AMA Youth Run Club make light work

make a better world AMA Youth Run Club

Begun in 2013, the YRC is a partnership of the AMA and Ever Active Schools Started with 74 schools and approximately 4,000 students (primarily elementary) Ended last school year with 305 schools and 17,000 (running) students! Goal for school year: 350 schools

AMA Youth Run Club Mission: Through example and leadership, the YRC teaches and encourages Alberta youth to live a mentally and physically active, healthy and nutritional lifestyle. Vision: It’s called a “running club” but the YRC strives to create a safe, fun environment that welcomes and empowers all participants.

AMA Youth Run Club

Program Goals 1.Increase levels of physical activity in school-age children/youth ParticipACTION Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Youth Health Professionals: Be influential. Promote every child’s connection with nature and the outdoors – identify outdoor play resources and partner with municipalities, parks, nature-related organizations, parent groups and children to support this process.

AMA Youth Run Club 2.Develop life-long healthy lifestyle habits and decrease screen time among school-age children and youth ParticipACTION Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Youth Only 9% of children age 5-17 meet the guidelines for their age group of 60 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous-intensity activity per day.

AMA Youth Run Club 3.Develop youth leaders and champions to help sustain the program. 4.Expand and grow the program throughout the province and maximize capacity at the individual school/club level. 5.Educate on nutrition, sun safety and injury prevention.

mins/day vs Alberta + 21 mins/day vs Canada AMA Youth Run Club 40-50% more physical activity in YRC youth

AMA Youth Run Club The YRC is supported by: AMA Partner: Ever Active Schools Ambassadors: Paula Findlay | Tim Berrett Sponsors: Running Room | Physiotherapy Alberta Champions: Physicians, residents, medical students

AMA Youth Run Club What does a YRC Champion do? 1.Visit a YRC school and make a fitness or nutrition/good health presentation 2.Strap on your runners and run with a club. 3.If there isn’t a YRC at a school in your area, start one! 4.Make the YRC part of your PCN’s community involvement/engagement efforts.

AMA Youth Run Club CSA U of A medical students, hard at work. Healthy, active children become healthy, active adults. Be a role model. LIVE the mental and physical benefits of a healthy lifestyle. engage support encourage promote Medical students as YRC Champions

AMA Youth Run Club Medical students make excellent YRC Champions ! Contact Hayley Degaust, EAS Provincial YRC Coordinator, to: Get connected with a YRC school Find out if a school in your area has a YRC (EAS can facilitate program set-up) |

AMA Youth Run Club AMA resources – Six Tips for Talking tip sheets, e.g. –Running: It’s good for your mind, too –Sweet dreams! Sleep keeps you healthy Video – Tips for Presenting to Elementary Students – featuring Dr. Kim Kelly, pioneer YRC Champion EAS resources –

AMA Youth Run Club Dr. Kelly, running with her son, Alex

Ambassadors AMA Youth Run Club Paula Findlay Canadian Triathlete 2012 Olympics Tim Berrett Canadian Race Walker Olympics

AMA Youth Run Club We have the schools, the kids, a partner, sponsors, ambassadors... We just need Medical Student YRC Champions!

AMA Youth Run Club Thank you! Janet E. Boyer, Coordinator, Professional Affairs, AMA Vanda Killeen, Senior Communications Consultant, Public Affairs, AMA