World’s Largest Exercise Class: May 2 Celebrates 30th Annual Project ACES Day (All Children Exercise Simultaneously)
Posted: May 1, 2018 in Suppliers
American College of Sports Medicine
JERSEY CITY, N.J. – In conjunction with May’s Exercise is Medicine Month, “The World’s Largest Exercise Class” is coming to students, schools and various health, fitness, sports and medical-related facilities around the world on May 2. Millions of participants across the globe will be celebrating the 30th annual Project ACES Day beginning at 10AM.
This Youth Fitness Coalition (YFC) signature program, in partnership with American College of Sports Medicine’s Exercise is Medicine initiative, promotes lifelong physical activity to children in order to help decrease the prevalence of childhood obesity.
Project ACES, an acronym for All Children Exercise Simultaneously, also coincides with National Physical Fitness and Sports Month and National Physical Education and Sports Week.
As part of National Physical Education and Sports Week May1-7, this year the YFC is proud to announce that SHAPE America-Society of Health and Physical Educators will also be a collaborating partner. SHAPE America’s mission is to advance professional practice and promote research related to health and physical education, physical activity, dance, and sport.
According to Olympic Gold Medal Decathlete Dan O’Brien, “Project ACES engages millions of children, parents, and teachers each year to participate in physical activity at their schools and at home. Through Project ACES, children learn the value and importance of good nutrition, adequate physical fitness and healthy decision-making – lessons they can carry well into adulthood.”
Schools can choose their physical activity, from walking or jogging to martial arts, sports, games, fitness training, or dancing. Students typically exercise for 15 to 45 minutes following an educational component called a participation assembly. In the past, schools have incorporated celebrity guest speakers or used music in their Project ACES activities. The program has been recognized by multiple presidents, including Bill Clinton and Ronald Reagan, and has inspired events in 50 different countries. As the time zones change, this chain of local events creates a global wave of exercise.
“Project ACES is a great way to teach children how to live a healthy lifestyle through adequate physical activity and proper nutrition,” said physical education teacher Len Saunders, who created the program in 1989 to motivate children to exercise. “Childhood obesity is an issue plaguing many young people today, and Project ACES is designed to make physical activity and nutrition fun.”
Schools and students will celebrate the 30th annual Project ACES Day by making physical activity a priority. Federal physical activity guidelines recommend children and adolescents do 60 minutes of physical activity per day. Project ACES events and activities can help children reach this goal. Teachers can also make physical activity a priority throughout the year by creating a Project ACES Club at their school to teach and learn healthy lifestyle food and exercise choices.
“We’re all in this together,” said Shihan H.J. Saunders, president of the Youth Fitness Coalition and an exercise physiologist. “Something magical happens when we synchronize our collective consciousness in the spirit of fun on Project ACES Day. If we feel good about ourselves, we can lead by example, and inspire our kids to be their fit best, not just on Project ACES Day and PACES Day, but every day and toward each other,” said Shihan Saunders.
Parents are invited to participate by joining their kids at school or by celebrating on May 5 for the eleventh annual PACES Day: Parents and Children Exercise Simultaneously. PACES Day kicks off a 52-week exercise program with various fun activities parents can enjoy with their children. The PACES website offers resources including a list of family activity ideas for every week of the year.
For more information on how to get involved with Project ACES, visit www.projectaces.com.
