(Editor's note: BSSG release)
BILLINGS - Nearly 900 statewide kids didn't let COVID-19 regulations shut down their drive to stay in shape, participating in the 16th Annual Big Sky Fit Kids program.
The two month challenge kicked off in February and was due to finish April 1. However, with Montana schools moving virtual in the middle of the 9 week campaign, BSFK ended early after four weeks. Participant teams recorded their activity on a mileage chart. Over the course of six weeks the kids combined to accumulate 52,071 miles and consumed 16,040 total servings of fruits and vegetables.
At the conclusion of the Challenge, two $500 awards were drawn with funds from participant teams to be directed toward health or physical education. Arrowhead Elementary team ‘Cunningham 4th’ of Billings and Beartooth Elementary team ‘Bears R4’ Billings, were selected.
Individually, children completed the 5-2-1-0 week long challenge which consisted of kids eating 5 servings of fruits and vegetables per day, limiting leisure screen time to 2 hours or less, completing 1 hour of physical activity, and drinking 0 sugary beverages per day. All successful challengers were entered into drawing at random and Quinn Nichols from Thompson Falls won a new bike.
The last installment of the program is Fit Kids Day which will be held September 1-October 16. Fit Kids Day is a celebration of youth fitness that encourages participating schools to plan 30 consecutive minutes of aerobic activity with 100 percent of attending student participation in one day. Two $500 Fit Kids Day school winners will be selected from a drawing of participating schools that verify school-wide participation.
The Big Sky Fit Kids presenting sponsor is Town Pump. Community Sponsors are: Albertson’s and MTN News. Contributing Partners are: Montana Association of School Superintendents, Billings Clinic, and Wendy’s. The Big Sky Fit Kids program is supported by Montana Women’s Run. The Big Sky State Games Major Sponsors are: Kampgrounds of America, First Interstate Bank, and BlueCross BlueShield of Montana.
