Mileage Club: Kilometre Club Spotlight

Mileage Club® is the #1 Run Club for kids in North America. But have you ever wondered how our Canadian neighbors, who use the metric system, run a Mileage Club? We talked to Claudine Lukawesky in Toronto, Ontario who was happy to share information about her school’s Kilometer Club (KC)!




"Kilometer Club was started at our school, Northlea EMS, approximately 10 years ago! It started as a pre-practice to help students prepare for Track & Field tryouts but quickly became a Club for any child. Our school has approximately 800 students from Junior Kindergarten through Grade 8. It is French Immersion, English, and Developmentally Delayed tracked."




"KC is run solely with parent and student volunteers, although we have staff members present for liability reasons. We only purchase our goods through Fitness Finders® due to safety reasons – we like that you make your products with no lead in the chains or plastic charms and that you now offer the safe LaceLink™ Lanyards."




"We always start KC on a Wednesday so we can make reminder announcements on Monday and Tuesday. (Many people would forget if we started on a Monday. 😊) KC “runs” for 13 mornings from 8-8:30, always ending on a Friday."




"Students are encouraged to run, walk, hop – we’ve even had kids in wheelchairs being pushed – around our 200-meter track. Every time they go around the track, they receive a popsicle stick. When I ring my cowbell at 8:30, students finish the lap they’re on and head to the “Attendance Table” where we record their number of sticks under their classroom teacher’s name. We do this for two reasons: to track the number of kilometers and to track KC attendance. At the end of the 13 days, the class with the most attendance wins a pizza lunch!"




"After the Attendance Table, students head over to the “Charm Table,” and pick out one charm for their bracelet. It doesn’t matter how many laps they’ve completed, all the children receive one charm per day of participation. This is done because we want ALL kids to participate and feel equal. Not everyone is an elite athlete, but at Kilometer Club you are treated like an athlete! We are just so proud of the effort from all the kids and want to focus on that instead of making it all about competition. Although, we do still encourage competition within yourself – and to get your class to participate to win the pizza lunch!"




"I have had so many parents thank me because of how our program has made their child feel included. Knowing that one charm is given out per day of participation, and not by number of laps, makes children feel so special that they are happy to come out for exercise. We have had kids with anxiety issues, and doing Kilometer Club before school helps them feel more relaxed. Children with ADD/ADHD burn off some extra energy so they can focus better in class."




"I'm going into my 10th year of Kilometer Club, and each year it is an honor to have kids in the neighborhood see me and come thank me for doing this program that they look forward to every year! The benefits of KC are that children are encouraging one another to participate; they are completing laps with friends; and, the older grades get to do a lot of the organizing and help out with the younger grades. Thanks to Fitness Finders for making safe products that encourage children to be active and do something!!"

Customer Profile - Betty Kern: Physical Education Teacher

Fitness Finders® Customer Profile: 

- Betty Kern, MS, CSCS

Ohio Elementary Physical Education Teacher of the Year, 2017

"I teach Physical Education to 4th - 6th graders at 

Schrop Intermediate School in the Springfield Local School District just south of Akron, Ohio." 

What's Been a Highlight of Your Teaching Career?

"A highlight of my teaching career came just recently after being awarded the Ohio Elementary Physical Education Teacher of the Year.  My school had a surprise assembly for me. They decorated the gym with running shoes that the students had colored and written messages on.  In addition, our custodian made me a larger-than-life running woman for the gym.  Every student in the school also wrote me a letter...all 570 of them! These letters are so touching and demonstrate to me that the students learn and absorb so much more than I'd ever imagined.  At the assembly, 28 students read aloud their letters to me in front of the whole school. It was an amazing, moving moment and one that I will never forget!"

What's Your Favorite Teaching Tip?

"My favorite teaching tip is to remember that what you are teaching your students today could be brand new to them! It might be the first time they have ever experienced that topic, skill, activity, etc. Remember how hard it is to learn something new. Teach it to them as if they have never seen it before. Be patient and be willing to slow down and make sure everyone understands. The extra time will pay huge dividends!"

How Do You Use Fitness Finders® Products?

"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!

The 1st, 2nd, & 3rd charms are also used for grade awards at the club races. Fitness Finders® Awards are also used at our "all school" races held during the school day. If a student improves his/her mile time, then an award is given. 

For example, Turkey Awards are used for the Turkey Trot, Snowflake Awards for the Winter Fun Run, etc. One child last year said that was the first award he'd ever earned in school! He was so excited!  

Fitness Finders® Walker Awards are used in Morning Walking Club when students reach various mile levels.  

Lastly, we use the EZ Scan® App for our walking club and for our upcoming Mile Tracker Challenge."

Fitness Finders® appreciates Betty Kern's support and commitment to excellence.

How Mileage Club® Helped Two Brothers Overcome Physical Challenges and Discover a Love for Running

Spencer and Eli Pardee, two adopted brothers from Guatemala, now living in Michigan, have an inspiring story of resilience, growth, and movement. Both boys were adopted at 8 months old and faced significant physical challenges early in life - but through encouragement, structured physical activity, and Mileage Club, they discovered their strength and confidence.

From Early Challenges to Early Intervention

Spencer (now 20) and Eli's (now 18) mother, Dr. Terri Pardee, a Professor of Psychology at Spring Arbor University, has long studied childhood development, including topics such as high-function autism, trauma effects on children, and physiological psychology. 

She explains that the brain stem develops from the bottom up, and when children lack progressive physical activity, their gross motor skills - and even cognitive and emotional growth - can be delayed. Many adopted children face these challenges due to limited early physical development opportunities, such as being swaddled for extended periods. Swaddling babies, which is a common practice in third-world countries because of environmental health concerns, can limit opportunities to strengthen core muscles.

Recognizing these risks, Terri enrolled her sons in the Jackson County ISD Lyle A. Torrant Center's Early Childhood Program, where they received speech, occupational, and physical therapy. This provided essential early support - but the breakthrough came later, through physical education and Mileage Club.  

The Role of Physical Education and Mileage Club

As a first grader, Spencer struggled with weak core muscles and was unable to lie on his back and roll to his stomach. He also dealt with twisted tibias, which resulted in him being extremely pigeon-toed. He wore leg braces as a young child and often tripped when he walked.

When Spencer met Debbie Drake, a long-time Physical Education teacher at Jackson Christian Elementary School for 17 years, and a core member of the Fitness Finders team since 1977. Debbie helped develop the Mileage Club program alongside company founders Dr. Charles and Beth Kuntzleman.

Terri recalls telling Debbie:

"My son has pretty significant gross motor delays. Spencer may not be able to run."

Debbie responded without hesitation:

"We can work with him."

Through consistent encouragement and Mileage Club participation, Terri noticed Spencer began building strength and coordination. What once seemed impossible - rolling over, running, even balancing - became achievable milestones. By fifth grade, Spencer was thriving; he was running comfortably, earned awards in his PE class for push-ups, and placed in the top 10 for physical fitness in his class. 

Finding Joy and Confidence in Running

The Pardees offered Spencer a variety of opportunities to be active. They enrolled him in traditional sports like baseball and soccer, but they weren't the right fit for him due to sensory challenges and a reserved personality. Mileage Club provided an inclusive and motivating environment where he could move at his own pace and experience success. He could practice running to improve his performance, meet goals, and have fun!

“The kids had a ball with Mileage Club®,” Terri told us in our interview.

In middle school, Spencer was part of his school's cross-country team - a milestone that once seemed unimaginable. When his mom nervously asked if he was ready for his first meet, he confidently replied:

“Oh, yeah. We ran that far at lunch every day for Mileage Club®.”

A Family Journey of Growth

Spencer’s younger brother Eli faced many of the same physical challenges, compounded by medications that can affect metabolism. He, too, found joy and purpose in running. Eli has completed two 5K races and is proud of his accomplishments - proof that perseverance and support can go a long way.

Dr. Pardee credits Mileage Club and a quality PE program for her sons' long-term physical and emotional growth.

“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.” 

- Terri Pardee

The Power of Movement with Mileage Club

Stories like Spencer and Eli's highlight the deep connection between physical activity, brain development, and lifelong well-being. Mileage Club helps children of all abilities experience success, build confidence, and develop a lifelong love of movement.

If you're ready to help your students discover their own potential, visit Fitnessfinders.net or call 800-789-9255 to learn how Mileage Club can transform your school's fitness program.

How to Plan a School Fun Run That Builds Community, Raises Funds, and Inspires Active Students

Why Organize a School Fun Run?

A school Fun Run is one of the most engaging ways to boost spirit, promote physical activity, and bring students, teachers, and families together. These events can also double as effective school fundraisers, encouraging teamwork and healthy habits in one exciting day. 

Fun Runs are completely customizable to fit your school's goals. You can host a short one-mile walk/run or a more competitive 5K-style event.

Participants can walk, jog, skip, or even grapevine to the finish line - creativity is encouraged! Many schools now add themes like color runs, superhero days, or glow-in-the-dark nights to make the event even more memorable. 

Real-World Examples: Tradition Meets Excitement 

Webster Central School District in Webster, NY, has been hosting an annual Fun Run for more than 50 years. According to Democrat and Chronicle (part of the USA Today Network), this tradition, has become a rite of passage for Webster students.

 
Kevin Sayers, a physical education teacher at Plank Road North Elementary, has coordinated the event for the past decade. The mile run kick-starts the academic year by bringing 700 students together. He says,

“The idea is to encourage children to be active, learn how to be a competitor and a spectator, and to encourage good sportsmanship, empathy, and camaraderie among students.”

Similarly, another veteran of Fun Runs, Stacey Brickman from West Bloomfield Hills, MI has helped organize multiple elementary and middle school Fun Runs.

“A successful fun run accomplishes all the things a PTO tries to create all year. It builds school spirit, increases participation, raises school pride, and is a fabulous, fun whole-school event. We would have a fun run even if it didn’t raise money because it is a blast!”

Get Started With a Fitness Finders Challenge Series Fun Run?

If you're ready to bring this kind of excitement to your school, the Fitness Finders Challenge Series® makes it simple with easy-to-implement fun-run templates and awards.

The Challenge Series is a flexible running/walking program that combines imaginative monthly themes, awards, and community fun. The Series may be conducted as often as once a month, for nine months, just once a year, or any number in between. Schools can host challenges:

• During PE class or recess
• As an after-school Fun Run open to families
• As a fundraising event tied to seasonal celebrations

The challenges permit young people to participate in a half to one-mile run/walk or, on occasion, longer distances. Each Challenge Series event focuses on participation and completion rather than competition - so everyone's a winner! 

Students receive a themed award after finishing the distance, such as:

• 🍀 March Shamrock Shuffle → Shamrock award

• 🎃 October Pumpkin Run → Pumpkin award

• 🦃 November Turkey Trot → Turkey award

• ❄️ Winter Race with the Sled Dogs Challenge → Sled Dog Bundle

These tangible incentives keep students motivated and engaged month after month.

Turning Fun Runs Into Fundraisers

Want your event to also raise funds? Here's how to combine fitness and fundraising powerfully:

• Kick-off & wrap-up runs: Host a Fall Fun Run fundraiser in September/October and a Year-End Celebration Run in May.
• Charge a small registration fee or ask for pledges per lap or mile.
• Add a school carnival, food stands, or spirit-wear booths for extra revenue.
• Promote your event through school newsletters, social media, and community flyers.

These Fun Runs could be opened to the public, and we recommend charging a moderate registration fee. Make sure you advertise these events as fundraisers. Be transparent about where funds go - for example, "All proceeds help fund new PE equipment or students' wellness programs." When families know the purpose, excitement grows!

The Challenge Series is a powerful, event-driven activity that encourages young people to set a goal of walking/running a specified distance. 

Pro Tips for Planning a Successful School Fun Run

1. Set Clear Goals. Decide whether the focus is participation, fundraising, or community connection.
2. Pick a Theme. Holiday-themed, seasonal, or costume runs add instant fun and photo opportunities.
3. Involve Everyone. Invite parents, teachers, and even local businesses to participate or sponsor the event.
4. Promote Widely. Use social media, newsletters, and bulletin boards to build anticipation.
5. Celebrate Success. Recognize top participants, thank volunteers, and share photos in your next school assembly or email blast.

Why Schools Love the Challenge Series

• The Challenge Series helps teachers and PE coordinators:
• Encourage lifelong fitness habits
• Promote inclusivity and teamwork
• Simplify event setup with ready-made themes and awards
• Keep students active all year long

We would love to answer any questions you might have regarding Challenge Series® fun runs and pricing. Please don’t hesitate to call 800-789-9255 or email richf@fitnessfinders.net for more information. 

About Fitness Finders

Fitness Finders, Inc. is committed to Shaping America's Future® by providing effective motivational programs and awards designed to develop the body, mind, and character of youth. We strive to provide practical and innovative solutions for physical educators, teachers, and youth leaders.

Zooper Safari: Manage Your Classroom While Meeting Common Core Standards

With Fitness Finders’® new curriculum, Zooper Safari™, your students will embark on an exciting trek around the world, learning about positive classroom behaviors while meeting CCSS and NGSS standards. 

By appealing to students’ natural curiosity and love of animals, Zooper Safari™ introduces unique Featured Creatures that display Zooper Behaviors students will be excited to investigate, and then emulate in their personal choices. By including CCSS and NGSS standards, Fitness Finders® is combining academic learning with classroom management to help teachers create a positive and successful learning environment.

Zooper Safari™ is all-inclusive!

The innovative Zooper Safari™ curriculum includes:

*9 Lesson Plans: Introductory Lesson, 1 Lesson covering each Zooper Behavior, and Review Lesson. Teachers who have a SMART Board or electronic whiteboard will love our online, interactive lesson plans, with links to videos of Featured Creatures displaying the Zooper Behaviors in their habitats. 

Prefer teaching from paper? You’ll appreciate our economically printable black-and-white lesson plans. They include the video links, as well, so you can prepare ahead of time to share the information from the videos with your students, as desired.

*Hands-on Reinforcement Activities: Includes large group games for reviewing, a multitude of activities for Learning Centers, cute crafts you’ll love to display, yummy snacks that incorporate counting and shape recognition, large group brainstorming exercises that include individual writing prompts, and more.

*Student Materials: Includes grade-appropriate student journals or coloring pages, activity templates, and review games. All of the student materials (except the Zooper Safari™ Adventure Game Board) are designed to be printed in color OR black and white. 

YOU choose which materials to use, as well as the style and the amount to print!

*Zooper Safari™ Map: Students love seeing this colorful, 12-page map come together piece-by-piece as they complete their Zooper adventure.

*Unique Awards: Fitness Finders® has decades of research and experience motivating kids to set goals, adopt positive behaviors, and achieve. We’ve included LaceLink™ Lanyards, cool tokens, and charming stickers to help you create excitement and desire in your students to learn the information, transfer the behaviors, and become Zooper Explorers!

Zooper Safari™ is written BY teachers FOR teachers!

The Zooper Safari™ curriculum was written by teachers with decades of experience. The components of each lesson are consistent so that prep time may be simple and minimal. Each lesson is comprised of the following:

*Review: Information from the previous lesson is reviewed.

*Anticipatory Set and Lesson: Includes information about the Featured Creature, continent, and Zooper Behavior.

*Turn and Talk: Students reflect and share with one another something they’ve learned.

*Transfer and Reflect: Includes a read-aloud book recommendation with talking points to discuss the Zooper Behavior, as well as instructions on completing a grade-level-appropriate student journal or coloring page, designed to enhance learning and sharpen writing skills.

*Summary: A quick restatement of the Zooper Behavior.

*Assessment & Award: Easily evaluate student learning; then encourage student participation by awarding our integral, fun rewards.

*Hands-On Reinforcement Activities: A variety of creative activities that continue the fun and learning.

At the end of each section and activity, you will find CCSS and NGSS standards that are met by that segment of the lesson. You simply enter the date in the box provided to record when each standard has been covered, making inclusion and documentation of these standards quick and easy. (There’s also space for you to write in any standards we may have missed!)

Fitness Finders® has been working with, and advocating for, teachers since 1974. We have teachers on our staff, teachers as our family and friends, and teachers in our community with whom we consult and support. We’ve seen a lot of trends, policy mandates, and political debates about education come and go. 

But one thing remains consistent – the passionate dedication to students that teachers bring to the classroom. Our goal for Zooper Safari™ is to meet a need we’ve heard expressed by teachers to address behavioral issues and academic standards, at the same time incorporating technology and appealing to students. 

How Mileage Club® Supports Students with Autism: Colin’s Story of Confidence and Community

How Mileage Club Helped One Student Discover Confidence, Joy, and Belonging Through Running

At Hanover-Horton Elementary in Hanover, Michigan, one student's journey with Mileage Club has inspired an entire school community.

Meet Colin.

Colin loves to run. When he participated in Mileage Club in first grade, Colin completed 30 miles. The next year, as a second grader, he more than doubled his mileage, racking up a total of 70 miles. 

At the end of the season, when the school announced that Colin had logged nearly twice as many miles as the next-highest runner for the year, the entire student body erupted in cheers.

And that moment mattered.

Running Became a Place Where Colin Could Shine

Colin has autism, and school hasn't always been an easy place for him. His mom, Carrie, shared that some of his classmates had seen him struggle and “have seen Colin at his worst.” This made coming in first place - and his peers celebrating him - even more meaningful. 

Carrie Nichols shared that Colin showed signs of athleticism from a very young age, but was easily overwhelmed by the chaos and activity of PE class and organized sports. Running offered something different than PE class or organized sports. Instead of navigating a loud environment, quick transitions, or complex team dynamics, running gave Colin:

• A physical release for extra energy
• A sense of independence
• A sense of pride
• A clear, repeatable structure
• A way to feel successful on his own terms

His teacher noticed differences too: after Mileage Club, Colin returned to the classroom calmer, focused, and ready to learn.

Why Running Works for Many Students with Autism

Experts have observed similar benefits in other runners on the autism spectrum. 

Within two years of road racing, Tommy Des Brisay was near the front of the pack. He was confused about where everyone else was the first time he won a race, so he went back up the course to run with each subsequent finisher and cheer for them as they crossed the line.”

Des Brisay, now 25, has personal bests of 15:17 for 5K, 1:10:34 for a half-marathon, and 2:38:50 for a full marathon. It’s not unusual for him to blow by his competition while reciting lines or singing songs from his favorite movies.

Alison Wade wrote for Runner's World, that running doesn't require complex social interaction, yet still allows students to feel part of a supportive community.

“In running, social interaction is common, but it’s not required for success. Running does not require mastery of complex techniques, intricate rules, or the principles of teamwork—but it does offer the opportunity to be a part of a team.”

Russell Lang, Ph.D., the executive director of the Clinic for Autism Research, Evaluation and Support at Texas State University in San Marcos, said that 

“Running, in general, is a community sport and lifetime activity that de-emphasizes social communication and emphasizes repetitive behavior. That lends itself well to alignment with the characteristics of autism.”

 

The repeatable rhythm and self-paced structure of running can create comfort, joy, and confidence.

A Story That Reaches Far Beyond One Track

Colin isn't alone. Athletes like Tommy Des Brisay - a long-distance runner with autism from Ontario - have shown that the characteristics of autism can be strengths in endurance sports. He began running when he turned 14 and dreamed of making the 2020 Paralympic Team. People marvel at what Tommy Des Brisay has been able to accomplish despite his autism

Tommy's mother puts it beautifully:

"What if it's because of his autism that he's this successful? You can choose to look at autism as a disability or as a collection of abilities to be celebrated. 

There's no doubt that for Tommy, part of his success as a runner has always been his unfailing willingness and joy in training. He's the kind of guy who doesn't see it as a tedium of any kind to go forward and do the same workout. There's a comfort for him in that. 

So I think for Tommy, his autistic tendencies are an advantage in a lot of things. One of those is his running."

For Tommy, consistency, joy in routine, and deep focus became advantages, not obstacles.

Back to Colin - and Why Mileage Club Matters

When asked what he liked most about Mileage Club, Colin didn't mention awards, tokens, or applause.

He simply said:

"Running."

Mileage Club didn't just help Colin improve his fitness. It helped him:

• Feel successful
• Build confidence
• Connect with his classmates
• Discover something he loves

This is what Mileage Club is all about.