"Students push themselves to become better runners. They learn how to pace themselves and learn proper ways to warm up and cool down. They are excited about this." - Kara Vance, Kenna Elementary
Our Biggest Fall Season Yet!
Our fall 2024 Kids Run Clubs are wrapping up for the season with a total of 35 participating schools and community groups. This season, over 70 volunteers and 800 participants were a part of the program, spanning across 13 counties. In addition to the usual Kids Run Clubs, we had a Hike Club and a Disc Golf club, both at Fayetteville PK-8.
Why Have a Kids Run Club?
Kids Run Clubs give kids the chance to learn healthy skills, build their confidence in physical activity, and have fun with their peers in a team environment. With the Kids Run Club Mini-Grant, Active SWV offers the Kids Run Club program for free to schools and community groups throughout the state. Our goal is to make it possible for kids everywhere to have access to structured physical activity.
How it Works
Clubs are led by parent and teacher volunteers. Active SWV’s Kids Run Club Mini-Grant includes training, program curriculum, technical support, and $250 to spend on healthy items for the club. We offer the Kids Run Club Mini-Grant in the fall and the spring, so kids have an opportunity to participate multiple times throughout the year. Schools can receive the Mini-Grant multiple times – we LOVE to see the program take hold and repeat season after season!
Thank You Volunteer Coaches!
Active SWV would like to thank the volunteer coaches who make the program possible at their schools.
The Kids Run Club program positively impacts schools, kids, communities, and volunteers every season. Let’s hear from some volunteer coaches what they have observed this fall:
“We have had kids come back from the middle school and share with us that they are running Cross Country and track that participated in Run Club at our school!” – Jennifer Cochran, Richmond Elementary
“Our students continue to run after the program has ended. They also know to build their endurance. You do not run a marathon the first day.” – Edie Ann Bennett – Melrose Elementary
“It got students excited about running. I had several students who I never would have thought would have joined the program complete each session and tell me how much fun they were having.” – Justin Brooks, Hurricane Town Elementary
“Kids Run Club has shown our students, some of which had never played any type of organized sport, how they can be physically active on their own and shows them easy ways to invite others to be physically active with them.” – Amber Mitchell, Ridgeview Elementary
“I think it was wonderful for students to get at least an hour of exercise during club because I know several students go home and play video games the entire evening. After our Pumpkin Run I could hear a neighborhood family practicing and racing. Multiple families stated they had started coming to the school on the weekends to run.” – Mandy White, Aurora School
Looking Ahead
The Spring Kids Run Club Mini-Grant will launch on February 15th, 2025. See our Kids Run Club webpage to access the application when it is live.
KIDS RUN CLUB CHAMPIONS
Email Active SWV’s Development Director, Kate, at [email protected] to find out how to become the next Kids Run Club Champion!
