are reached.
I truly appreciated the opportunity to connect with colleagues while also focusing on health and wellness. It was a pleasure to meet coworkers for the first time, given that our institution operates from two different locations.
Chernell B.
University System of Georgia
Hundreds of companies, colleges and universities, school systems, city, county, and state agencies as well as health systems and nonprofit groups participate in Walktober every fall.
Health Wins That Keep Compounding
The benefits extend far beyond step counts. Participants frequently report sleeping better, managing stress, and finding more energy during the academic year. Some even share stories of transformative health improvements.
Improved health and lost weight, more determination and motivation to exercise. The walking really helps with managing stress and when you do it with friends/coworkers it’s also therapeutic.
Denise C.
University of Delaware
Improved health and lost weight, more determination and motivation to exercise. The walking really helps with managing stress and when you do it with friends/coworkers it’s also therapeutic.
Denise C.
University of Delaware
Campus wellness teams hear these stories each fall — proof that small daily steps, paired with community support, can have a lasting impact on health, morale, and overall well-being.
Learn more by scheduling a live demo or request a no-obligation quote.
This was very valuable program to encourage each other in a non-stressful way. Knowing that others on our team were trying their best and working on their own goals was very encouraging for me to stay motivated.
Jennie V.
University of Portland
Connection and Camaraderie: Walktober’s Heartbeat
Recent updates have made Walktober even more engaging. The Community page lets participants share stories, photos, and encouragement, answer poll questions, and see how their efforts contribute to campus-wide goals — turning individual progress into a shared achievement.
These connections matter. They help strengthen campus culture, bridging departments and roles while fostering a sense of unity and shared purpose — something every institution values.
Easier… and Better, Every Year
For wellness coordinators and HR teams, part of Walktober’s appeal is how simple it is to manage year after year. Communications are ready to use, participation builds effortlessly, and engagement grows with experience. Plus, HES provides new creative materials and promotional updates each season to keep the program and messaging fresh.
We just launched our first wellness challenge with HES and they have been amazing to work with! The easiest and fastest implementation ever and their communication is top-notch. I would highly recommend.
Michelle Taylor
Sr. Strategic HR Partner
University of Central Missouri
We just launched our first wellness challenge with HES and they have been amazing to work with! The easiest and fastest implementation ever and their communication is top-notch. I would highly recommend.
Michelle Taylor
Sr. Strategic HR Partner
University of Central Missouri
With Walktober as a dependable fall anchor, campuses can plan additional wellness events throughout the year — focusing on mindfulness, nutrition, or resilience — while maintaining strong engagement momentum.
A Constant in a Changing Calendar
In higher education, every semester brings new challenges and transitions. Amid shifting schedules and busy workloads, Walktober offers something reliable — a shared experience that marks the start of fall and reminds everyone to take time for their own well-being.
It’s more than a challenge; it’s a rhythm that strengthens connection and morale across campus.
Walktober inspired a commitment to my team members…It quickly sparked a drive to embrace healthier outlets and outings.
Karen M.
Wellesley College
A Tradition That Keeps Giving
For colleges and universities committed to supporting faculty and staff well-being, Walktober delivers a rare mix of simplicity, measurable results, and genuine enjoyment.
Making it an annual tradition isn’t just good for morale — it’s good for campus culture. Healthier, more connected faculty and staff create more vibrant, engaged learning environments for students.
This October, don’t just launch a wellness program. Start a campus tradition that brings your community together — one step at a time.
Features include:
Interactive logging
Device tracking
Worldwide fall attractions
Individual and team
participation
Organization-wide goal setting
Badges for hitting milestones
Daily tips, healthy recipes, community message board
Mobile as well as desktop applications
Learn More
Walk This Way to Employee Wellness Value
(Beleaf it.)
Per Registrant
Includes site setup +
per registrant fee.
Duration
Retail
31-day Program
$10.09
42-day Program
$13.75
56-day Program
$15.45
Setup (1 time fee/challenge)
$2775
Group License
One-time fee covering your entire eligible population* for any 1 HES challenge.
*Eligible population means all employees who have access to the site (whether or not they register). To promote the site to a subset of your population, an eligibility file is required.
Eligible Population
Retail
1000
$5007
5000
$12,702
10,000
$23,156
25,000
$48,733
50,000
$85,764
100,000
$122,796
Bundled License
One-time fee covering your entire eligible population* for any 2 HES challenges within 12 months.
*Eligible population means all employees who have access to the site (whether or not they register). To promote the site to a subset of your population, an eligibility file is required.
