The Fitt Fridays program brought health and wellness education to life for 1,766 elementary students across four schools, thanks to a collaboration between 42 community volunteers, school staff, and local organizations. Held on the last Friday of January, February, and March 2025, this program was coordinated through the Community Health Committee and served as a dynamic example of how community partnerships can support youth development.

Each session of Fitt Fridays included nutrition and physical activity learning stations. Students participated in team-based activities such as food group relays and “Good, Better, Best” nutrition games, all designed to reinforce key health messages in a fun, active way.

To help students track their movement, each child received a wearable step tracker on the first day. They also received Fitt Bingo cards, encouraging them to complete various exercises five times and have an adult sign off. Completed cards were returned for entry into prize drawings sponsored by local partners.

The community physical activity mascot, Fitt Fiddle, made appearances, boosting engagement and excitement during school visits. Teachers were actively involved in helping with implementation of the program and voiced strong support for the program’s impact:

• “This program encouraged kids to move more and helped them think about exercise and diet in fun and memorable ways.”
• “I loved that the kids learned from people in the community and got to be part of the videos—it really made them feel connected.”
• “The program itself is awesome. Students get to hear about staying healthy from others in the community, including older students from the district. I love how it brings the community into our schools.”

Through strategic planning, volunteer leadership, and resource development, Extension played a key role in bringing this program to life. Fitt Fridays empowered youth to make healthier choices, encouraged family involvement at home, and strengthened school-community ties through shared wellness goals.

This effort is a shining example of Extension’s commitment to building healthy communities through education, collaboration, and service.