NORFOLK, Neb. -- A northeast Nebraska public health department is encouraging its community to be active.

The Elkhorn Logan Valley Public Health Department is wrapping up its Summer walking program and announced that they will be holding a Fall program after the summer success.

The Summer program called "Shape Up For Summer" will wrap up this Wednesday after running for six weeks.

Participants would walk in different areas of Norfolk for 30-40 minutes and would receive a piece of educational health information each week.

Julie Nelson, a registered nurse with the Elkhorn Logan Valley Public Health Department, said that signing up for a walking program could affect a person's health in a number of positive ways.

"There's a lot of health benefits to just walking. It can lower and manage diabetes, heart disease, and high blood pressure. Also, just being active will end up strengthening your muscle tone and your body shape while losing weight," she said.

The Fall program is called "Step Into Fall" and will begin on September 7th and run until October 12th.

Registration will begin in mid-August.

You'll be able to sign up on the Elkhorn Logan Valley Public Health Department website.