In August, The Boys and Girls Clubs of Middlesex County will be holding their Step It Up Challenge.
Program Description: The Boys and Girls Clubs of Middlesex County added another program to their portfolio of health and wellness programming. The STEP IT UP challenge utilizes pedometers to get members aged 6 -15 excited about physical activity by mixing the right amount of mathematics, cardio vascular activity and friendly competition. Members choose the pedometer color of their choice upon signing in for the day, clip their pedometers onto their pant waists and begin walking. Members return their pedometers to club staff record their daily step and mileage totals and await the announcement of the daily winner at the end of the day. To culminate the STEP IT UP challenge, Club staff will calculate total mileage walked and research which city or country is that distance from the Club. Members will celebrate their achievements via an awards ceremony and a culinary representation of the location they reached provided by the 99 restaurant, in Somerville.
Community Need: Although many youth participate to some degree in sports and fitness activity, they are not physically fit. The unhealthy lifestyles many of our members are exposed to put them at risk for obesity and other health problems. More than 50 percent of Medford public school students enter middle school severely at risk for obesity. While weekly national recommendations for physical education are 150 minutes in the elementary years and 225 minutes each week for both middle and high school students, Medford elementary students receive 50 minutes each week and 112 minutes during middle and high school. In Somerville, almost half of the students in grades four through eight are overweight or at risk of becoming overweight, according to a 2006 Somerville Public School Body Mass Index survey. Additionally, only 50 percent of elementary and middle school students passed the standardized fitness test.
Community and Member Feedback: In Somerville, almost half of the students in grades four through eight are overweight or at risk of becoming overweight, according to a 2006 Somerville Public School Body Mass Index survey. Additionally, only 50 percent of elementary and middle school students passed the standardized fitness test.
As a result of the Step It Up Challenge:
- Members are more cognizant of their activity levels and how easy it is to accumulate mileage during the day
- Parents are purchasing pedometers for their entire families to recreate the program at home
- Members call the club to report their steps and and mileage if they accidently bring their pedometers home, so as not to be disqualified for the day