How to Use Mileage Club® to Power Your School Fun Run

Get Students Moving Before, During, and After Race Day

When it comes to creating a fun run that's not just fun - but meaningful, motivating, and impactful - Mileage Club is your go-to program. Developed by Fitness Finders, Mileage Club has helped millions of students across the country get active during recess, PE, and beyond.

Here's how you can use Mileage Club to supercharge your school fun run and turn it into more than a one-day event.

What is Mileage Club?

Mileage Club is a flexible, low-cost running/walking program that helps students log miles over time, earn rewards (like Toe Tokens), and develop a love of movement. It's used year-round by thousands of schools - but it's also a perfect lead-up or complement to your annual school fun run.

How to Use Mileage Club Before the Fun Run

Build Excitement and Endurance

Turn your fun run into a culminating event with a 4 to 6 week Mileage Club Challenge.

• Goal: Help students "train" for the fun run by completing laps at recess, during PE, or after school.
• Track Progress: Use Mileage Club lap cards, sticker charts, or EZ Scan to log miles.
• Motivate: Give Toe Tokens for every mile (4 laps = 1 mile) to show progress and build enthusiasm.

Example Goal: "Let's see who can walk or run 10 miles before the big run!"

During the Fun Run: Bring Mileage Club to Life

Use everything you've built in the weeks prior to creating a high-energy, goal-oriented fun run day:

• Set up your track or route with lap stations
• Award bonus tokens or themed charms for each lap
• Let students log laps in real time using EZ Scan
• Celebrate those who've hit personal milestones

Tip: Create a Mileage Club banner or wall display with every student's total miles!

After the Run: Keep the Momentum Going

Your fun run shouldn't be the end - it should be the launchpad for more movement:

• Continue Mileage Club weekly or monthly
• Track ongoing progress and celebrate every mile
• Introduce classroom competitions or family challenges

Recognition Matters: Celebrate "Marathon Milers" (26.2 miles) or "Club Champions" who hit high milestones.

Why This Works:

• Help students set short and long-term goals
• Builds fitness and endurance over time
• Creates a culture of movement in your school
• Encourages daily activity, not just race-day participation

Final Tip

Pair Mileage Club with Fitness Finders Toe Tokens, awards, and EZ Scan, and your fun run becomes more than just a one-day race - it becomes a movement that lasts all year.

How to Use EZ Scan™ to Streamline Your School Fun Run

The Smart, Simple Way to Track Every Lap

Planning a fun run for 100 ... 200 ... 500+ kids? Amazing! But counting all those laps by hand? Not so fun. That's where EZ Scan comes in - Fitness Finders digital lap tracking tool that makes fun runs smooth, accurate, and stress-free.

Whether you're running a single class or the whole school, EZ Scan helps you track student progress in real time - no clipboards, no chaos.

What is EZ Scan?

EZ Scan is a QR Code-based lap tracking system built specifically for schools. Each student gets a unique code on a card or badge, and every time they complete a lap, a teacher or volunteer simply scans the code using a mobile device or tablet.

It's that easy.

How to Set Up EZ Scan for a Fun Run

1. Sign Up & Create Your Event

Log into your EZ Scan dashboard and set up your school fun run event.

2. Add Students

Upload a student list (name, grade, class) and generate QR codes.

3. Print QR Cards

Print and laminate cards with each student's code - lanyards or shoelaces work great!

4. Set Up Scan Stations

Assign volunteers with phones/tablets to scan students at the end of each lap.

5. Track in Real Time

Laps are instantly recorded and stored. Teachers can view results by student, class, or school.

Bonus: Export the data to spreadsheets or use it to award prizes based on performance.

Why Use EZ Scan for a Fun Run?

• Eliminates manual counting errors
• Saves time for teachers and volunteers
• Provides real-time tracking of laps
• Easily integrates with Mileage Club and Toe Tokens rewards

No more "Did Jamie run 4 laps or 6?" - you'll have the answer in seconds.

Awarding Made Easy

With accurate lap counts, you can:

• Award Toe Tokens by the lap or mile
• Give medals to top finishers or most improved
• Recognize effort and participation across all grade levels

Pro Tip: Use scan data to make an awards ceremony or display wall - students love seeing their names and progress.

EZ Scan in Action: A Sample Fun Run Timeline 

Time                                       Activity

8:30 AM       Students check in and receive QR badges

9:00 AM       First group starts running

9:45 AM       Volunteers scan as students pass the lap stations

10:30 AM     Laps tracked, results live!

11:00AM      Awards handed out by grade and milestone

Final Thoughts

When it comes to organizing a school fun run, simplicity + accuracy = success. With EZ Scan, you can run a smooth, exciting event that keeps students engaged and lets you focus on what matters - celebrating movement and achievement.

Visit Fitnessfinders.net to get started with EZ Scan and explore award bundles, tokens, and everything you need for your most organized and exciting fun run yet.

Make Your School Fun Run Unforgettable with Fitness Finders Awards

A school fun run is more than just kids running laps - it's a celebration of movement, teamwork, and community. Whether you're hosting your first fun run or looking to elevate your annual event, the key to making it truly unforgettable lies in one word: motivation.

At Fitness Finders, we specialize in helping schools get kids moving - and loving it. Our tools and resources make organizing a fun run easy, engaging, and rewarding.

What Does Fitness Finders Offer?

We provide schools with proven programs and motivational tools that get kids excited about physical activity:

• Mileage Club: A nationally recognized walking/running program used in thousands of schools to build healthy habits through consistent movement.
• Toe Tokens: Small, colorful shoe charms earned for distance milestones - kids love to collect and wear them proudly.
• EZ Scan: A user-friendly lap tracking system that makes managing events like fun runs simple and efficient - no clipboards or counting required!

Together, these tools turn an ordinary fun run into an organized, exciting, and memory-making event for every student.

Why Use Fitness Finders for Your School Fun Run?

Whether you're planning a field day finale, a fundraiser, or a wellness week highlight, a school fun run is a fantastic way to encourage fitness and build school spirit. But what really makes it shine?

Structure + Motivation + Celebration = Success

Here's how Fitness Finders brings those elements to life:

1. Use Mileage Club to Build Momentum

Mileage Club is a simple, flexible walking/running program that helps students set goals and track their progress. It's easy to implement before your fun run as a training challenge, or during the event as a way to track and celebrate each lap.

How to Use it for a Fun Run:

• Start a "Countdown to the Fun Run" challenge during recess or PE
• Let students accumulate miles or laps in the weeks leading up to the event
• Use this progress as motivation - "Can we reach 100 miles as a class before race day?"

Bonus: You're creating healthy habits that last well beyond the event.

2. Reward Participation with Toe Tokens

Every lap or mile becomes a mini celebration when students know they'll earn a Toe Token. These brightly colored charms can be added to shoes or backpacks and serve as a badge of accomplishment.

Ideas for Use:

• Give a different color token per lap or mile
• Award themed tokens for event completion or personal bests
• Let students build token "chains" to wear during the event - an instant confidence booster!

These tokens not only boost motivation but also provide a physical representation of hard work, which is incredibly impactful for elementary and middle school students.

3. Organize Seamlessly with EZ Scan

Forget paper tally sheets and counting laps by hand - EZ Scan is your best friend on race day.

How it Works:

Each student receives a unique QR code card

As they complete laps, they scan their card using a smartphone or tablet

Laps are automatically recorded and can be viewed or exported later

Why It's Perfect for Fun Runs:

Reduces the need for extra volunteers or manual counting

Gives you real-time data for awards and recognition

Works with any number of students, from a small class to the entire school!

Make It Memorable: Awards, Themes, and Community Involvement

Now that you have the tools, here are a few creative ways to make your fun run a school-wide celebration:

Theme Ideas:

• Superhero Sprint
• Color Dash
• Glow Run
• Read & Run Literacy Lap (tie into book week!)

Award Categories:

• Most Laps Completed
• Best Sportsmanship
• Best Costume
• Class with the Most Collective Miles
• Personal Improvement Awards

Involve Families:

• Invite parents to run or volunteer
• Offer family lap challenges
• Celebrate with post-run popsicles or photo booths

Ready to Plan Your Fun Run? Time to Make it Happen

Planning a school fun run doesn't have to be overwhelming - it should be energizing and fun for everyone involved. With the right tools in place, you can create an event that motivates students, builds community, and encourages lifelong healthy habits.

Fitness Finders gives you the framework to make it happen:

Mileage Club = structure and long-term motivation

Toe Tokens = excitement and reward

EZ Scan = stress-free organization and tracking

So this year, don't just run - run with purpose, run with pride, and run with Fitness Finders.

Explore awards, learn more about Mileage Club, and try out EZ Scan at Fitnessfinders.net

Let's make your next school fun run the best one yet!

National Day of Encouragement: Empowering Kids to Thrive with Fitness and Positivity

Every year on September 12th, the National Day of Encouragement is celebrated to remind us of the power of positivity and the impact that encouragement can have on individuals, especially children. For teachers, educators, and parents, this day offers a unique opportunity to inspire and motivate young minds, fostering a sense of confidence, well-being, and resilience.

What better way to tie this day of encouragement into something active and engaging than by using resources like Fitness Finders? By promoting physical activity, mental wellness, and personal growth, we can teach kids not only to believe in themselves but to take care of their bodies and minds too. 

In this blog, we'll explore how the National Day of Encouragement can be linked to health and fitness, offering practical ways educators and parents can use this day to boost kids' motivation and set them up for a lifetime of healthy habits.

The Power of Encouragement: Why it Matters for Kids

Encouragement plays a crucial role in shaping a child's self-esteem, motivation, and ability to persevere through challenges. Studies show that children who are encouraged and praised for their efforts - rather than just their results - develop a growth mindset, which can help them tackle obstacles and keep trying even when things get tough.

On National Day of Encouragement, take the time to acknowledge and celebrate the small victories in your students' lives. Whether they've learned a new skill, improved in a sport, or simply made progress in their academic work, recognition of these efforts can go a long way in boosting their confidence.

But encouragement doesn't just apply to academic success - it's also essential when it comes to physical activity and healthy habits. For kids, learning the importance of moving their bodies and staying active is key to setting them up for long-term wellness.

Linking Encouragement with Fitness: Using Fitness Finders to Inspire Healthy Lifestyles

As we encourage students to stay positive, why not combine it with a commitment to physical fitness? This is where Fitness Finders can play a huge role. Fitness Finders is a fantastic resource designed to help kids explore different types of physical activities, set personal fitness goals, and track their progress. It's all about making fitness fun, accessible, and something to be proud of - aligning perfectly with the core values of National Day of Encouragement.

Here's how you can connect the two:

1. Encourage Movement as a Way to Build Confidence

On National Day of Encouragement, challenge your students to set small, achievable fitness goals using Fitness Finders. Whether it's doing 10 jumping jacks, running a mile, or learning a new dance routine, encourage them to track their progress and celebrate each milestone. The key here is to praise their, effort and perseverance, not just the outcome. Fitness Finders provides a way for kids to see their progress over time, boosting their sense of accomplishment.

For example, a teacher could host a Fitness Challenge Day where students try different fitness activities such as yoga, basketball, or a quick circuit workout. As kids complete each activity, encourage them with positive affirmation like, "You're doing great!" or "Keep going - you're almost there!" This reinforces the idea that trying is just as important as succeeding.

2. Building Positive Mindsets through Physical Activity

Physical exercise doesn't just benefit the body - it's also crucial for mental health. Studies show that exercise can improve mood, reduce stress, and boost self-esteem. On National Day of Encouragement, incorporate activities that help students connect with their bodies in a positive way. You could organize a mindfulness movement session, where students practice simple breathing exercises combined with gentle stretching or yoga, all designed to reduce stress and promote relaxation.

Fitness Finders offers a variety of activities suitable for different age groups, from playful games for younger children to more structured fitness routines for older students to engage with fitness as a lifelong habit, not a chore.

3. Setting Team Goals for Collective Success

In addition to individual fitness goals, encourage students to work together in teams. Team-based activities not only promote social skills and teamwork, but they also help children learn how to encourage and support one another. For instance, you could set up a class-wide fitness goal - for example, aiming to collectively walk or run a certain number of miles by the end of the month. Fitness Finders can be used to track the group's progress, allowing students to see how their efforts contribute to the bigger picture.

As students reach milestones, you can celebrate with group shout-outs or even a Fitness Finders recognition board, where the team's progress is displayed for everyone to see. This fosters a sense of pride and shared accomplishment.

4. Encouraging Healthy Habits Beyond Fitness

Fitness isn't just about exercise - it's also about encouraging kids to build healthy habits in every area of life. National Day of Encouragement is a great time to talk about the importance of a balanced diet, getting enough sleep, and taking care of one's emotional well-being. By linking these habits to the idea of self-care and personal growth, we can create a more holistic approach to health.

For example, have students set a personal health goal alongside their fitness goal. Maybe it's drinking more water each day or getting eight hours of sleep. Use the Fitness Finders platform to track not just physical activity, but also progress in other areas of wellness, such as hydration, sleep, and mental well-being.

Fun Ideas to Celebrate National Day of Encouragement in the Classroom or at Home

To make National Day of Encouragement truly impactful for students, incorporate these fun ideas into your lessons or home routines:

• Encouragement Wall: Create a "Wall of Encouragement" in your classroom where students can write positive messages to one another. These can be compliments, notes of support, or simply words of encouragement like "You're awesome!" or "Keep trying!" 
• Compliment Circles: In a circle, have each student give a compliment or encouraging word to the person next to them. This helps build confidence and strengthens the sense of community.
• Personal Progress Charts: Use the Fitness Finders app or printable charts to let students track their fitness and wellness goals over time. Recognize their progress at regular intervals and celebrate their achievements together.
• Fitness Class Breaks: Host short physical activity breaks during the day. Incorporate fun activities like dancing, stretching, or quick outdoor games. Encourage everyone to participate, no matter their skill level, and offer plenty of praise along the way.

Empowering Students to Reach Their Potential

National Day of Encouragement is the perfect occasion to inspire your students and kids, reminding them of their unlimited potential. By incorporating fitness, movement, and wellness into the day's activities, you can foster an environment where students feel supported, motivated, and encouraged to take care of both their minds and bodies.

Using tools like Fitness Finders, educators and parents can help students set realistic fitness goals, stay active, and build confidence - all while fostering a positive mindset that encourages perseverance, effort, and personal growth.

So, as you celebrate National Day of Encouragement, let's not just encourage our students to dream big but to take action toward those dreams - one healthy, active step at a time!

By using the combination of encouragement, fitness, and tools like Fitness Finders, we can set children on a path to success, both physically and mentally. With your guidance and support, this National Day of Encouragement can be a turning point in their journey toward healthy habits and a positive mindset.

Meet the Teachers Using Fitness Finders to Build Stronger Students

Teachers across the country are doing incredible work and many of them are using Fitness Finders tools to help students stay motivated, active, and focused. These teachers have one thing in common:, they believe movement is essential to academic and personal growth and are making movement a daily part of their classroom culture - and they’re seeing results. Here’s how three educators are using Fitness Finders to build more engaged, active students:

Betty Kern (4th-6th Grade, Ohio)

"Fitness Finders Awards are used in our Running Clubs throughout the year. Students earn a Sneaker for every 50 points they earn and every 5 miles they run during a running club season. Each week,, students look forward to receiving their awards! Many students ask to run extra laps to earn extra points so ultimately they can earn extra Sneaker Awards!

Continue Reading Betty Kern Customer Profile >>>

Tina Slater (4th-5th Grade, Michigan)

“Rewarding tokens has brought a bit more fun and provided a visual that represents student success. I love it when I hear a student say, “I can’t believe I have read this much,” as they are putting on their necklace before class.

Continue Reading Tina Slater Customer Profile >>>

Shelley Territ (2nd Grade, Pennsylvania)

“I use Fitness Finders in my classroom and with my school running club. In my classroom, it is used as a positive reward. When my students earn enough chips to fill their bucket, they can choose a Fitness Finder token for their backpack chain.”

Continue Reading Shelly Territ Customer Profile >>>

Terri Pardee (Parent)

“Running has made the boys physically healthier, provided them an outlet for stress, and has taught them fitness skills that they will be able to use throughout their entire lives.”

Continue Reading Terri Pardee experience with Mileage Club >>>

Common Themes:

• Improved classroom behavior

• More inclusive participation

• Increased excitement around movement

Their secret? Movement is a positive motivator, not a punishment.

Want results like these? Explore what tools teachers are using.

Celebrate Your Victory: Finishers Medal Day and Fitness Finders Toe Tokens

There's a unique kind of pride that comes with crossing the finish line of a race or achieving a personal fitness milestone. It's not just about the time the athlete finishes or the physical effort exerted - it's about that feeling of accomplishment and growth.

To mark these milestones, many athletes (and fitness enthusiasts alike) turn to symbolic rewards to keep the memory of their hard work alive. Among these, the Finishers Medal has become a beloved emblem, and at the same time, Fitness Finders Toe Tokens offer a unique twist on this tradition, helping athletes stay motivated long after the event is over.

Finishers Medal Day: A Celebration of Effort

Finishers Medal Day is an unofficial holiday in the world of fitness, celebrated by athletes and participants across various sports and fitness activities. It's a day dedicated to honoring all the effort, sweat, and determination that goes into completing a race or challenge, whether it's a marathon, triathlon, or even a tough workout challenge. These medals are not just pretty pieces of metal - they symbolize resilience, pushing past limits, and most importantly, victory over self-doubt.

For many, receiving a finishing medal is a reward for months or even years of hard training. These medals often feature intricate designs, embodying the spirit of the event, and can be displayed proudly as tangible proof of personal achievement. They serve as a daily reminder that the athlete pushed themselves and crossed a threshold - that they earned their place at the finish line.

However, for those who are new to fitness challenges, or those looking to add an extra layer of motivation, it's important to recognize that success is not only measured by crossing that official finish line. The journey, the consistency, and the little wins are just as significant - and here's where Fitness Finders Toe Tokens come into play.

Fitness Finders Toe Tokens: A New Way to Reward Athletes

Fitness Finders Toe Tokens are a fun, innovative way to celebrate those smaller victories, those everyday strides in an athlete's fitness journey. These tokens are designed to be earned and collected for each specific fitness milestone, big or small. Think of them as mini "finishers medals" that allow athletes to commemorate each workout, personal best, or progress toward their fitness goals.

Whether running a 5k for the first time or hitting a personal squat record at the gym, athletes can collect a Toe Token to mark the occasion. It's a great way to keep track of growth and stay motivated to keep pushing forward. Each Toe Token represents a step in the fitness journey, and over time, these tokens can stack up into a collection that reflects the depth and variety of fitness achievements.

Why Pair Finishers Medals with Toe Tokens?

While Finishers Medals often commemorate major events like races, marathons, or fitness competitions, Toe Tokens offer a more personalized and continuous approach to rewarding athletes. They're not limited to events; they are earned by athletes, based on incremental goals used to reach the finish.

Here's How Combining the Two can Benefit Athletes Fitness Mindset:

1. Tangible Evidence of Growth

Just like a finisher's medal commemorates a big race, Toe Tokens lets athletes celebrate every day. Whether increasing their running distance, improving strength, or simply sticking to a workout routine, each token serves as a reminder of how far that athlete has come.

2. Keeps Motivation High

Knowing that every milestone, no matter how small, is recognized with a tangible token can motivate athletes to show up each day, keeping their fitness goals at the forefront of their mind.

3. Celebration of Consistency

It's easy to get lost in the "big wins" - the races and competitions - but real progress is made through consistency. Toe Tokens make it easier to celebrate each step, no matter how small, in any fitness journey.

4. Personalized Achievement

While a finishers medal might look the same for everyone crossing a particular race's finish line, the collection of Toe Tokens is unique to that athlete. No two fitness journeys are identical, and neither should be the tokens that reflect them.

How to Make the Most of Finishers Medal Day and Toe Tokens

To truly embrace Finishers Medal Day, it's not only about celebrating the big races but also appreciating how the little steps pave the way for those moments of glory. Here's how to make the most of both Finishers Medals and Fitness Finders Toe Tokens.

1. Keep Track of Fitness Tokens

Creatively display Toe Tokens on a lanyard, chain, shoelaces, shadow box, or fitness board. Use them to visually display progress and as a source of inspiration.

2. Continuous Challenge

Set new goals and create challenges to earn even more Toe Tokens by diversifying fitness activities. Whether it's yoga, weightlifting, or trying a new race distance, these tokens will serve as evidence of growth.

3. Celebrate Small Wins

Share Toe Token milestones with friends, family, or the fitness community. Celebrating even the smallest progress can inspire others and create a sense of accountability.

4. Reflect on the Journey

When Finishers Medal Day comes around, take a moment to reflect on the journey that led to those medals and tokens. Acknowledge how hard work in smaller, everyday sessions built up to that proud moment.

Finishers Medals represent the high points of an athlete's journey, but Fitness Finders Toe Tokens recognize and celebrate the continuous steps it takes to get there. Together, they offer a beautiful way to highlight every aspect of the fitness journey, no matter how big or small the achievement.

So, whether gearing up for a big race or simply looking for a challenge, remember: the journey is just as important as the destination. Keep collecting Toe Tokens and be proud of every step, every moment of progress - because the path to success is worth celebrating every day.

Donating to a Public School: Support Underfunded Schools

 Your donation could help reach more than one underfunded school, help thousands of children, and bridge the funding gap.

How Are Schools Funded?

Schools are primarily funded by the government through taxes and public funding. Local districts use property taxes to fund schools, and the economic condition or tax base of the area influences the amount of funding the schools receive. This discrepancy in funding creates funding gaps. 

Districts with a lower tax base suffer the consequences of poorly funded schools. Poorly funded schools rob millions of children of the opportunity to succeed due to limited access to necessary tools and resources.

Underfunded School Gap

Underfunded School Demographics

High-poverty schools receive significantly less money per child each year.

Impact of Underfunded Schools

• Lower Quality of Education

• Limited Extracurricular Activities

• Limited Advanced Courses

• Limited Educational Resources

How Much Money is Donated a Year?

On average one in three people will donate to a charity around the world and cash giving is around 500 billion dollars. In 2022 charitable giving decreased 3.4% and an estimated $499.33 billion was raised.

Benefits of Donating to Charity

Helpers High

An NIH study found that when people give to charities, the regions in the brain associated with pleasure, social connection, and trust are activated, releasing endorphins in the brain, a feeling known as “the helper’s high.”

Mental Health

It feels good to help others, studies show that acts of kindness like donating to a charity has a positive impact on happiness. Regular acts of kindness or practicing gratitude have been linked to improve mental health because it creates more interaction between the parts of the brain associated with processing social information and feeling pleasure. The brain produces more dopamine, serotonin, and oxytocin which positively impact mood and disposition. 

Community

Finding and creating community is one of the most important parts of being human. Giving back to your community can help you feel more connected not just to other people but where you live and the world as a whole. 

 

Impact

Charitable donations are a great opportunity to make an impact on the lives of others. For example, a donation to Fitness Finders Foundation helps provide equipment, incentives, and support for young participants to learn about teamwork, goal-setting, self-confidence, overall health and wellbeing both mentally and physically through Mileage Club Program. 

When you give to charity, you can help positively impact the next generation. Charitable donations can provide a sense of purpose and fulfillment knowing that your actions are going to a good cause that is dear to your heart.

Tax-Deductible

Donations to charities and nonprofit organizations are often tax-deductible. Fitness Finders Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charity, donations qualify for a tax deduction.

Why Donate to a Non-Profit?

Each year, individuals, bequests, corporations, and foundations donate billions of dollars to charities. When you donate to Fitness Finders Foundation, you’re helping to promote health and well-being among children in underfunded schools. 

How Can You Help?

Take a holistic approach to wellness through Fitness Finders Foundation. Founded by Dr. Charles K and his wife with a mission to enhance the health of people across the globe. In 1986 the Mileage Club walk/run program was created to offer knowledge, support, and tools to track physical activity. 

The Mileage Club Program has helped millions of children over the last 40 years to increase their physical fitness level, cognitive thinking and learning, manage behavior and emotions.

So what does Mileage Club have to do with underfunded schools and how can you help?

By donating to Fitness Finders Foundation Mileage Club GoFund.Me Fundraiser, you allow us to provide equipment, incentives, and support for children in underfunded schools. We can help students who are missing out on receiving proper education, brain breaks, fitness programs, etc. around the globe.

How Will Fitness Finders Foundation Use My Donation?

With your support and donations, Fitness Finders Foundation can provide children with equipment, incentives, and support to promote health and well-being among children in underfunded schools through its Mileage Club Program.

Why Mileage Club?

• Fight Obesity

• Encourage Fitness

• Enhance Focus & Concentration

• Improve Overall Cognitive Function

• Foster Positive Habits

• Teach Teamwork

• Set Goals

• Build Self-Confidence

How to Donate?

Join our Mileage Club Campaign and help contribute to our $50,000 goal which will directly benefit schools lacking resources for physical education. You can make a difference by donating today.

Meeting SHAPE Distance Learning Guidelines

We have selected a handful of action points from the SHAPE Distance Learning Guidelines on the left and show how Fitness Finders can help you meet them on the right.

Curriculum

“Continually assess and revise online courses to keep up with trends, technology, and content.”

Fitness Finders does this for you! Our EZ Scan® app automatically updates at no extra cost and works with the latest devices. Content changes are based on current trends in physical education and feedback from users in all 50 states.

“Address all state and/or national physical education content standards, including any other required standards (Common Core, ELA, Technology, etc.).”

Getting the recommended 60 minutes of activity a day is no problem with Mileage Club®. Mileage Club works before, during, or after school. It can be done outdoors, indoors, and even at home. And it’s an easy, low-cost way to get and keep kids moving. Mileage Club is flexible, accommodates all students, and kids love the rewards. It is the best way to meet multiple state and national standards for physical activity.

Learning Environment

“Get parents involved with their child’s learning.”	Parents can be involved in Mileage Club in many ways! From simple encouragement as children reach their goals to walking laps with them. Parents can be there for their kids every step of the way! With EZ Scan, teachers can share their child’s individual reports with parents to keep them up-to-date on progress. For greater involvement, teachers can send the EZ Scan Activity Recording Sheet & Instruction or a QR Card with instructions home to parents.
“Allow for student choice so students can choose where, when, and how to be physically active.”	Flexibility is a critical component of Mileage Club® and EZ Scan®. Complete laps any time of day - anywhere! Set a course anywhere you’d like and record laps, reps, and minutes of activity – anyway, they can be done! A great resource we offer is our EZ Scan Activity Recording Sheet & Instruction has the equivalency chart with the purpose of allowing the choice of exercise by converting any activity to minutes of walking/running. Available online or by mail.
“Balance screen time and physical activity time.”	With EZ Scan®, you can access reports that give time stamps and quickly let you see the amount of time spent walking/running!

Assessment

“Utilize technology to verify participation and support learning gains in physical activity to meet the CDC physical activity recommendations of 60 minutes of moderate- to vigorous physical activity per day.”

As mentioned before - EZ Scan® will do this job for you! Just have the students scan their laps or minutes of activity. You’ll be able to generate reports with all of the information needed to know if students are getting their 60 minutes of exercise per day.

Standards-Based Instruction

“Students compare and contrast data collected (e.g., heart rate, video of the performance) against criteria and/or previous analyses.”	EZ Scan reports can be generated in any time frame that you’d like. So, comparing results from day-to-day or week-to-week will be a breeze. As an account administrator, you will just need to send them the data, such as the individual student report and timed run reports. Both of these would allow students to compare and contrast their progress over time.
“Students generate data (e.g., heart rate, number of sit-ups, etc.) by performing health-related physical fitness assessments.”	Let EZ Scan make your timed run very EZ. Students simply scan a QR card with each completed lap. The report details the # of laps, total time, and splits for each student.
“Students choose, present and/or discuss relevant assessments to measure a physical fitness component (e.g., muscular strength, agility, coordination)”	EZ Scan reports provide relevant metrics related to distance and frequency as well as progress overtime. Also, equivalencies give a great framework for time-based, calorie-based, and distance-based comparisons.

More Takeaways!

“One of the four essential components of physical education is assessment — the gathering of evidence about student achievement in all areas of instruction to make inferences about student progress.”	An assessment has never been such a quick task! The reports generated from an EZ Scan account can give you all the data you need to present to students, parents, and administration showing off how much they have accomplished in your run club in a given timeframe. One great example is the Timed Run reports.
“Activity tracker - Activity trackers are wearable devices or computer applications that record daily physical activity along with other data relating to fitness or health, such as heart rate, the number of steps taken, or even calories burned.”	EZ Scan is the #1 lap tracking software on the market. Not to mention it is affordable – only $149.95/year and handles up to 1,500 students! Plus, if you ever need help, we offer free tech support Mon-Fri during our office hours.
“Verification of learning is perhaps one of the teachers’ biggest concerns with OLPE (Daum & Buscher, 2012; Trent 2016), while students struggle with the meaningfulness and challenge of assignments. Creators of online courses need to pay special attention to meaningful assessments that challenge students in real-world contexts.”	Verify that your students are learning by allowing them to complete the same exercises at school as they will at home. This can quickly be done with Mileage Club and equivalencies because, as we’ve mentioned, they can be completed anytime, anywhere, to give your students real-world context through independent work! When you choose to start a Mileage Club, it will be the last curriculum choice you have to make for incorporating structured physical activity. Mileage Club is so simple that you will only need to teach the lesson once. After that, students know to get their QR Scan card and scan as they complete laps to earn their awards. No more worrying about coming up with new lesson plans on the fly.
“All students must be afforded the same opportunities to participate in public school programs. The students must be provided accommodations and modifications as necessary, based on the individualized education program (IEP) team decisions.”	Mileage Club can be done by anyone, anywhere, any time of the day and our equivalencies make this even more true as they can turn any activity into minutes walked/ran, such as pushups if they are unable to go outside. You can accommodate all interests and abilities.
“Teachers must make more of a concerted effort to connect when in a distance learning environment. Students need to feel like part of their school community and that they are cared for to learn. Develop strategies to connect with students if your school/ district will not be facilitating online learning or if students will not be able to meet online due to limited accessibility at home (e.g., create assignments focused on getting to know each other, facilitate pen pals).”	Connect with students by achieving personal and group goals together! Start a Mileage Club program and keep track of their awards and data with EZ Scan. You can do this for one school, or connect your entire district! Plus, they will be able to participate in the same program from home or at school. When they have reached their goals, be sure to give them a physical reminder of their success, such as a Toe Token and a necklace to display it on.

Bonus Thoughts from Fitness Finders

“Do an inventory of your current curriculum and determine which lessons or activities can be repurposed as at-home work or for online use (depending on students’ access to technology). There may be lessons or activities within your current curriculum that can easily be adapted for students to complete at home or online.”	Mileage Club seamlessly adapts to a home learning setting. With EZ Scan, you just make sure your students have their QR card and can log in, and they can get moving. Parents are also able to help out by becoming scanners and supervisors. As an administrator, you can securely give parents access to EZ Scan to allow students to use the same software to complete laps like they would at school.
“Make sure expectations are realistic for students, especially for younger students if they require assistance from an adult to complete assignments. Consider the home dynamics of your students as referenced earlier in the section on Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility.”	Setting realistic expectations to be met from home can be a tough job. However, EZ Scan and Mileage club make this easy! Mileage Club can be done by anyone at any time. If they’re unable to complete laps, just have them use the equivalency chart. If they can complete laps, have them use EZ Scan to record their data. If they can’t use EZ Scan, just have them send you a recording sheet that you can manually enter into the system. Because EZ Scan is so simple and because we have you covered for all situations, you can expect all of your students to get the proper amount of activity at home without making it unrealistic.
“Can special events or activities still be done remotely (e.g., At-Home Family Field Day)?”	Mileage Club creates consistency because it can be done both at school and at home. So, if the time comes where you have a shift to online learning, your curriculum is already setup, and the students know exactly what to do! The program can be done at the same time each day, and completing laps for mileage is a consistent activity by nature as each can be done the same way each time. Special events and activities can still be done at home, just like at school. Host field days, award days, jog-a-thons, or even just daily sessions remotely with ease. This allows you to maintain critical ESL components of teaching and will give your students structured activities that can be done when they are away from school. This is also true even if some students are learning from home while some are in class.