We initiated the Stinger Stomper Walking/Running Club in our school last year. We met 3 days a week for a half an hour before school. The students (and families) could choose to run or walk around the track for that time. Each time they passed the beginning they would grab a popsicle stick out of a bucket. Because our track is smaller then most, 5 laps is 1 mile. At the end of the time we would record how many popsicle sticks each child had collected. We then entered this onto our spreadsheet.

We gave rewards for 25 mile increments, each partcipant would be recognized on our morning show (BeeTV), receive a lamanated certificate and a shoe token with the appropriate mileage number. We also had a banner in the hallway. For each milestone their name was placed on a footprint and hung outside the gym. There was a key (or legend) that explained the acheivement of each color footprint.

During the school year we contacted local media who in return did a newspaper article and a news clip on the students. We also gave students extra opportunities for mileage, For example, during the PTO Winter Festival we had a Polar Bear Walk for the families with hot chocolate provided by the PTO.

We had an award recognition at the end of the year. Any student who walked 100 miles earned a t-shirt and 125 miles earned a medal. Our students walked 5,309.4 miles!!!!! We are hoping for more participation this year:)

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