Fuel Up to Play 60, a school wellness program from the National Dairy Council, Idaho Dairy Council and the NFL is helping to make wellness part of the game plan in more than 60,000 schools across the country. United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has also joined the private-public effort, given Fuel Up to Play 60’s solution-oriented approach.
The program encourages students to work collaboratively with adults to make real changes by implementing school-wide healthy eating and physical activity “plays”– strategies that help students “fuel up” with nutrient-rich foods and “get up and play” for at least 60 minutes every day.
Fuel Up to Play 60 offers an exciting vehicle to engage youth and schools in making healthy changes that promote proper nutrition and physical activity – such as providing opportunities for more access to nutrient-rich foods so kids get more of the nutrients they need for growth and overall health – with rewards and incentives to help motivate and recognize positive action.
Win Seattle Seahawks Prizes!
By participating in the Fuel Up to Play 60 program you have a chance to win prizes for your school from the Seattle Seahawks. Have a chance to win a gameday experience, virtual classroom visits and an end of the year assembly in which a Seahawks player comes to your school!!! Find out more
here!
Where did you hang your Fuel Up to Play 60 calendar?
Send an email to info@idahodairycouncil.org by October 31, 2011 to tell us where you’re hanging your calendar and we’ll send your school a Fuel Up to Play 60 Prize!*
See official rules for details!
Does your school have a Fuel Up to Play 60 Program Advisor yet?
You should! Only schools with one or more Program Advisors can apply for funding and earn many of the program rewards.
Program Advisors
- Help their schools activate the program and earn rewards
- Engage and empower students to implement Fuel Up to Play 60
- Encourage other adults in the school to get involved
Fuel Up to Play 60 Challenges
In addition to and in support of the Fuel Up to Play 60 Playbook “Plays” (formerly Action Strategies),
Fuel Up to Play 60 Challenges will be offered as an added way for students to be engaged and rewarded throughout the entire program.
Funding Opportunities
New for the 2010-2011 school year, funding is available to K-12 schools enrolled in Fuel Up to Play 60. The competitive, nationwide funding program can help your school jumpstart and sustain healthy nutrition and physical activity improvements. Whether you’re just starting out with Fuel Up to Play 60 or looking to expand and extend an initiative that’s already in motion, funding opportunities can help.
Building A Healthy Kid
Eat Healthy. Be Active. Make a difference.
While concerns about childhood obesity continue to grow, it is critical that we not overlook the fact that in general, America’s children are undernourished – many children and adolescents are not getting the recommended amounts of key vitamins and minerals they need for growth and good health.
Wellness is an important issue in schools across the country. A growing body of evidence indicates that obesity, physical inactivity and poor nutrition are associated with lower levels of school achievement.
Find out how your school can make a difference in the lives of our children.
Download the Healthy Kid Guide Book here
Idaho Schools Fuel Up to Play 60
Heritage Middle School
At Heritage MS, the FUTP 60 program advisor (PA) noticed that as many as 100 students were arriving at school early in the morning and spending time "lounging" in the cafeteria or hallways. With funding from FUTP 60, he turned what had been an unused room off of the gym into a "fitness room." In addition to funding the room with FUTP 60 funds, he was also able to go to a local fitness company and get refurbished equipment donated by explaining the FUTP 60 program and what is was doing for students at HMS. Now this impressive fitness center is outfitted with 15 stationary bikes and 10 pieces of other equipment plus physio balls, jump ropes, etc. The fitness room averages about 24 – 36 kids per morning and the gym is open for basketball and volleyball pickup games and there are usually 50 kids or more in the gym. As an added bonus, teachers and staff use it too! Great role modeling for the kids.
Heritage Middle School also uses a dairy vending machine. The school paid $500 and the rest was funded by Idaho Dairy Council. The machine has been a hit and is hard to keep stocked! The students are especially aware of the benefits of refueling with chocolate milk.
One more interesting note, the PA actually used FUTP 60 as part of his portfolio to complete his master's degree! He explained the how the program works and how through the grants the program was implemented to improve the school environment. He also used FUTP 60 as an example of a program that helps teach communication and leadership skills!
Siena K-8
While recently there has been a national focus on eliminating child obesity throughout the country, in Idaho, Siena K-8 has shown that focusing on small, realistic improvements can be the first step toward that goal. Out of the 430 Idaho schools participating in Fuel Up to Play 60, Siena K-8 was selected as the statewide winner of the Fuel Up to Play 60 nationwide online competition for 2010. Fuel Up to Play 60 is a national program developed by National Dairy Council, Idaho Dairy Council and the National Football League that centers on helping youth make their schools a healthier environment.
Siena K-8 was rewarded with a special Fuel Up to Play 60 prize package including a HopSports training system, a cafeteria makeover and sports equipment to help them further showcase the progress they’ve already made toward making their school a healthier environment. For example, students have implemented a grab n' go breakfast to ensure that students have access to nutritious foods when and where they need them at school. Siena K-8 also started a mileage club and in-class activity breaks to encourage physical activity among the students.
Siena K-8 held an assembly to recognize their accomplishments. John Carlson, a tight end with the Seahawks visited the school to join students at lunch and attend the assembly to share his story of how nutrient rich foods like low-fat and fat free dairy and physical activity have helped him during his career.
“Siena K-8 was thrilled to be part of Fuel Up to Play 60 and give our students the opportunities to make their own decisions on how they will make themselves and the school a healthier place,” said Jill Edwards, Siena K-8 6th grade teacher. “By being recognized as the top school in our state, our students were eager to continue with their efforts and excited to join the program next school year to make even more healthy changes at our school!”
“We’re proud and excited that Siena K-8 has won the Fuel Up to Play 60 competition. This program allows youth to really take action for their health and work towards making their school environment an even healthier place. We’re also ensuring that as a community we’re making long-lasting changes that will impact children’s health for their lifetime,” said Cheri Chase, Fuel Up to Play 60 coordinator for Idaho Dairy Council.
“The Seahawks congratulate Siena K-8 for winning the Fuel Up to Play 60 competition,” said Seahawks VP of Community Outreach Mike Flood. “Our players know that eating a healthy diet and being active every day is the key to staying fit for life.”
To learn more about Fuel Up to Play 60 or to sign up for the 2010-2011 program visit:
FuelUptoPlay60.com or
idahodairycouncil.org. Media resources, including related video footage and photos are available at
FuelUptoPlay60MediaResources.com.
Pathways Middle School
Idaho celebrity and Olympic Gold Medalist Cyclist, Kristin Armstrong, helped schools kick off Fuel Up 60 by attending several assemblies in the Treasure Valley. Pathways Middle School had a different way to celebrate. Kristin raced Eric Eschen, Pathways Principal to get kids excited about Fuel Up to Play 60. Guess who won??? Eric took the loss good naturedly. He was happy to put himself to the test to get his students ready to Fuel up to Play 60!
As a world-class athlete, Armstrong values the role that nutrient rich foods and exercise play in helping to keep her body strong. According to Armstrong, “Chocolate milk is my secret weapon! The protein helps me maintain healthy muscles and the carbohydrates help refuel my muscles after I exercise. This, combined with milk’s vitamins and minerals, is important for my overall health.”
USDA and Others Join Fuel Up to Play 60 to Fight Childhood Obesity
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has joined a campaign to fight and defeat childhood obesity in cooperation with the NFL, National Dairy Council, multiple health organizations and several major corporations. The campaign, known as Fuel Up to Play 60, is funded with an initial private sector financial commitment of $250 million over five years by America’s Dairy Farmers. Funding is expected to grow as government, business, communities and families join this effort to improve nutrient-rich food choices and achieve 60 minutes of physical activity each day among children. More than 58,000, or 60 percent, of the nation’s 96,000 private and public schools are currently enrolled in Fuel Up to Play 60.
“The following advertorials were published in the March 22, 2010 issue of Newsweek.”