Why just walk your neighborhood when you can “Walk Georgia?”

Walkers who are game can spend 12 weeks “walking” in Georgia as part of a DeKalb Cooperative Extension Challenge.

The community-oriented online program at www.walkgeorgia.org helps participants track physical activity. They can walk, bike or dance their way to fitness and transfer the time they spend in physical activity into miles crisscrossing the state virtually.

Jessica Hill, the DeKalb Cooperative Extension director, said the challenge can change lifestyles.

“We want citizens to get active if they aren’t already and continue to do some kind of physical activity when the 12-week period ends,” she said.

Walk Georgia allows participants to log their real-time exercise virtually with the use of a drop-down menu.

Yolanda Moore, a DeKalb program administrator, has participated in Walk Georgia since its launch in 2009.

“Through an online map, you can electronically chart a course as you ‘walk’ Georgia,” Moore said. “Whether you visit the coast or hike the mountains, as you move you will read about the counties you visit and learn new ways to improve your health.”

Because the program is statewide, someone in Decatur could challenge a cousin in Canton and a brother in Savannah to a Walk Georgia contest. Or a family whose members are spread across the state could walk as a four-person team.

Registration is free and open through March 11. Visit www.walkgeorgia.org to register as an individual or team. While an e-mail address is required to register, individuals without one can join as part of a team if the team captain has an e-mail address.

In addition, residents who register at the DeKalb County Extension Office at 4380 Memorial Drive in Decatur will receive a free three-day pass to LA Fitness Center.

Starting Feb. 10, participants can log in their physical activity at www.walkgeorgia.org. The program concludes May 10.

For more information, e-mail uge1089@uga.edu or contact a local Extension Office at 1-800-ASK-UGA1 or 404-298-4080.