By Sam Gilkey
For the News-Gazette

Take a dozen or so elementary school students. Put them in a classroom and turn on a video of a guy running and jumping.

The result could either be chaos – or it could be an hour of physical and mental activity.

For the past two years, Alan Doe, the physical education coach at Hickory Tree Elementary in St. Cloud, has used the Adventure to Fitness Program to challenge the 600 children at the school to learn while exercising.

Adventure to Fitness was developed by teachers, administrators and fitness experts and funded by individuals and organizations focused on children’s health and fitness.

“I was looking for a way to balance the 50 minutes I had with them,”

Doe said. “I get each student at least three times a week and I like to have some variety. When Adventure to Fitness was introduced to us I felt this was an element I could add to my program and health and fitness was born.”

Two hours a week, the kids participate in outside physical activities. One hour a week they come to the classroom that Doe and his assistant coaches set up with the interactive video equipment. There they do a moderate to vigorous activity while learning some new information.

On a recent afternoon, a group of first graders watched “Greek Gauntlet.” The on-screen host keep them moving while giving out facts about ancient Greece, the Olympics, the importance of having a good breakfast to start the day, drinking plenty of water during exercising, sportsmanship and even instructing them how to count in Greek.

Assistant coach Kristie Rupehand kept everyone – including herself and Coach Doe – in motion the entire time.

Michael Rhattigan, CEO of Adventure to Fitness, said the program was launched in the fall of 2010, and over a thousand schools in Florida had signed up to use it by April 2011. It is being provided free to schools and districts and there are no fees to use it.

“We have the funding to continue to provide the current product free for several years,” he said. “Many teachers and administrators have provided a long list of suggestions for funding sources, though we have not implemented any of these yet.”

“We will keep it within our physical education department,” Doe said, “although other schools may use it differently. It is bridging the gap between what they are doing in the classroom and what they are doing physically.”

But are the students remembering what they are seeing and hearing while exercising?

“You can ask them questions about what they have seen,” Doe said. “They are retaining it now and they are recalling it weeks later. Plus good physical health can lead to good clear thinking in the classroom.”

Jessica McCard has a class of students at Hickory Tree with intellectual disability. She sees a difference in their attention following the hour-long class.

“It’s cooler in the classroom than outside,” she said. “So they come back more refreshed. They seem to be more engaged in my class when they return.”

Doe said the overall program he does at the school includes baseball, basketball and football.

“Also we are doing those sports kids don’t normally do,” he said. “I am going to try archery with them this year. And track and field events have always been popular at the school.

“We have a walking club for 15 minutes each morning before classes begin. About 300 students participate and altogether they have done over 2,000 miles this year. The top walker has done 112 miles.”

“Mr. Doe and Hickory Tree Elementary are among the pioneering educators focusing on ways to integrate children’s academic learning, health and well-being,” said Colleen Henckels, vice-president of marketing for Adventure to Fitness. “We commend their efforts and encourage other teachers and schools across the nation to follow their lead.”