All - Leep Calendar

Photo Marketing Association International, American Photography Association, camera manufacturers, and others support National Photography Month in May. It is an officially recognized by the US Congress since 1987.

Africa

May

Physical Fitness & Sports Month, Ntl.: May

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National Physical Fitness and Sports Month is declared each May by the President of the United States. It is a month to raise awareness about the benefits of physical activity. Families are encouraged to make small changes, like taking a walk after dinner or riding a bike. Teachers and administrators work to make physical activity a part of every student's day. Business leaders are encouraged to engage with the community, youth leaders, and their peers about the importance of being active. Activities include: Presidential Youth Fitness Program—A comprehensive school-based program that promotes health and regular physical activity for America's youth—This voluntary program offers educators free access to a health-related assessment for youth fitness, professional development for meaningful implementation, and motivational recognition to empower students to adopt and maintain an active lifestyle. Adult Fitness Test measures an adult's aerobic fitness, muscular strength, flexibility, and other health-related fitness—Use this test to see how fit you are by completing the testing activities, entering your data online, and receiving an evaluation. It's the jump start to a healthier you! PALA Program—Motivational program for individuals and families who want to make physical activity and healthy eating part of their everyday lives. This challenge is for anyone, from kids to grandparents, who wants to live a more active and healthier lifestyle. Presidential Champions—a program for people who want to be more active more often. Earn your champion award by logging activities and earning points as you do them. It's a significant next step if you've completed your PALA+ challenge or for people who already get regular exercise.

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May

Physiotherapy Month, Ntl. (CA): May

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Sponsored by Canadian Physiotherapy Association, National Physiotherapy Month seeks to educate the public about and celebrate the profession of physiotherapy. Currently, there are over 20,000 registered physiotherapists in Canada. Physiotherapists provide to promote good health, prevent injury, and improve the physical function and well-being of Canadians through the treatment of a wide range of conditions. Throughout the month, patients and the public will have the opportunity to learn more about what physiotherapists do and how they help their patients live fuller, healthier, and more independent lives. Canadians are encouraged to share their NPM activities by tweeting, sharing photos, videos, and exciting articles about physiotherapy.

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May

Posture Month: May

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May is Posture Month, a chance to pay attention to how you stand, walk, lift and sit. Proper posture places the least strain on supporting muscles and ligaments during movement and weight-bearing activities. Plus, good posture makes you look confident, healthy, and vital. Correct posture: a) Keeps bones and joints in correct alignment to decrease stress on joint surfaces that could result in degenerative arthritis and joint pain. b) Reduces stress on the ligaments holding the spinal joints together, minimizing the likelihood of injury. It allows muscles to work more efficiently, allowing the body to use less energy and preventing muscle fatigue. c) Helps prevent muscle strain, and overuse disorders, including back and muscular pain. Poor posture can lead to excessive strain on our postural muscles and may even cause them to relax when held in certain positions for long periods. For example, you can typically see this in people who bend forward at the waist for a prolonged time in the workplace. Their postural muscles are more prone to injury and back pain. Several factors contribute to poor posture-most commonly, stress, obesity, pregnancy, weak postural muscles, abnormally tight muscles, and high-heel shoes. In addition, decreased flexibility, a poor work environment, incorrect working posture, and unhealthy sitting and standing habits can also contribute to poor body positioning.

Africa

May

Preservation Month, Ntl.: May

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Created in 1973 by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, National Preservation Month focuses on preserving historic places, promoting heritage tourism, and showing the social and economic benefits of historic preservation. Local events throughout the country demonstrate the cultural significance of these places and the necessity to safeguard them for posterity.

Africa

May

REACT Month: May

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Radio Emergency Associated Communication Teams (REACT) Month highlights the public service volunteers who monitor two-way emergency radio communications from motorists, boaters, hikers, and others in distress. They also provide additional security at public events and venues and are one of the first lines of defense during natural disasters and emergencies. REACT Month teaches the public about the service and also aids in the recruiting of new volunteers.

Africa

May

Read to Your Baby Bump Month, Ntl.: May

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Lower maternal stress, bond with your baby, and give it a head start on language skills; these are all reasons to read to your baby bump, especially from six months on. Read to Your Baby Bump Month seeks to remind parents, mommies, and daddies to share the word, literally.

Africa

May

Recommitment Month, Ntl.: May

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National Recommitment Month is a time to take stock of your goals for the year, whether health-related, relationship-related, or financial. The originator of this month remains unknown, but it is observed by everything from the US Army to couples counseling practitioners and nutrition and fitness buffs. Some questions to ask that will allow you to make the most of this month: How are you doing with your New Year’s Resolutions? Have you made progress? If not, what will it take to refocus your energy on accomplishing your goals this year? Recommitment month is all about recommitting to the aspects of your life that fill it with love, richness, and pride.

Africa

May

Responsible Animal Guardian Month: May

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Whether it's an aquarium, terrarium, gilded cage, or four paws, pets add to your life. National Responsible Animal Guardian Month in the United States focuses on the needs of your pets and services that keep them in their best health and happiness. This event is believed created by the California non-profit In Defense of Animals. Per their 2017 press release, the organization outlines its objectives. As animal guardians, we urge all who share their homes with one or more animal companions: 1. To make a lifetime commitment to them, cherish and love them, and always treat them as family, with respect, compassion, consideration, kindness, and gentleness. 2. To care for their emotional needs and address behavior issues. 3. To promise only to adopt and never buy or sell a living creature. 4. To commit to sterilizing your animal companions. 5. Always provide them with nutritious food, fresh water, and daily exercise, and avoid using toxic cleaners and chemicals in your home. 6. always refer to yourself and others as guardians and family of your animal companions rather than owners or masters. 7. Treat all our fellow beings with whom we share our homes and planet with respect, consideration, kindness, justice, and compassion. 8. To protect our and their environments, to preserve their habitats, to work to end their enslavement, and to terminate any cruel and outdated customs and traditions in our country and around the world. In Defense of Animals invites you to pledge to drop the word "owner" and become, from this day, a "guardian" to all animals. Thank you for doing your part.

Africa

May

Running of the Balls (US-TN): May

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The Running of the Balls in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, United States, is an annual month-long fundraiser by Outdoor Gravity Park for charity in May and September. Teams sign up during these months to be chased downhill by a giant manned zorb. One team member rolls down a hill inside a giant transparent inflated ball called a zorb, chasing, knocking, and running over friends and family. It's like the running of the bulls without the horns and injuries, with all proceeds going to support the local food bank. Zorbing traces its origins back to New Zealand, where entrepreneurs Dwane van der Sluis and Andrew Akers launched it as a commercial venture in 1995 after watching hamster balls. They sought a new adrenaline-charged activity that included a unique way to appreciate New Zealand's hilly landscapes. "Zorbing" soon became the generic term for this spherical thrill ride. It involves using an inflatable, transparent, double-sectioned ball, also known as a zorb, with one ball inside the other. The air between the two balls acts as a shock absorber for the rider, cushioning them as they tumble head over heels down a hill. The sport expanded rapidly in New Zealand, followed by international interest. By the early 2000s, zorbing locations emerged in various adventure tourism hotspots worldwide, including Europe, the United States, Australia, and Asia. A water-based version called hydro-zorbing soon appeared. In this rendition, a bucket of water is added to the inner orb, creating a human washing machine experience as the rider sloshes around during the descent. Zorbing has since moved into soccer, bowling, and other sports, with comedic results. The Guinness World Records acknowledged zorbing's popularity in 2006 by noting the longest Zorb ride ever recorded. Steve Camp of Canada rolled down a hill in a zorb for an impressive 570 meters (1,870 ft).

Africa

May

Salad Month, Ntl.: May

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National Salad Month (NSM) celebrates creative salad recipes and encourages consumers to eat more leafy greens. Created in May 1992 in response to a Gallup Poll that revealed three out of four people eat a tossed salad at least every other day, a research study in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association found that salad eaters tend to have higher intakes of essential nutrients, including vitamins C, E and folate. The latest recommendations from the Dietary Guidelines for Americans suggest eating more fruits and vegetables and prompted the release of the MyPlate icon that depicts filling half your plate with fruits and vegetables. Eating a salad daily with your favorite dressing is an easy way to meet this guideline and increase your intake of crucial nutrients. Research by the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition shows that eating vegetables with added fat, such as full-fat salad dressings, actually promotes the absorption of lycopene, alpha, and beta carotenes, all of which aid in the fight against cancer and heart disease. The healthy oils in many salad dressings help the body better absorb essential nutrients. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans also recommends increased use of oils to replace solid fats where possible. Additionally, the majority of salad dressings are free of trans fats. To find creative salad recipe ideas and information about the healthfulness of consuming salads with your favorite dressing, visit www.saladaday.org or www.dressings-sauces.org.

Africa

May

Santacruzan, Flores de Mayo (PH): May

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May is an ideal month if you've dreamed of visiting the Philippines. Several festivals honor the Virgin Mary, considered the month's patron and the most fragrant and colorful festival is Flores de Mayo and Santacruzan. Santacruzan is legendary pageantry, with parades, beauty contests, and period costumes, all in the unique flavor of the Philippines. It is glamorous, beautiful, and ultimately celebrates the search for the Holy Cross and the celebrations of it in Jerusalem by the first emperor of the Roman Empire, Constantine. The several centuries-old celebration occurs during May and is observed by the Filipino diaspora worldwide. Image: Connie Veneracion, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

Africa

May

Service Dog Eye Examination Month, Ntl.: May

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The American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists/StokesRX champions National Service Dog Eye Examination Month, a philanthropic effort generously provided to the public by the board-certified Diplomats of the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists who donate their time, staff, and services to provide free screening ocular exams to qualified service animals. Service Dog owners can register their animals for the free exam in April each year prior to National Service Dog Eye Exam Month, which occurs in May. Free screening-wellness eye exams to service animals, including those who provide the following services: guidance, hearing assistance, drug detection, police/military, search and rescue, therapy, and those assisting people with disabilities other than blindness. Registration takes place in April each year. Exams are performed in May. Register on the ACVO site: https://www.acvoeyeexam.org.

Africa

May

Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month, Ntl.: May

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National Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month (SAAPM) is an annual campaign held in April in the United States to raise public awareness about sexual assault, promote education and prevention efforts, and support survivors. The campaign allows individuals, communities, and organizations to come together and take action against sexual violence. The goal is to create a safer environment and a culture that does not tolerate or condone sexual assault. SAAPM originated in the early 1970s when various local and regional events raised awareness about sexual violence. In 2001, the National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC), working in collaboration with other organizations, formally established April as Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Since then, the campaign has grown into a national movement. Common themes and activities during SAAPM include: Educational workshops and presentations to inform communities about the prevalence and impact of sexual assault, consent, and bystander intervention. Social media campaigns amplify the message and encourage discussions on the issue. Fundraising events to support organizations that work with survivors and offer resources such as crisis hotlines, counseling, and legal assistance. Public demonstrations, marches, and rallies to show solidarity with survivors and demand change. Promoting resources for survivors, such as hotlines, support groups, and counseling services. Encouraging individuals to pledge to be active bystanders and intervene when they witness situations that could lead to sexual assault. NSVRC chooses a theme to guide the campaign's focus. These themes can vary but focus on sexual assault prevention and awareness.

Africa

May

Sleep Month, Better: May

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Better Sleep Month is sponsored by the Better Sleep Council, a non-profit set up by the Mattress Industry. It seeks to assist people in getting a good night's sleep with tips, facts, and research. Sleep is a crucial part of a healthy lifestyle. Like eating right and exercising, sleeping well is essential to feeling your best during the day. It impacts your feelings, relationships, productivity, and quality of life. While you sleep, your brain works, consolidating the day's learning into memory and reenergizing the body. The average person needs 7-8 hours a night, but it differs for every person. Some people may need as much as ten hours a night, and others need much less. If you sleep longer on the weekends than during the week, you aren't getting the sleep you need every night. The Sleep Better Website has tips, research, tests you can take, and apps to help you sleep at bettersleep.org.

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