Zooper Safari: Fitness Finders Classroom Management Program to Teach Students Positive Classroom Behaviors

Have you heard about Zooper Safari™? It’s Fitness Finders®new classroom management program that uses 7 cute Featured Creatures to teach students positive classroom behaviors. Zooper Safari™ emphasizes foundational behavioral skills, (Zooper Behaviors) that benefit children now and as they grow into teenagers and adults. 

These Zooper Behaviors include:

1. Have a Positive Attitude
2. Stay on Track
3. Listen and Follow Instructions
4. Take Initiative
5. Put Things in Order
6. Think of Others
7. Work with Others

Lifelong Learners

If you look at the Zooper Behaviors out of context, you might conclude that they are for a job description. That is exactly the point! These skills are directly applicable to students now and as they mature and enter adulthood. The same Zooper Behaviors that create a positive classroom atmosphere are directly transferable to work, family, and leisure activities. And Zooper Safari™ makes it fun to learn these skills!

By emphasizing these Zooper Behaviors early in children’s schooling, you can put students on a fast track to successful, satisfied lives. Plus, by improving the classroom environment in the present, students have the greatest opportunity to learn academically.

Why Zooper Safari™ Works for Children

We have specifically designed Zooper Safari™ to appeal to the minds of elementary school students. The lessons are engaging, participation is encouraged, and fun visuals are included – like video clips of the Featured Creature showcasing their Zooper Behavior in their natural habitat.

“Zooper Safari™ takes something that most kids already love – cute animals – and associates positive classroom behaviors with those animals,” said Lissa Strodtbeck, Curriculum Editor. “This helps the kids remember the Zooper Behavior, and encourages them to adopt/emulate the positive behavior themselves.”

Ready to improve your classroom learning environment while priming students with lifelong skills? Zooper Safari™ is available for purchase this Fall 2017, so start planning your safari now!

To learn more about Zooper Safari™ and read customer testimonials, check out our blog, Discover How Fitness Finders Can Help Tame Your Classroom!

Why Does Fitness Finders® Use Incentive Awards?

Did you know that Fitness Finders® incentive based system is known as a token economy? Token economies feature cards, “tokens”, or money to encourage or deter behavior.

But why does a token economy work? Why do tokens encourage positive behavior and how has this model become so successful?

Tokens Are Earned

At the foundation of token economies is the understanding that an incentive must be earned, that not everyone gets it and therefore it has value. If every child received a Toe Token® for running, regardless of distance, the Toe Token® would lose some of its motivational power. 

For example, Fitness Finders® doesn’t sell Toe Tokens® to parents to be used as gifts because this dilutes the value of earning the award. 

Tokens Are Scarce

Tokens hold a lot of value when the student has accomplished something, and when everyone else knows what action they took to receive the token. Challenges and goals add to the incentive, but account for the development and ability of the students. It is important to set achievable but ambitious goals.

Tokens Are Fun

Our tokens work with children because they are fun. We offer over 600 unique awards in 180 different bright, eye-catching colors.

With so many variations, colors, and styles, token selection could easily get overwhelming. But don’t worry! We will happily help you find the perfect award for your situation, or let your students vote on tokens that they want to earn!

Charles Kuntzleman, Founder of Fitness Finders, said, “Select incentives that are visible, countable, attractive, and perceived as highly valuable by the recipients.”

Tokens Set the Stage for Lifelong Lessons

Not only are token encouraging in the present, but they can also motivate students into the future. To facilitate this lifelong impact, Kuntzleman suggests periodically reminding students of the importance of the activity behind the token. This means communicating why the desired behavior is beneficial in life and how it can impact students in a positive way.

Even if the students remain focused on tokens in the moment, they will look back one day and remember the lessons emphasized.

At the end of the day, the desired behavior is the ultimate goal. Tokens just happen to be a fun, motivational, and inexpensive way to increase participation and effort. So get some tokens and tackle those goals!

How to Plan Your Mileage Club® Season: Scheduling & Weather Tips for Schools

It’s never too early to start planning your Mileage Club® season! Thoughtful scheduling can make your program smoother, more consistent, and more enjoyable for students. Below are some updated planning tips to help you pick the right frequency, season timing, and routine for your school.

Plan with Your Local Climate in Mind

Weather plays a big role in how often your students can run. If your area has frequent rain or unpredictable conditions, try scheduling Mileage Club® more frequently. For example:


If your goal is to run 2–3 days a week, consider scheduling daily, knowing weather may cancel some days.


Running every day is still healthy and appropriate as long as it’s fun and low-pressure.


“It is okay to run every day as long as it is fun and the students aren’t pressured.”
— Debbie Drake, Mileage Club® Coordinator

Also consider seasonal conditions. Ask yourself:

• Is August too hot to start strong?

• Is your field muddy in early spring?

• Is September “just right” in your region?

• Does winter weather limit outdoor time?

Knowing your local patterns will help your program feel smooth instead of stressful.

Choose a Schedule That Fits Your School Rhythm

Every school operates differently, so no one schedule fits all. Look at your school calendar and consider:

• Recess patterns
• Holidays and short weeks
• State testing windows
• Field day or end-of-year events
• PE rotation schedules

The most important factor is consistency. A clear weekly pattern helps students and teachers:

• Build habits
• Anticipate run days
• Feel excited rather than surprised

Even 2 consistent days per week can make a huge impact when done all year long.

Think About Volunteer Support

Volunteers help Mileage Club® run smoothly, especially if you use scanning stations or distribute tokens. Consider:

• Are parents more available in fall than spring?
• Do teachers have more flexibility at certain times of day?
• Does your community show up more when the weather is mild?

Often, pleasant weather = more volunteers, which means your program can feel more joyful and efficient. Scheduling with volunteer availability in mind is not only practical — it supports a better student experience.

Keep Students at the Center

Regardless of weather, schedules, or volunteer levels, Mileage Club® is ultimately about helping students build confidence, joy in movement, and personal goal-setting skills.

Plan with flexibility. Lead with encouragement. Celebrate progress — not perfection.

Your goal isn’t just to run laps.
It’s to help students realize:
“I can do hard things, one step at a time.”

End-of-Year Celebration Ideas for Your Mileage Club®: Recognize Student Success & Build Momentum

The end of the school year is almost here! It's the perfect moment to celebrate your students hard work, dedication, and movement milestones through Mileage Club. 

Whether you ran your program in the spring, fall, year-round, or in shorter bursts, a wrap-up celebration reinforces the value of healthy habits and keeps students excited to return next year. 

Below are fresh ideas to make your end-of-year celebration memorable, meaningful, and fun.

Create a Celebration Students Will Remember

Consider hosting a school-wide assembly or outdoor celebration to recognize students publicly for their effort and progress. Public recognition boosts confidence, builds school culture, and motivates students to stay active in the future.

If your school uses hybrid or flexible scheduling, this celebration could also be:

• A morning meeting announcement
• A livestream or recorded video
• A class-by-class walk-through celebration parade

Be sure to also recognize the volunteers, teachers, and family support that helped your Mileage Club run smoothly. A simple thank-you goes a long way. You can also use this time for other end-of-the-year recognition, as well. For example, you could announce Field Day results or celebrate any student successes in the classroom.

Add Excitement with End-of-Season Awards

Toe Tokens are a beloved motivator throughout the season, but the end of the year is a great time to add something extra special!

Fitness Finders offers a variety of awards to match your budget and goals, including:

• Mileage Club® tee shirts
• Sport pack
• Dog tag
• Wristbands
• Pencils

Students love having something tangible that reminds them of their accomplishments and progress. Finding reasons to recognize them won’t be difficult; your students have been working hard!

Celebrate Different Types of Mileage Club Achievements

There are many ways to honor student success, not just mileage totals. Try recognizing:

Outstanding Mileage

Recognize outstanding amounts of accumulated mileage by awarding Mileage Club® T-shirts and dog tags to the top three performing boys and girls.

Consistency & Commitment

Honor students with great participation or attendance records. (We love the saying: “You’ve got to show up to go up!”)

Encouragement & Leadership

Recognize students who help others, organize materials, cheer on their classmates, or demonstrate awesome character. A Sport Pack or Wristband is a great choice for this recognition.

Recognize Goal-Setting Success

Teaching students to set and achieve goals is one of the most powerful parts of Mileage Club®. Celebrate progress at every level:

Individual Goals

Reward all students who meet their personal goals. Walk-a-Long™ Wristbands, or colorful Shoelaces are great options.

Class Goals

If a class meets a collective goal, reward the entire group. Toe Token® Folders, Mileage Cups, or Training Medals work well here.

Tip: Take a class photo and add it to next year’s Mileage Club® bulletin board.

School-Wide Goals

Nothing builds community like a shared mission. If your school reaches a cumulative goal, celebrate together! Economical whole-school awards include:

• Mileage Club® Pencils

• Mood Pencils

• Wristbands

• Feat Awards

• Dog Tags

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Keep the Momentum Going Into Next Year

A year-end celebration is also a great opportunity to:

• Ask students for input (favorite parts? ideas for next year?)

• Recruit volunteers early

• Share your success with families and staff

• Display student progress visuals around the school

You’re building more than a running program — you’re building a school culture of movement, confidence, and joy.

We’re Here to Support You

If you’d like support planning your event or choosing awards, we’re happy to help.

Contact us:
📧 info@fitnessfinders.net
📞 800-789-9255

Congratulations to your students — and to you for leading a program that makes a difference. We can’t wait to partner with you again next year!