Thousands of children in 145 Alaska schools are being encouraged to participate in the Healthy Futures Challenge.
The program, supported by Alaska's Department of Health and Social Services, encourages young people to be physically active.
Participants are asked to do at least 30 minutes of physical activity outside gym class three days a week for four weeks. They're also asked to keep an activity log. Prizes are awarded monthly and at the end of each three-month-long challenge.
The department, in a release, says it began its partnership with Healthy Futures in 2011, with 36 schools participating that spring. Currently, 145 schools are signed up. This past spring, the department says nearly 10,500 children completed the challenge.
Skier Kikkan Randall will help kick off the challenge at four assemblies this month at Anchorage elementary schools.
Contact Chris Klint