BETHEL — The Western Maine Active Communities Conference will take place from 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Thursday, May 22, at the Bethel Inn Resort, 21 Broad St. The free event will offer valuable information regarding how to transform towns into active communities that invite and encourage biking, walking, trail use and other physical activity opportunities.

Active Communities integrate physical activity opportunities in community planning, transportation and land use decisions. They enhance health and well-being, economic prosperity, public safety and academic performance. The conference will include speakers and breakout sessions where attendees will learn how to bring benefits to western Maine by transforming their towns into Active Communities.

The conference is being organized by a collaborative effort between the Oxford County Active Community Environment Team and the Western Maine Community Transformation Grant Program. The ACET group, part of the Oxford County Wellness Collaborative, is a dedicated core of individuals from across Oxford County who are working to improve opportunities for active living. The Western Maine CTG Program, funded by the CDC, is a public health partnership that is also devoted to increasing physical activity in Oxford, Franklin and Androscoggin counties.

During the past few years, Active Community Environment Teams have been forming across Maine to work towards making their communities into places where people of all ages and abilities have the opportunity to live, work and play in a safe and inviting place which enables physically active recreation and transportation. The conference next week will be an important part of supporting and enhancing the statewide movement toward active communities.

The agenda includes speakers from The Bicycle Coalition of Maine, The Maine Center for Disease Control, The Maine Department of Transportation and many others. To see the full conference agenda and to register to attend, go to tinyurl.com/active-communities-conference.