Get Out and Play. Every Day.

Take the Challenge

What is the Healthy Futures Challenge?

The Alaska Department of Health and Social Services has partnered with Healthy Futures, an Alaska nonprofit organization, to fulfill a shared mission: To empower Alaska's young people to build the habit of daily physical activity. We will support parents and schools to accomplish our mission. Through the Department’s partnership with Healthy Futures, we’re running a three-month challenge to encourage Alaska’s kids to play every day. It’s called the Healthy Futures Challenge.

Participation is free, and children win prizes for being active. Schools with the highest participation can receive grants to support their physical activity programs. Kids win incentives for each completed log, and if they successfully complete three logs, they qualify for a grand prize. The amount of activity we’re talking about is doable for every family – at least 30 minutes a day, 3 days a week.

We are promoting this Challenge statewide with television and radio public service announcements and through other media. Parents, you can support your child’s participation in the Healthy Futures Challenge by being physically active with your child and by helping your child complete his or her physical activity log. 

Here’s more about the Challenge:

Who:

Alaska grade school children, K-6 in 124 schools

If your school is not listed on Participating Schools on the Healthy Futures website, please talk to your school about signing up for the next Healthy Futures Challenge that is planned for September 2012.


View Schools Participating in Healthy Future's Challenge in a larger map

What:

Children will keep a log of physical activity totaling at least 30 minutes outside gym class 3 days each week for 4 consecutive weeks. Each month, they’ll submit the log to a designated school staff member who tracks their completed logs in a simple database. Staff will email the database to Healthy Futures at the end of each month. Healthy Futures will mail prizes to the school for distribution at no cost to the teachers or staff.

When:

February, March and April 2012

Where:

Primarily through Alaska schools, with the help of Healthy Futures, the Department of Health and Social Services, school staff, teachers and parents across Alaska

And now to the most important question: Why?

It is critical that we encourage behaviors that lead to healthy weights and prevent obesity. Physical activity is so important to our children’s physical and emotional health. Active children are more likely to have healthy weights, energy and self-confidence. They are more likely to perform better academically at school.

To find out if your child’s school is participating, visit the Healthy Futures website.