Fitness is Fun!
September 2008

Greetings from the office of the President's Challenge Physical Activity and Fitness Awards Program! You have received the September 2008 issue of Fitness is Fun, the official email distribution of the President's Challenge. These monthly emails will keep you updated on our programs, activities of the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports (PCPFS) and other current information pertaining to health and fitness.

Fitness Question of the Month for September:

What is your favorite activity in autumn which allows you to get outdoors and enjoy the changing colors of the leaves and other fall foliage?

Please respond via E-mail to The President's Challenge at preschal@indiana.edu. We'll include the most insightful responses in the October issue of Fitness is Fun. Be sure to view the responses to the August Fitness Question near the end of this newsletter.

Have you or someone else motivated a group of children or adults to lead a healthier life? Email us your story at preschal@indiana.edu and it could be featured in next month’s newsletter!

PCPFS NEWS:

2009 PCPFS LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AND COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP AWARDS
Please remember that the deadline for the 2009 PCPFS Lifetime Achievement and Community Leadership Awards is fast approaching. Nominations are due October 1, 2008. Nomination information can be found on the following pages:

For the Community Leadership Award:
http://www.fitness.gov/about/community/community_award.html

For the Lifetime Achievement Award:
http://www.fitness.gov/about/lifetime/lifetime_award.html

ANNOUNCEMENT: Physical Activity Guidelines coming in October
In October 2008, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) will release the first Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans at a news event in Washington, DC. The PA Guidelines are based on a major review of the science on the benefits of physical activity and address adults, older adults, children and adolescents, and people with disabilities and chronic conditions. See the HHS announcement at http://www.health.gov/PAGuidelines/.

ADULT FITNESS TEST
The PCPFS launched an online Adult Fitness Test on May 14th at Results Gym on Capitol Hill. Many baby boomers remember taking the youth fitness test in elementary school, and now have a chance to see how they score as adults! The activities featured on the adult fitness test provide you with an estimate of your level of aerobic fitness, muscular strength and endurance, flexibility and body composition. The results of each test provide you with a measure from which you can track your progress in each area as you become more physically active. If you’re an adult and interested in testing your fitness level, please visit http://www.adultfitnesstest.org/.

Heads Up: Concussion in Youth Sports – FREE Tool Kit
Attention youth sport coaches! Order your FREE "Heads Up" Concussions Tool Kits! As many as 3.8 million sports-and recreation-related concussions are estimated to occur in the United States each year. A concussion is a brain injury caused by a bump or blow to the head that can change the way your brain normally works. Even what seems to be a mild bump or blow to the head can be serious. As a coach or youth sports administrator, you play a vital role in sharing this information with athletes and parents. Coaches and sports administrators can order or download FREE "Heads Up: Concussion In Youth Sports" Tool Kits at http://www.cdc.gov/ConcussionInYouthSports.

THE NATIONAL SCHOOL LUNCH PROGRAM BACKGROUND, TRENDS, AND ISSUES
The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) is the Nation’s second largest food and nutrition assistance program. In 2006, it operated in over 101,000 public and nonprofit private schools and provided over 28 million low-cost or free lunches to children on a typical school day at a Federal cost of $8 billion for the year. This report provides background information on the NSLP, including historical trends and participant characteristics. It also addresses steps being taken to meet challenges facing administrators of the program, including tradeoffs between nutritional quality of foods served, costs, and participation, as well as between program access and program integrity. See http://www.ers.usda.gov/Publications/ERR61/.

2007 SMART BRFSS Data and Prevalence Tables Now Available and 2007 BRFSS Maps Now Available
The CDC's Behavioral Surveillance Branch in the Division of Adult and Community Health, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Coordinating Center for Health Promotion, is pleased to announce the joint release of the 2007 SMART BRFSS data and prevalence tables and the BRFSS Maps.

SMART BRFSS (Selected Metropolitan/Micropolitan Area Risk Trends from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System) began with the analysis of data from the 2002 BRFSS. It now includes data from 2002 through 2007, with prevalence estimates for over 184 metropolitan and micropolitan statistical areas (MMSAs), as well 298 counties within those areas.

There are several additional MMSAs with data available for 2007, including Boulder, CO; Gainesville, FL; and Laredo, TX, among others. As with the past data, the Web site includes the data sets and prevalence tables for MMSAs and counties, as well as pre-set Quick View charts which compare county, MMSA, and state data for seven select risk factors in an easy-to-print PDF format.

BRFSS Maps is a system that allows users to visualize the prevalence estimates, making them more accessible to a variety of audiences. Users can choose to map the entire country, or to zoom in on a region or state, including the MMSAs within that area. Users can also download GIS data files.

The SMART BRFSS data and prevalence tables are located at http://apps.nccd.cdc.gov/brfss-smart/index.asp.

The BRFSS Maps are located at http://apps.nccd.cdc.gov/gisbrfss/default.aspx.

PCPFS Physical Activity & Fitness Research Digest
The PCPFS Fitness Research Digest is published quarterly by the President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports. To subscribe to the Digest please visit http://www.presidentschallenge.org/misc/news_research/research_digest.aspx.

Grants Information:

National Gardening Association and Home Depot Announce 2009 Youth Garden Grants Program
Deadline for Applications: November 1, 2008.
The Youth Garden Grants program has helped more than 1.3 million youngsters reap rewards and vital life lessons from working in gardens and habitats. NGA awards Youth Garden Grants to schools and community organizations with child-centered garden programs. In evaluating grant applications, priority will be given to programs that emphasize one or more of these elements: educational focus or curricular/program integration; nutrition or plant-to-food connections; environmental awareness/education; entrepreneurship; social aspects of gardening such as leadership development, team building, community support, or service-learning. Schools, youth groups, community centers, camps, clubs, treatment facilities, and intergenerational groups throughout the United States are eligible. Applicants must plan to garden with at least 15 children between the ages of 3 and 18 years. Previous Youth Garden Grant winners who wish to reapply may do so, but must wait one year (e.g., if you won in 2008, you can apply again in 2010) and have significantly expanded their garden programs. For more information, please visit http://www.kidsgardening.org/YGG.asp.

President's Challenge NEWS:

New President’s Challenge Information

The new President’s Challenge brochure is now available. A copy of this booklet is currently being sent to every health and physical education teacher in the US. You can also download a copy by visiting the downloads section of our website at http://www.presidentschallenge.org/misc/downloads.aspx and clicking on “2008-09 President’s Challenge Brochure”.

This year’s booklet and poster will feature the artwork of Charles Fazzino. Fazzino has been commissioned by numerous organizations including the NFL, MLB, NASCAR and many others. You can view more information at http://www.fazzino.com.

Presidential Emblem (2008) Emblems with year are here!

For the first time ever the President's Challenge is offering Presidential, National and Participant Physical Fitness Award emblems with a year on them. These emblems are a great way for students and parents to commemorate the year in which they earned an award. Ordering information is available in our brochure and on the online Order Center at https://www.presidentschallenge.org/order_center/index.aspx.

PC phasing out #1-12 Presidential Emblems

Beginning in the fall of 2008, the President's Challenge will no longer offer the numbered Presidential Physical Fitness Award emblems (#1-12). We suggest stocking up now if you would like to continue handing these out. Once they are gone, they're gone! Visit our online order center at https://www.presidentschallenge.org/order_center/index.aspx to order now or give us a call at 1-800-258-8146.

Sit & Reach Box Sit and Reach Boxes

Did you ever wonder where you could get a Sit and Reach box for testing your students’ flexibility? Look no further. The President’s Challenge has them available now. These flexibility testers are easy to assemble and feature the President’s Challenge logo on each side. Ordering information is available in our brochure and on the online Order Center at https://www.presidentschallenge.org/order_center/index.aspx.

Scorepads Physical Fitness Score Pads

You asked for it, you got it. We now have score pads available that will make it easy to write down your students’ scores. Tear them off and give them to the students or keep them on the pad to take back to your office. There is even a section to write some notes. Ordering information is available in our brochure and on the online Order Center at https://www.presidentschallenge.org/order_center/index.aspx.

UPCOMING EVENTS:

CONFERENCES AND CONVENTIONS

The President’s Challenge will be exhibiting at the following conferences, please stop by and say hi to our friendly staff!

National Middle School Association
When: October 29-November 1
Where: Denver, CO
www.nmsa.org

Michigan Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (MAHPERD)
When: November 6-8
Where: Grand Rapids, MI
www.mimahperd.org

Ohio Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (OAHPERD)
When: December 3-5
Where: Columbus, OH
http://www.ohahperd.org

Activities

AFPA Fitness, Trainer, Sports and Mind Body Conference
When: October 17 & 18, 2008
Where: Charlotte Convention Center in Charlotte, NC
For more information, please visit http://www.afpafitness.com/store/conferences-c-12.html

ECA/THRIVE! 2008
This Fitness, Sports Training and Wellness Conference will be held at Miami Resort and Spa Hotel, Miami Beach, Florida on November 13-16th, 2008. ECA/THRIVE! is not just another fitness event. This program was designed to meet all of your professional needs and then some. Experience first hand a life affirming event. For more information, please visit http://www.ecaworldfitness.com/con_miami08_1_info1.html

Sixth Annual International Council on Active Aging Conference
Expand your wellness horizons at the ICAA Conference, December 4-6, 2008 at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center, San Antonio, Texas. Whether you are a CEO, manager, wellness director or personal trainer, there is something for you at the ICAA Conference 2008. Leave the conference with cutting-edge information, resources and tools to help you make the most of the opportunities you’re pursuing. For more information, please visit http://icaa.cc/convention.htm

SPECIAL FEATURE: 78 Students from the Community Learning Center of Rossford (Ohio) Awarded Presidential Champion Medallions

Ohio Student Awarded Medals Ohio Students Awarded!
This summer the athletes in Beijing were not the only ones striving for Gold. Seventy-eight children at The Community Learning Center of Rossford were awarded Presidential fitness medallions by Site Coordinator Michael Fallis.

Children at The Community Learning Center of Rossford (Ohio) log all of their physical activities online at the President’s Challenge website. They are awarded points based upon the activity, its duration and its difficulty. Mr. Fallis stresses participatory leadership and therefore the staff and he were outside exercising and running with the children everyday. This summer each child ran a total of 32 miles around the track, participated in weekly swimming outings and field trips around northwest Ohio.

The summer concluded with a special awards dinner for families where each child received their medallion and a certificate printed with the signature of the President of the United States. Mr. Fallis also recognized Principals Bill Buzzell, Jeff Taylor, Holly Schmidbauer, Superintendent Dr. Susan Lang and the Rossford Board of Education for their “continuing support and their dedication to the children of Rossford.”

After school and summer programs keep children safe, help working families and inspire learning. They provide opportunities to help young people develop into successful adults. Mr. Fallis stated that one of his main goals at Rossford is to inspire leadership. “I want the children to set their own goals and work hard to meet them. I want them to know that their actions represent themselves, their family, their school, and their community. If they want to be a leader, they need to lead by example.”

The Community Learning Center of Rossford is a nationally accredited before/after-school and summer program that provides academic assistance and enrichment activities for elementary school children. The Community Learning Center of Rossford is a cooperative program made available through Rossford School District and the Wood County Educational Service Center. For more information on The Community Learning Center of Rossford contact Mr. Michael Fallis at (419) 666-5303.

NEWS AND RESEARCH:

Brain Function Gets a Boost from Walking
LA Times, September 8, 2008
Sure, we knew about the improvements it can provide to aerobic capacity, not to mention muscles and joints, but two recently released studies show that walking can enhance brain function too. To learn more, please visit http://www.latimes.com/features/health/la-he-walking8-2008sep08,0,1211968.story.

Western New York Schools Target Child Obesity
Education Week, September 10, 2008
Physical fitness is finding its way into students' homework assignments this school year as part of an initiative to address obesity and diabetes in children. To read more, pleas visit http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2008/09/10/159802nyfitkids_ap.html.

FITNESS QUESTION OF THE MONTH:

As summer draws to a close, what was your favorite physical activity in which you participated? A basketball game with your child? A marathon through the city? Watching your garden transform as a result of your efforts? We want to hear all about it!

Fitness Question Responses from the Month of August:

On July 28th I climbed Mt. Evans, CO (14,528 ft) with my parents. My father is blind from RP and is 68 yrs old, my mother is 65 yrs old and has type 2 diabetes (controlled with diet and exercise). Both are American Indians and are role models of how native people can overcome health disparities and lead healthy lives. It was their 46th wedding anniversary. Although I run 5 miles every morning with my dogs, climbing a "14er" with my parents and their "perceived" handicaps is proof that I can always reach deeper and strive harder to be in excellent physical condition.
~Tolani F.

In May, I signed up for the 60 mile Breast Cancer 3-Day walk to take place in October. So I have been in training for that for the past 13 weeks, initially walking about 12 miles per week and now up to over 30 miles per week. I also cross-train 2 days of the week. I have 11 more weeks of training to go before the event. This is the most strenuous activity I have EVER done in my whole life at 50-plus! I have lost about 15 pounds, am actually enjoying "getting exercise" and seeing and learning about my neighborhood, and feel absolutely great. Should have done this a LONG time ago!!
~Carol P.B.

At work I've started walking during my breaks in the fitness center provided by my employer. I get my 30 minutes of walking at a moderate pace for 5 days a week as suggested by my physician. In addition, I wear a pedometer so I strive to get 8,000 to 10,000 steps in by the end of each day for 5 days a week.
~Sheri W.

My family and I went on a 17 mile bike ride along the Creeper Trail in Damascus, VA. An old rail line was converted into a bike path through the southern Blue Ridge Mountains. The path went along a river, winding down a hill and under a tree canopy. It was great!
~Sean C.

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.

SPOTLIGHT ON PRESIDENT’S CHALLENGE ADVOCATES!

The Action for Healthy Kids-NFL After-school Program has been designed for boys and girls, grades 3-6, to instruct on good nutrition and physical activity habits through fun, team-based after-school activities. This program has been produced in partnership with the National Football League (NFL) and with advice and guidance from an expert advisory committee comprised of leaders from national education, after-school, and nutrition organizations. This program will feature:

• Fun, non-competitive, high-participation activities
• Information and materials highlighting the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sport's President's Challenge program, including a personal activity log for tracking time spent being active
• A series of flexible modules that teach about teamwork, nutrition, physical activity, and healthy snacks
• A family involvement component with teacher training material

AFHK is the only non-profit organization specifically formed to address the problem of overweight, undernourished, and sedentary youth by focusing on changes in schools. This private-public partnership is comprised of 45 national organizations and government agencies; all supporting the efforts of 51 grassroots State Teams (includes the District of Columbia). To learn more, visit http://www.ActionForHealthyKids.org.

Action for Healthy Kids COLORADO GOVERNOR’S COUNCIL FOR PHYSICAL FITNESS

In the Fittest State, they think of their “Shape Up Across Colorado” program as a warm up for the President’s Challenge – two great programs encouraging people to be active. They’re honored to partner with a program with as rich a tradition as the President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports.

They’re keeping Colorado fit through the Colorado Governor’s Council for Physical Fitness’ unique activity program, Shape Up – which is both simple and quite effective. Shape Up participants are given an activity card with a 400 square grid map of Colorado. The 400 squares represent the 400 mile distance across the state. For every 10 to 30 minutes of physical activity the participant colors one square – which represents approximately 2,000 steps or one mile and is equivalent to approximately 75 calories burned. The goal is for participants to color five squares – the equivalent of 10,000 steps – per day as suggested by the Surgeon General.

If you have any questions, or if we can provide further information or tips for getting started, feel free to contact President Stacy Fowler, M.S., C.P.T. at 303-884-8883 or at proudcoach@earthlink.net or visit www.shapeupchallenge.org.

FEEDBACK:

We would like to hear from you. If you have any topics that you would like to see addressed in Fitness is Fun or any comments regarding this list, please let us know. You can provide them by emailing us at preschal@indiana.edu.

To view past issues of Fitness is Fun visit our website: http://www.presidentschallenge.org/. Enter the site by choosing the appropriate category, then click on "news/research".

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Fitness is Fun! September 2008

Fitness is Fun!
September 2008