Now Hear This!
Tips for Promoting Your SummerActive Event

The famous line from the popular baseball movie Field of Dreams, “If you build it, they will come” doesn’t hold true in the real world.  Even though you have a really great SummerActive event planned, if people don’t know about it, they won’t come.

To boost participation in your event, you need to spread the word that there’s something happening in your community that Canadians might be interested in trying. At the very least you need to let them know the basic “5Ws” – who, what, when, where and why.

Who: who is hosting the event or activity?
What: what is it all about?
When: what date and time is the event scheduled for?
Where: what’s the location of the event?
Why: why is the event happening?

Here’s an example:

Who: The Patterson Pooch Patrol
What: A Frisbee Fun Day in the Park for People and Their Dogs
When: Saturday, June 4th at 10 a.m.
Where: Patterson Creek Park at the corner of Patterson Avenue and Bank Street
Why: To provide a chance for people and their dogs to enjoy being physically active in the summer by learning some Frisbee throw and catch skills; prizes for the best catch, the longest throw, the smallest dog and the youngest master

The last part you need to add is How – that is, how to participate. For some events, people might need to register ahead, call a number to sign up, or simply show up on the date and the location specified. You’re the leader, so you can call the shots!

Keep these basics in mind and you’ve got all the key information you need to include in posters, notices, and flyers.

If you don’t have a budget for printing ads in your local newspaper, consider sending out an email alert to your client or membership list, community electronic bulletin boards or even family and friends. Encourage them to spread the word to others they know who might be interested in your event.

Using Local Media Outlets to Tell Your Story

Most radio stations offer free public service announcements, so don’t forget to call them up and ask if they will announce your event details over the airwaves.

If your event is unusual, or a local celebrity is participating, it’s worth calling the Assignment Editor of your local or community newspaper and television station to tell them about your plans.

Explain to them why your event would be of interest to their readers or viewers and they might decide to do a story letting people know about it in advance, or send a reporter to cover the story as it happens.

Check out the Media Room for more tips and tools for telling your SummerActive story through the media.

Registering Your Event on the SummerActive Website

No matter what you do, it’s vital that you register your event – you can win prizes for leading the event and everyone who registers their participation in the event is eligible to win a prize too!

Most importantly, details of your event will be posted online so anyone looking for a way to get SummerActive in your area will know what’s going on and how they can join in the fun. 

Strength in Numbers – Partnering Up to Maximize Resources

There is strength in numbers, especially if budgets are tight and human resources are scarce. By forging partnerships and pooling your efforts, you can let even more people know about your event and help turn your community into an activity-friendly environment that makes it easier for residents to enjoy being healthy.

Partnerships between community leaders can:

• Focus physical activity resources and reduce duplication;
• Broaden community support and increase enthusiasm for a SummerActive event or program;
• Share the benefits of participation by community leaders, celebrities and influential people;
• Fill in any gaps in the knowledge, skills, and expertise needed to effect a change;
• Increase media interest and coverage, which can raise public awareness of physical activity issues; and
• Reach more people within your target population more effectively.

By forming strategic partnerships with others looking to achieve similar results, you increase the chances of making your community a more active – and therefore healthier – community.

You may not realize that partnership opportunities are all around you. For example, if you’re a recreational leader, team up with staff in other facilities; if you’re a coach, use your league contacts or your parent group to find others willing to help you out. Professional organizations, associations or other networks are a great place to start.

For more information on potential partners in your area, contact your provincial or territorial SummerActive representative using the list in the Contact Us section of the website.

Keep in mind that when people have fun being SummerActive, they’ll tell others about it and this success will help boost participation – and their health – for years to come!