Course Outline for Healthy Aging Older Adults 252
Fitness Walks for the Mature Adult

Effective: Fall 2025
SLO Rev:
Catalog Description:

HEAG 252 - Fitness Walks for the Mature Adult

36.00 - 108.00 Hours

May be repeated 99 time(s)
This course is designed to improve cardiovascular fitness and overall wellness in the mature adult. Students will actively walk and hike in the surrounding community to improve their overall health and well being.
0837.00 - Health Education
Pass/No Pass/Satisfactory Progress
Type Hours
Laboratory 36.00 - 108.00
Total 36.00 - 108.00
Measurable Objectives:
Upon completion of this course, the student should be able to:
  1. walk for a minimum of thirty minutes;
  2. understand and apply the principles of heart rate based training to improve their overall cardiovascular fitness;
  3. demonstrate an improvement in their cardiovascular fitness;
  4. demonstrate an improvement in flexibility and range of motion;
  5. demonstrate an improvement in overall strength.
Course Content:

1. Target heart rate training-- What is it and how to apply it to your walking

2. Assessing cardiovascular fitness using heart rate

3. Static flexibility exercises to improve overall range of motion

4. Dynamic exercises used to warm up 

5. How to guide your pace and distance using target heart rate

6. Learning about local parks and areas that are great for hikes

7. Strength exercises that can be performed in the outdoors without equipment

8. Cooling down after a walk

Methods of Instruction:
  1. Hands-on Activities
  2. Field Trips
  3. Written assignments
  4. Small Group Coaching
  5. Activity play
Assignments and Methods of Evaluating Student Progress:
  1. Using your age, calculate your target heart rate training numbers for 60%, 70% and 80% of your maximum heart rate.
  2. Demonstrate to the class three static flexibility exercises.
  3. Find a local park that is safe for walking and share your find with the class.
  1. Written assignments
  2. Field Trips
  3. Class Participation
  4. Mandatory completion of BAR attendance criteria
Upon the completion of this course, the student should be able to:
  1. apply the principles of heart rate based training to improve your overall cardiovascular fitness.
  2. Walk for a minimum of thirty minutes.
Textbooks (Typical):
  1. Therese Iknoian (2021). Fitness Walking (2). Human Kinetics.
Abbreviated Class Schedule Description:
This course is designed to improve cardiovascular fitness and overall wellness in the mature adult. Students will actively walk and hike in the surrounding community to improve their overall health and well being.
Discipline:
Physical Education*