FAQs
What is Walk On!?
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona is teaming up with elementary schools throughout the state for a fourth year of Walk On! – a fun, motivating program designed to get kids across Arizona moving. It’s all part of an effort to promote walking as a key element of a healthy lifestyle. Walk On! will continue to include a month-long walking challenge for fifth-graders in February. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona is also offering program tools such as teacher tips and classroom posters to K-8 classrooms statewide.
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Why did Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona create this program?
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona cares about Arizona children and it is concerned about the alarming number of them who are affected by obesity. Walk On! is a positive first step in helping to reduce the incidence of obesity among children in the state.
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Is Walk On! open to anyone who wants to register?
The Walk On! Web site and online resources are available for anyone, K-8. The Walk On! Challenge was specifically designed for fifth-graders based on research that revealed that this age group
1) sees physical fitness as important,
2) thrives on goal-oriented behaviors that build self-esteem, and
3) are still seeking approval from adults, making them more receptive to school programs than their older counterparts.
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How can fifth-grade teachers register for the Walk On! Challenge?
Registering for the Walk On! Challenge is easy. Teachers should visit azblue.com/walkon, and follow the links for teachers to learn more.
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Is there a deadline to register for the Walk On! Challenge?
Yes. All Walk On! Challenge tool kit orders must be submitted online at azblue.com/walkon by December 12, 2008. Quantities are limited, and tool kits will be available on a first-come, first-served basis.
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Are there any new additions to the 2009 Walk On! Challenge?
We hope to make this year’s Walk On! Challenge the best one yet – with
Walk4Life pedometers, exciting new incentives such as the Wii Fit ™ and updated reporting criteria to make turning in results easier than ever! We are also offering teachers the chance to win one of four $250 Visa gift cards simply for spreading the word about Walk On! In order to be eligible both teachers (returning and referred) must submit their Challenge results. See the tool kit order form for more information.
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When does the Walk On! Challenge begin?
The Walk On! Challenge will officially begin Feb. 1, 2009.
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What is included in a Walk On! Challenge tool kit?
All fifth-grade participants will receive Walk On! tool kits containing a pedometer and program guide with a tracking calendar to monitor their progress. But please hurry, supplies are limited.
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Can Walk On! Challenge participants earn rewards?
Yes. The Walk On! Challenge is open to fifth-graders throughout Arizona, and at the end of the Challenge, all participants will receive a trendy Walk On! bracelet. Fifth-graders who walk 10,000 steps or 60 minutes per day for the entire month of February will also be eligible to win one of four Wii FitsTM or one of 40 iPod® shuffles. The school with highest percentage of students who successfully complete the challenge will receive a $2,500 grant toward a special fitness-oriented activity.
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How can teachers in grades K-8 participate?
Teachers in grades K-8 will have access to a wide range of tips, tools and resources that they can adapt to implement fitness activities and lessons in their own classrooms. They can even order pedometers for their class at a low cost.
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Can participants in grades K-8 earn rewards?
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona has created template reward certificates that can teachers can download and print from the Walk On! Web site.
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How did Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona determine the goal of 10,000 steps or 60 minutes per day?
Numerous national organizations, including National Institutes of Health and the President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports, cite 10,000 steps or 60 minutes as reasonable daily goals.
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What if my students’ pedometers get lost or broken?
If students’ pedometers get lost or broken, they can still participate in the Walk On! Challenge. Just ask students to count the minutes they spend walking each day, instead of steps. The daily Walk On! Challenge goal will be 60 minutes, instead of 10,000 steps. Replacement pedometers can also be purchased at a minimal cost by clicking here. Once you get to the site, you will click on the ‘pedometers’ link and go to the W4L Neo II 2 Function Pedometer. At checkout, enter the coupon code BCAZ to receive over a 50% discount on the pedometer. Offer valid through 12/31/2009.
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