Over the past two decades, 300 elementary schools across the state have joined the free Healthy Futures Challenge. More than 220,000 individual children have participated during the past decade and received prizes for being physically active, said Harlow Robinson, executive director of Healthy Futures. This fall, 66 elementary schools in 16 school districts have already signed up to participate in the next challenge that starts in September. It’s not too late for more schools to sign up online.

“We’re proud of the lasting impact our program has had in helping Alaska kids build healthy habits for life,” said Robinson, featured in a new video about the benefits of the Healthy Futures Challenge.

Claire Ellis is a PE teacher at Spring Hill Elementary School in Anchorage. She’s supported the challenge there for the past nine years. Ellis said the Healthy Futures program helps kids get in the habit of moving their bodies every day. It sets them up for success.

“We love the program. We love what it stands for,” said Ellis in the Healthy Futures video. “Healthy Futures is trying to encourage kids to get back outside, to spend more time being active and less time sitting in front of screens.”

Play Every Day and Healthy Futures have worked together for more than a decade to support active kids

The Alaska Department of Health launched the Play Every Day campaign 12 years ago to support Alaska children to grow up at a healthy weight. Among other health promotion messages, the campaign supports families to help their kids get moving and meet the national recommendation for physical activity. In the words of the campaign, the goal is to get out and play, 60 minutes every day.

From the beginning, Play Every Day staff wanted to provide a way to make it easier for families to get daily activity. It turns out that already existed in Alaska. Since 2003, thousands of children in participating elementary schools were getting that activity through the Healthy Futures Challenge and related events. Kids received prizes for meeting the challenge’s activity goal each month. The Healthy Futures program offered this opportunity at no cost to participating schools and students.

More than a decade ago, Play Every Day created a lasting partnership with Healthy Futures: Play Every Day would share messages with families and schools about the importance of staying active for the best health, for both body and mind. Healthy Futures would provide the free challenge and low-cost or no-cost community events to help Alaska kids get that activity. That partnership continues today, with a three-month challenge planned for the fall and spring of this school year.

"Physical activity is good for children in so many ways, including improved academic performance, brain health, physical health, and sleep,” said Katie Reilly, manager of Alaska’s Physical Activity and Nutrition program that runs the Play Every Day campaign. “Healthy Futures has played a critical role in supporting the health and wellness of thousands of Alaska kids, and we’re excited about our ongoing partnership."

Alaska elementary schools can still sign up for the free fall challenge

The free fall Healthy Futures Challenge runs Sept. 1-Nov. 30. It’s not too late for Alaska elementary schools to sign up. The challenge is available for any elementary school, including home schools. Registration is quick and easy online at https://database.healthyfuturesak.org/#/default/home.

Participating students will keep a log of their daily physical activity with the goal of being active at least 60 minutes a day for 15 days each month. They can count active time in gym class and during recess. Each school typically has a volunteer coordinator who collects the activity logs and tells Healthy Futures staff how many prizes to send for students who completed logs. Visit Healthy Futures online to find out which elementary schools have already signed up for the fall challenge.