SPARK Launches 25-Day Physical Activity Challenge
SPARK has announced the 25-Day Physical Activity Challenge, which will run from September 29 to October 31.
SPARK has teamed up with Let’s Move! Active Schools and the President’s Challenge to launch the 25-Day Physical Activity Challenge to promote daily physical activity among school children. The challenge will run from Monday, September 29, to Friday, October 31.
The goal of the SPARK Challenge is to motivate students to be physically active for at least an hour each day. Students who sign up for the challenge will pledge to try their best to achieve 60 minutes of physical activity a day, at least five days per week. SPARK will provide pledge forms, tracking logs, and certificates. The grand prize is a $25,000 SPARK Package including equipment, training and curriculum for the winning school’s physical education program. The 2nd and 3rd place prizes are $2,500 SPARK gift certificates to buy equipment or curriculum. For a chance to win, schools must turn in their completed forms by November 4.
For the duration of the SPARK Challenge, students will accumulate minutes or pedometer steps throughout the day, logging their activity before school, during recess, in PE class, and after school. Students logging their pedometer steps should aim for 12,000 steps a day. Teachers will collect student forms and fill out the final report form at the end of the challenge to report the number of children who participated and completed the challenge. To successfully complete the challenge, students will need 25 days total before October 31. If they miss days during the week, they can make up for them over the weekend. All those who finish the SPARK Challenge will get a certificate of completion.
Schools interested in participating can sign up for the challenge by Sunday, September 28.
SPARK is a public health organisation of the San Diego State University Research Foundation. The organisation’s goal is to promote health and wellness among all age groups by creating and implementing research and evidence-based programs benefiting health.
The President’s Challenge is a youth fitness program created by the President's Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition (PCFSN) that aims to encourage Americans to make physical activity part of their daily lives.
Let’s Move! Active Schools is a physical activity solution designed to ensure that 60 minutes of physical activity each day is the new norm for schools. It is part of the First Lady’s Let’s Move! initiative.
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