Winning schools get $100K to help kids move

The national winners of ChildObesity180's Active Schools Acceleration Project competition were announced Wednesday afternoon in Washington.

The competition was designed to put a spotlight on the creative ways schools were encouraging students to move throughout the day. The winning schools' programs had to be accessible for all fitness levels and easy to duplicate in other districts.

The Corona-Norco Unified School District's 100 Mile Club in Norco, California, and Red Hawk Elementary's Red Hawk Movement in Erie, Colorado, will each receive $100,000.

The 100 Mile Club was started by special education teacher Kara Lubin in 1993. Elementary school students are asked to run 100 miles during the course of the school year, according to a press release from ChildObesity180. Students can log miles any time and are rewarded with small toys if they reach their goals. The program has spread since the initial launch - it's now in 115 schools across the U.S.

The Red Hawk Movement uses a rotating calendar to incorporate exercise into the students' daily schedules. Sessions led by staff or students are conducted in the morning and before tough subjects such as math and science. Some activities include power walking or dance breaks.

To learn more about these programs and the regional winners, click here