Teamwork Makes the Dream Work!

We all know getting back into the swing of things with the school year can be difficult. It’s always a breath of fresh air as things come together, but getting to that point can sometimes be hard. Walking the dog, making breakfast, getting the kids to BOKS and school on time, driving to work in the endless amounts of traffic… We all know the feeling. And this fall our BOKS team has been traveling a little more than normal, which is really exciting on one hand but also hard to swallow on the other as I feel as though I haven’t been able to spend as much time organizing family activities, and just enjoying a night off with the kids.

I don’t know about you but each and every day my children surprise me and this week it was over the top. The other night I walked in the door to see that my youngest, Paige, had mopped the floors and started dinner!! And she’s only 10 years old!! Who would have thought?!

I’m so lucky to have such a wonderful and understanding family who pitches in on a daily basis because at the end of the day we’re a team. We work together on everything and because of that those daunting weeks aren’t so difficult.

From work to home, I’m incredibly fortunate to be surrounded by a group of such amazing and caring people. I only hope that you all feel the same way! Team work makes the dream work!!

RECENT NEWS: “Exercise Helps Children With ADHD in Study”

Check out this amazing ARTICLE proving to us even more why BOKS is important to our kids.

“A recent study found regular, half-hour sessions of aerobic activity before school helped young children with symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder become more attentive and less moody. Other research found a single bout of exercise improved students’ attention and academic skills…”

Thank you to all our BOKStars who make the program happen!!!

Back to School and BOKS Trainings

It’s the start of a new school year and with that comes the start of the fall session of BOKS!! The summer was busy but even during that time we had about 100 new BOKS trainers come out to our August trainings. It was amazing to see! And while most were from the New England area, we did have one BOKStar who came all the way from Florida!

As you start to organize your BOKS schedule don’t forget we have multiple training dates coming up not only in September, but throughout the rest of the year. Go to BOKS Training to sign up for an upcoming training. We can’t wait to see all of these new trainers in action!

September is HERE!

And with it comes changes to everyone’s schedule and a few fun holidays.

School is back in session!! Remember to make sure to have healthy snacks like fruit, veggies, cheese, yogurt, nuts and whole grain crackers throughout the day. Proper nutrition is always important!

In honor of Grandparents Day this past weekend (Sunday, 9/7) try and follow their lead, skip the fast food and pack a lunch instead—they didn’t eat out much back then. And don’t forget to add a fruit. Speaking of fruit, Johnny Appleseed Day is Friday 9/26. Eat a few apples or even plan an apple-picking trip with your family. It’s a fun way to get active, get some fresh air, and stock your fridge with a super healthy food. And don’t forget to eat some super healthy veggies too. It’s easier than it seems – add spinach or red peppers to scrambled eggs at breakfast or a sandwich at lunch.

Have a great September!

For more information on snacking, fruits/veggies, and eating at home with your family instead of fast food, click on these links for a free handout:

1. Healthy Snacking

2. Fruits/Veggies

3. Family Meals

Back To School!!

It’s the first day of school in Natick, MA where BOKS began and my kids couldn’t be more excited to get back! I dropped them off this morning with smiles, their backpacks and new Reebok shoes. It’s crazy how busy the summer has been and now we get to get back into our regular routine including BOKS every morning to get our brains moving!

This summer BOKS officially reached 1,000 schools which is a huge milestone for us! BOKS has come a long way since its inception in the fall of 2009. Approximately 60,000 kids across the globe have participated in BOKS and have started healthy habits that will last a lifetime. We are in nearly every state (anyone know anyone in Alaska, Hawaii, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, South Dakota, or Utah who wants to bring BOKS to their school? ). BOKS is also expanding internationally, with Canada, India, and Panama starting BOKS this fall. By the end of 2014, BOKS will be in six countries: US, Japan, South Korea, Canada, Panama, and India. The exponential growth of BOKS is just a small part of the larger movement to help the youth generation develop healthy habits.

We can’t thank the BOKS community enough for helping spread the word! The passionate Champions of Change are the real drivers behind this movement. You’ve inspired principals, teachers, parents, and kids to see the benefits of being physically active and practicing healthy habits. Many of you shared the program with your coworkers and friends and helped spread the program simply by word of mouth. Through your efforts as advocates, trainers, and volunteers ‘building our kids’ success’ has become a reality.

To continue this success, we need your help by spreading the word about BOKS. Even more exciting is our new BOKS Kids Fitness Certificate developed in partnership with American Council on Exercise (ACE) which offers BOKS trainers an opportunity to become nationally recognized for their work getting kids physically active and receive CEC credits.

AND right now we are awarding $1,000 BOKS Activation Grants for up to 300 schools for the 2014/2015 school year. These Activation Grants are offered to schools that haven’t yet implemented BOKS, so please spread the word. Our goal is to give all kids the opportunity to be active and healthy.

I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again – we need to create a shift from a culture of spectators to a culture of participants and there is no better way than to start with our youth. We are working alongside Let’s Move! Active Schools, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) and a number of other partners to truly make a difference.

Thanks for being a part of the BOKS movement. We really are making a difference. Remember, don’t sit still: Active Kids = Active Minds.

BOKS Teams Up with American Council on Exercise (ACE)

Working hard to get kids active with BOKS?! We couldn’t be prouder! Thanks for all your effort to do so!

Have you ever wanted to be nationally recognized for the work you do?! Well we have the answer!

BOKS recently teamed up with the American Council on Exercise (ACE) to bring you the 1st ever BOKS Kids Fitness Certificate!! Beginning in October, this new certificate offers BOKS trainers an opportunity to become nationally recognized for their hard work getting kids physically active, but does not replace the existing BOKS training that is offered for free to any Champion of Change who wants to bring the program to their school.

Check out the press release to learn more: http://prn.to/1viaFEJ

Bring BOKS to your school with the BOKS Activation Grant!!

BOKS is excited to announce that Reebok and The Reebok Foundation are awarding $1,000 to up to 300 schools for the 2014/2015 school year! These Activation Grants are intended to help get kids moving in a fun way to wake up their bodies for a day of learning with BOKS. Watch this fun VIDEO to learn more about BOKS!

BOKS Lead Trainers who sign the BOKS pledge are invited to apply for the BOKS Activation Grant to support the launch of BOKS in their elementary schools.

Steps to Apply:

1. Please be sure you have reviewed our website, www.bokskids.org, and the three steps to bring BOKS to your school.
2. After ensuring your school has the time, space, necessary transportation, administrative support and volunteer support, sign the BOKS pledge (https://activekids.org/enroll-school).
3. Once the pledge is signed and your principal confirms his or her approval, you will receive a password to the Trainer Hub and a link to the online BOKS Activation Grant application.

Application Process (applications will be accepted on a rolling basis from August 1-October 1, 2014)

  • All elementary and middle schools and non-profit organizations (such as YMCAs) can apply
  • The school or organization must be located in the United States • The BOKS Activation Grant is for NEW BOKS programs only
  • Schools that have already run the BOKS program are not eligible to apply

Click HERE for the full BOKS Activation Grant Guidelines.

So don’t delay – sign up NOW!!

Kathleen’s Story

Hi BOKStars! This is Kathleen, the Executive Director and one of the founders of BOKS. In our inaugural blog post, I thought it would be nice to share a little bit about me and what types of physical activity I enjoy.

Physical activity is a big part of my home life. We have a white board in our mudroom that lists our family workouts. These include things like push-ups, burpees, and laps around the neighborhood. It’s really important to me that my whole family has a healthy lifestyle. By planning it out beforehand, I make sure that everyone in our family makes time to get some exercise. I have also found that working out with my kids, Paige and Cam, is a great way to spend time together. We usually end up having a lot of fun, too! Even though I love working out with my kids, my favorite (and most reliable) workout partner is my four year old Golden Retriever, Bella. Bella is the best—she loves to run, walk, and even hike with me. Her favorite activity is fetch. She could run after her tennis ball for hours. Just like me, she’ll do anything to get outside and moving! Bella loves to go to BOKS too – check out this picture of her in a BOKS t-shirt!

Exercise is such a priority for me because I truly believe that exercise is medicine. Even if I can only get outside for a quick walk, it makes a difference. It relaxes me and helps me get my mind focused and ready to work. Before important meetings, I like to go for a long run to help clear my mind and destress before getting back to work. I even go on walking meetings with my staff in order to combine work and physical activity. Exercise has become an integral part of my daily routine and I have definitely reaped the benefits. Not only does it help my mental well-being, but it’s also a nice way for my family to spend time together.

So, BOKStars, get out and get active!