Active Lifestyle & Connection

Oklahoma summers make a strong case for staying inside — but staying socially connected is just as vital to your health as diet and exercise. From rec leagues and potlucks to festivals and volunteering, here's your guide to the best things to do in Pottawatomie County with your people.

Summer has officially arrived in Shawnee — and Pottawatomie County is packed with ways to make it a healthy one. From sunrise swims at Twin Lakes and Saturday mornings at the farmers market to pickleball, disc golf, and glow bowling on the hottest days, there's no shortage of ways to get moving right here at home.

Nearly half of Pottawatomie County residents don't feel connected to their community, and it's affecting everything from mental health to physical activity. This summer, Pogo is doing something about it. The Gather & Go Challenge invites you to team up, rack up steps, and strengthen the relationships that make life better. Sign up by July 1.

Here at Pogo, we talk a lot about making Pottawatomie County, Oklahoma a place people want to live a little, longer. And a place worth living in for a long time is a place you can actually get around safely — behind the wheel, on foot, or on a bike.

Every first Wednesday in May, kids across the country trade the bus and the car line for their bikes. This year, Pottawatomie County showed up and showed out — and Pogo was right there for the ride. Here's why Bike to School Day matters, what we learned along the way, and how to make every morning a good morning on two wheels.

leep is superfood for our mental and physical health. Problem is, many of us aren’t getting enough. Adequate sleep is associated with lower stress levels, decreased depression and anxiety symptoms, stronger immune function, improved cardiovascular health, hormonal regulation, and enhanced mood stability. Despite its importance, many people do not consistently get the quality or quantity of sleep needed for optimal health.

There’s no better time to focus on your wellbeing than the start of a new year. This January, we’re inviting our community to kick things off together with the Happy YOU Year Challenge in the Wellbeing+ app—a month-long experience designed to help you build healthy habits with intention, consistency, and connection.

This year’s summit featured powerful conversations around mental health, housing, food security, and leadership — showing that true well-being takes a whole-community approach. Together, we’re working toward our shared goal of making Pottawatomie County the Healthiest County.

The 2025 Worksite Well-Being Summit brought together community leaders, employers, and wellness champions from across Pottawatomie County to explore one big idea: healthy employees create stronger, more vibrant communities. Hosted at Oklahoma Baptist University, the day kicked off with an inspiring welcome from First Lady Jill Thomas, setting the tone for a powerful lineup of speakers and discussions. Morning Sessions: Connecting Health, Home, and Workplace Success Meg Cannon

What an incredible day we had at Pott Co Pedal Palooza 2025! Families, neighbors, and cyclists of all ages came together to celebrate biking, safety, and community fun right here in Pottawatomie County. From colorful bike decorating and free safety checks to engaging vendor booths and on-the-spot bike repairs, there was something for everyone. The kids’ bike parade lit up the streets with creativity and smiles, while parents enjoyed learning about local resources that make ac

Now Boarding: Groove Around the Globe 2025! ✈️🌍 This year’s challenge takes off October 1 and runs through November 14. Powered by Pogo and supported by the Absentee Shawnee Tribe alongside local community partners, the 2025 challenge promises to be bigger, better, and more rewarding than ever. The Groove Around The Globe Steps Challenge encourages participants to get active and stay healthy by logging their daily steps through the “Well-Being Plus” app. Teams can form, tra

September 1st-30th Pottawatomie Go in partnership with and Oklahoma Baptist University invite you to participate in Pogo Bingo! A fun and interactive way to embrace healthy habits and explore our community! How to Play: Complete all the activities listed on your bingo card. For each activity you complete, snap a photo of yourself participating for more entries! Share your photos by using #PogoBingo and follow us on insta at @go.pogo Complete for a chance to win 1 of 2 $100 D

On Saturday, July 5th Shawnee Parks & Recreation held a Freedom Fest event at KidSpace Park. John Bobb-Semple reminded participants in the Freedom Fest kids' parade to check their helmets before he leads them around KidSpace Park. The First Annual Freedom Fest was hosted by Shawnee Parks and Recreation. They gave prizes for Most Patriotic, Most Enthusiastic and Most Creative. Thank you to our friends from Shawnee Parks and Rec for inviting us to participate! We love to see or

The Shawnee Summer Games Challenge is officially ON — and you won’t want to miss it! This free community challenge is packed with activities designed to keep you moving, engaged, and inspired throughout the month of July— and there's even cash on the line! 🎉 Here’s what you can expect: 👟 Race across the map and unlock motivational messages from real Olympic athletes. 🏆 Get moving to reach your personalized Stick to It goal. 🥇 Discover fun Olympic trivia through interactiv

We kicked off Health Week 2025 with National Senior Health and Fitness Day hosted by Shawnee Parks & Recreation at the Shawnee Recreation Center. The event provided our senior adults with opportunities to stay active, connect with others, and explore valuable community resources that support healthy aging. Next, we were honored to welcome former NFL player Shamiel Gary, who spoke about the life lessons he learned through football, leadership, and perseverance. Following his t

Pogo is a county-wide movement with a goal: to make Pottawatomie County the healthiest in Oklahoma.

This year's 2024 Worksite Well-Being Summit theme was, "Creating A Culture of Well-Being." The Summit launched with a Coffee n' Conversation networking opportunity for attendees and vendors. The Opening Session included The Well-Being Exchange, Bridging Gaps, Sharing Solutions facilitated by Gateway to Prevention & Recovery Executive Director , Jon Greenwood. The goal was to uncover the biggest challenges to improving well-being in your practical solutions and strategies to i

On Saturday, September 28th Pottawatomie County came together for a fun-filled day of cycling and community at the Pott Co Pedal Palooza, held on the oval at Oklahoma Baptist University! The event, designed to promote bicycle safety and provide families with an exciting day of outdoor activities, attracted over 200 attendees to enjoy various engaging events. The festival featured a community bike ride, led by local cycling enthusiasts, where riders of all ages enjoyed the loc

Shawnee Public Schools, in collaboration with Pottawatomie Go, participated in National Walk/Bike/Roll to School Day on October 2. More than 800 students, parents, and volunteers from all elementary sites gathered at designated locations to walk to school together, fostering a sense of community, promoting physical activity, and emphasizing the importance of safe routes to school. A special event was organized for 5th-grade students across the district, who walked from Sequoy