Shipley students "Walk Across Pennsylvania" in an effort to combat childhood obesity. In a recent Philadelphia Inquirer news report (Children more sedentary than experts expected, survey finds, Published on August 22, 2003, Philadelphia Inquirer) it’s stated that obesity in children has been on the rise.  For the second year in a row Lower School Physical Education teacher, Fred Speers, has sponsored an opportunity for 4th and 5th grade students to challenge that assertion in a program called Walk Across Pennsylvania. It is a fitness program that encourages student to work together as a team, learn a little history, and develop a love of exercise.

Before school, three days per week, students may walk in school on a measured mile (20 laps around the gym equal one mile), or they may run, jog, swim, or bicycle outside of school. All miles are logged and tracked on a large map of Pennsylvania. The map contains special routes which include many historic sites along the way.  The 4th grade’s starting point was Erie Maritime Museum, home of the U.S. Brig Niagara. They will travel eastward ending in Philadelphia. Fifth grade started at the mouth of the Schuylkill River and will hike north to its source near Tamaqua.

As encouragement, the students earn mileage tokens as they “progress across the state.” For every five miles, students receive a token. For every ten miles, students receive a certificate in the shape of a footprint which is posted on the gym lobby wall. This year the students are challenged to break last year’s record of walking, biking, running, or swimming more than 2078 miles!

Since Sept 8th, students have traveled an impressive combined distance of 134 miles. The program is not a race against other students or classes, but a fun challenge in which all children will be able to do their very best.

September 2003