Fitness is Fun!
June 2006

Greetings from the office of the President's Challenge Physical Activity and Fitness Awards Program! You have received the June 2006 issue of Fitness is Fun, the official e-mail distribution of the President's Challenge. These monthly e-mails will keep you updated on our program, activities of the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports (PCPFS) and other current information pertaining to health and fitness.

PCPFS NEWS:

PCPFS Members Sworn in
Appointees to the President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports were sworn in May 24 (2006), at a ceremony held in the library of the White House, Old Executive Office Building. After the appointees met with George W. Bush in the Oval Office and the Rose Garden, Health and Human Services Secretary Michael O. Leavitt performed the swearing in ceremony in the presence of members’ families and invited guests. President Bush announced the appointments on April 27th. The chair of the council is John P. Burke, president of Trek Bicycles, from Wisconsin. Vice Chair Dorothy G. “Dot” Richardson, from Florida, is an Olympic gold medalist in softball. Denise Austin, a well known television fitness celebrity and author, is returning to the council. The council includes several well-known athletes, including Eli Manning, Mary Lou Retton and Andrew Roddick. For full bios on all the council members, visit www.fitness.gov/about_bios.htm.

PCPFS 50 Year Celebration
The PCPFS Council members, Science Board, and staff are getting ready for 2006, the 50 year celebration of the creation of the PCPFS, originally known as President's Council on Youth Fitness. We encourage national, state, local, private and public organizations, industry, volunteer groups to join us in highlighting the benefits of a fit and active lifestyle and all of the great model programs at the grassroots level! This is a great opportunity for the PCPFS to highlight all of your accomplishment. A special seal has been developed for this celebration and is available for all schools, businesses, and organizations to use. A fact sheet on becoming a partner can be viewed at http://www.presidentschallenge.org/misc/news_research/announcements/pcpfs50.pdf. If you'd like to find out more, please don't hesitate to call Chris Spain at the President's Council Physical Fitness and Sports 202-690-9000.

General Mills Grants for PALA Awards
A unique partnership between the President's Challenge and General Mills Community Action is allowing eligible schools to receive free Presidential Active Lifestyle Award (PALA) emblems and certificates for eligible students at their school. Through the General Mills Champions for Healthy Kids program, General Mills Community Action will provide Presidential recognition to eligible low socioeconomic status schools (up to 25,000 students) and the President's Challenge will list the school on our Web site, http://www.presidentschallenge.com/ as a "General Mills Challenge School." In order to be eligible for the awards, students must meet the PALA requirements of being physically active 60 minutes per day, five days a week for six weeks. Also, if 35% of the student population earns the PALA award two or more times during the school year, the school will automatically earn the distinction of becoming a President's Challenge Active Lifestyle Model School. If you are a low socioeconomic status school, fill out the application at http://www.presidentschallenge.org/advocates/gen_mills_sponsorform.pdfand send it in to the President's Challenge office.

PCPFS and ACSM partner for Challenge State Coordinators
The PCPFS and the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) have partnered to identify state coordinators for the Demonstration Centers of the President’s Challenge Program. ACSM members were asked to participate as State Coordinators. ACSM and its members work in clinical settings, research laboratories, classrooms and fitness facilities to advance health through science, education and medicine. To read more about the Demonstration Centers or to see a list of the State Coordinators please visit: http://presidentschallenge.org/educators/school_recognition.aspx.

President's Challenge Introduces New Materials
In conjunction with the 50 year celebration of the PCPFS, The President's Challenge is offering award certificates proudly displaying the Council's 50th anniversary logo. The certificates will be available through 2006 and will be sent in place of certificates bearing the normal logo unless otherwise specified.

The President's Challenge has also produced an adult version of the educational and instructional booklet 'Get Fit.' The guide, titled 'Stay Active and Be Fit! A Guide to Fitness and Activity Fundamentals,' encompasses topics such as effective goal-setting, getting started, and flexibility and strength training workouts. The guide can be purchased from The President's Challenge by ordering online at http://www.presidentschallenge.org or calling 1-800-258-8146, or downloaded from the Web site at http://www.presidentschallenge.org/pdf/getfit.pdf

Steps Across America
In an effort to promote physical activity, 12 Americans have taken on the daunting task of walking from New York City to Los Angeles. Each member of the Steps Across America Walking Team was specially selected, and each is equipped with a pedometer to keep track of the number of steps taken. After walking for almost 30 days, the team is currently in the Midwest and has logged more than 1.6 million steps! The President’s Challenge encourages you to walk too, even if it’s not across the country. Take part in our Presidential Active Lifestyle Award program by keeping track of your daily activity with a pedometer. Adults need to walk 8,500 steps per day (about 30 minutes of activity) 5 days a week for 6 weeks to earn the Active Lifestyle Award. To keep track of the walkers and to register yourself for the Steps Across America President’s Challenge, visit http://www.stepsacross.com/.

Take the Get out and Doo President's Challenge!
As a PCPFS 50th Anniversary Partner to Get America Moving, Scooby Snacks dog treats have teamed up with the President’s Challenge to offer a new way to motivate kids to be active! Visit http://www.rogsruvem.com/. and check out the list of activities that kids can do with their dogs, including hide and seek and Frisbee throwing. Also on the site is a special log that kids can print out and use to keep track of activities. Children are required to be active for 60 minutes per day, 5 days a week for 6 weeks. After completion, kids can send in their log to receive a Scooby Snacks Frisbee®, plus dogs can earn Scooby Snacks to Go! Biscuits. For more information on Scooby Snacks' involvement as a 50th Anniversary Partner, visit http://www.fitness.gov/50thanniversary/50th_partners_pages/50th_anniv_partner_pennsylvania.htm.

UPCOMING EVENTS

National Coaching Educators' Conference. June 15-17, 2006
Join coaching educators from across the country to discuss current issues, trends, and innovative techniques for training sport coaches. For more information visit http://www.ncaceinfo.org/.

Innovative Physical Education: Teaching Tips from the 2006 NASPE Teachers of the Year. June 24, 2006
The National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE) and SPORTIME will bring together physical education teachers of the year to present a full day of workshops targeted to K-12 physical educators. For more information visit http://www.aahperd.org/NASPE/template.cfm?template=toy_workshop.html.

National Physical Education Teacher Education Conference. October 12-14, 2006.
NASPE will bring together physical education teacher educators from across the country to showcase exemplary practices in PETE and discuss current issues and initiatives that impact PETE. For more information visit http://www.naspeinfo.org/pete.

NEWS AND RESEARCH

Schools Hope Weight Report successful efforts to improve children’s health
In response to Arkansas’ success in the fight against childhood obesity other states, including California, Florida and Pennsylvania, have taken similar approaches in the fight against obesity. Arkansas school administrators reported a positive change in students’ health after they sent letters home to parents documenting their child’s body-mass index. Arkansas addressed their students’ weight because child obesity is increasing in the U.S. The American Obesity Association reported, “Approximately 30.3 percent of children (ages 6-11) are overweight and 15.3 percent are obese.” Many weight reports resulted in parents taking their children to the pediatrician to discuss their child’s weight. Another change following the weight reports was higher attendance in fitness classes. For more information about weight reports, visit http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/13086425/.

Gardening has many of the same benefits as exercising
Recent studies have proven the physical benefits of gardening. Dr. Julie Rothe of the Wellness Institute at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago said the largest benefit one gets from gardening is exercise. Studies have shown that gardening can burn between 250 and 500 calories an hour. Diane Relf, a professor at Virginia Tech’s Department of Horticulture reported trimming bushes uses the same energy as it does walking at a moderate pace; raking the lawn is as intense as riding a bike or doing water aerobics; and mowing the lawn or tilling the garden is as strenuous as swimming laps. For more information on the physical benefits of gardening visit, http://www.healthscout.com/news/68/532277_2/main.html.

New Science and Health Curriculum Supplements released to schools
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is releasing its latest installments in a popular series of curriculum supplements designed to promote inquiry-based, interdisciplinary learning and stimulate students' interest in science. Each new supplement is a teacher’s guide to two weeks of lessons on science and human health, and includes background information, lesson plans, take-home materials, and a Web-based component. NIH distributes these supplements free of charge to teachers, allowing them to update their curricula with all-in-one teaching materials that incorporate topical issues and current scientific research. To request these curriculum supplements or learn more about this series, visit the NIH Office of Science Education Website at http://science.education.nih.gov/supplements.

Fitness Question of the Month for May

What are your favorite memories of physical activity during your childhood?

When I was growing up, “gym” was required so we had to do our jumping jacks, pushups and sit ups and recess was filled with kickball, softball, and red rover…whatever kept us moving!
-A. McGauley

There was no such thing as a sedentary lifestyle for kids back then. We didn’t watch TV, play video games, or anything of the like. They didn’t exist! We rode bikes, played stickball and baseball, basketball and games like red rover and hide and seek
--Vern Kirkman

Orleans, IN

I remember spending what seemed like hours in my backyard! I lived in the city and the backyard was my haven. I would climb trees, walk balancing on my ball, swing as high as I could, play hide and seek with neighbors, and sift dirt to feed my dolls!
-Chelsea Schneiter

Largo, FL

My favorite memory of physical activity as a child would definitely be sleigh riding. Everyone would drag their sleds through the streets and meet at the top of the hill. The first couple of runs were slow. After a while, the snow would get packed down and the runs really got fast. We would be out there for hours, never ever feeling cold.
-Pam Bedrock

Waldwick, NJ

Fitness Question of the Month for June

What is your greatest physical fitness accomplishment?
Please respond via E-mail to The President's Challenge at preschal@indiana.edu We'll include the most insightful responses in the July issue of Fitness is Fun.

REMINDERS:

Remember to fill out State Champion, Model School, and Demonstration Center applications to ensure that your students are rewarded for their hard work! For more information, including application deadlines and guidelines, please visit http://www.presidentschallenge.org/educators/school_recognition.aspx.

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SPECIAL THANKS
We would like to extend a special thanks to all of the President's Challenge Advocates. Please visit the Advocates area on the http://www.presidentschallenge.org/ web site to see how companies, organizations and groups are making a difference with the President's Challenge.

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FEEDBACK
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Fitness is Fun! June 2006

Fitness is Fun!
June 2006