Message from FAHPERDS Executive Director – Karen J. Dowd, Ed. D.
Across the nation, communities, schools, families, government, varied organizations, health care entities and education have recognized and attempted to address the issues related to childhood obesity, physical inactivity, rising chronic disease and other maladies children should not have to face. Thus, after much consideration and with great enthusiasm, the Florida Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, Dance & Sport (FAHPERDS) has entered into a partnership with the for-profit company, Adventure to Fitness (ATF), which offers predominately K-5 schools a healthy alternative to fundraising while at the same time providing valuable, educational and motivational activities for all children. Additionally, 60% of the gross funds remain in the school!
The Adventure to Fitness program was developed as a response to calls by schools for healthy fundraisers that avoid selling unhealthy foods and products. Rather than sacrifice the health of children with candy bars and cookie dough in the name of fundraising, Adventure to Fitness can enhance the well-being of children and still raise the funds essential to 21st century schools. The ATF program uses the latest video technology to take all children on an exciting adventure that integrates into the adventure a wide range of academic topics, physical activity and excitement. According to Jim Taylor, Executive Director of Adventure to Fitness, “the response to this healthy and exciting program has been overwhelming and a real tribute to our schools who want to raise money — but now do it in a healthy way.”
The objectives of the Adventure to Fitness program include:
- Engage students in getting more physical activity before, during and after school
- Motivate students to make better food choices
- Provide low cost / free tools for integrating health concepts and activities in schools
- Engage schools, families and communities
The ‘adventures’ to date include climbing Mount Everest and exploring the Amazon Rainforest. The team of award-winning, creative animators and digital artists will be creating many other thrilling, educational and interactive adventures to physically and mentally engage and include every child. Future adventures will also address and tie-in many of the compelling issues facing children and young people today, such as bullying.
Operating on a first-come-first-serve basis, the fall 2009 schedule of Adventure to Fitness schools has already reached capacity, but there are openings for schools to join the spring 2010 and fall 2010 schedules. Participating schools receive 60% of gross funds raised by the school and FAHPERDS will receive 5% of gross funds. It is hoped that a portion of the funds raised by schools will augment physical education and health education budgets for materials, equipment and staff development.
It is hoped that Florida’s K-5 schools will come to participate in the Adventure to Fitness programs in the beginning and end of each school year and begin or continue to conduct the Jump Rope for Heart and/or Hoops for Heart programs. Both programs work to educate, encourage and inspire children to adopt healthy lifestyles.
As the Adventure to Fitness program expands and certainly by next year’s FAHPERDS Conference, special workshops and events will be held for teachers who engage in and help manage the program in their schools. Other exciting incentives and opportunities will be made available for FAHPERDS members whose schools engage in Adventure to Fitness. There’s a good chance that with a successful ATF event at your school, FAHPERDS will provide you with complimentary conference registration and possibly other conference expenses. By PARTICIPATING in the FAHPERDS – Adventure to Fitness partnership program, physical education and health education teachers can enhance the lives of children, augment the school’s budget and help off-set costs of attending the FAHPERDS Conference. We urge you to be a ‘trailblazer’ on this ‘adventure’ – it’s a ‘sweet deal’ without the calories!
Please see the information included in this journal related to the Adventure to Fitness program and the sign-up process. Be among the inaugural schools that bring this exciting fundraiser to Florida’s children –TAKE THE LEAD! If you have questions, please contact me at fahperd@comcast.net or 954-752-1600. Let the ‘adventure’ begin!
Tags: January 2010 (Fapherds)