Mile walker Abraham Posner, Pillager School second grader, has received two foot tokens so far while walking laps during recess. Posner is one of many students participating in the school’s Mileage Club. Elementary students at Pillager School have the opportunity to be part of the ‘Feelin’ Good Mileage Club,’ which started in January and runs through April of this year.

“It’s a great way for kids to get exercise and have fun doing it,” said Community Education Coordinator Sue Van Hal, who helped implement the national program at Pillager School. “It also helps keep them out of trouble during recess,” she added.

Over 300 students (out of approximately 380) have participated in the Mileage Club, Van Hal said. “At the end of our third week we have walked 5,828 laps, or a total of over 971 miles,” she added.

The Feelin’ Good Mileage Club, a non- competitive walking program, is held during lunch recess periods. Each child is free to walk as little or as much as he or she desires in the designated time.

When weather permits, the students walk laps around the track outside. If temperatures (or wind chills) plummet to 10 degrees below zero, recess is held inside, in which case a walking course is set up in the halls.

“It works the best when it’s outside,” Van Hal said, adding that some students choose to run the track instead of walk and are able to collect more points. When they’re inside, only walking is allowed, so it takes longer to rack up points.

Yes, in addition to reaping the physical benefits of walking, students are able to collect points and earn prizes.

Each time a student completes a lap, they are given a band to wear on their wrist. “There are six laps in a mile,” Van Hal explained, adding that when they have completed six laps they receive a foot token and a chain.

An additional foot token is received after the second mile; and then again each time they collect 12 bands (per every two miles).

Milestone prizes are given after 10 miles (60 laps), 20 miles (120 laps), 30 miles ( 180 laps), 40 miles ( 240 laps) and 50 miles (300 laps).

As of Jan. 23, third graders Hunter Gjovik and James Winkelman each earned their 10-mile marker. “Several others are very close,” Van Hal said.

Each month, students have the opportunity to be part of a drawing if they have walked 60 laps during that month.

Mileage Club trophies will be awarded to classes with the most miles; and at the end of the school year, the top walkers will receive medals for their achievements.

Van Hal notes that, “If we, as a school, walk at least 2,810 miles this school year (the distance from San Francisco to Washington, DC) every student who walked at least five miles will be awarded with a special certificate and token.”

Teachers have already reported positive results from the Mileage Club program, Van Hal said. In a handout about the program, she notes that “aerobic activity enhances learning readiness and self esteem, two key elements in academic achievement.”

It also helps “channel kids’ energy in a positive manner.”

Thanks to the Pillager

School Health and Wellness program, staff members at Pillager School are also walking, Van Hal said.

Of the 129 staff members at Pillager School, 110 are involved in one of the three walking programs offered. “ Over 90 of us are wearing pedometers,” Van Hal shared. “It’s part of our new commitment to get healthy in 2012.”

The entire cost of the ‘Feelin’ Good Mileage Club’ is being underwritten by a ‘Safe Routes to School’ grant. For more information about the program, call Sue Van Hal at 218-746-

2105.