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Washington, D.C.-- On a sunny morning at an elementary school blacktop full of kids playing foursquare, hopscotch and other games, leaders of education, service, media, and sports groups today made a national call for Americans to rescue recess by volunteering as recess monitors in local schools.
The Corporation for National and Community Service has teamed up with the Cartoon Network, the National Basketball Association, the PTA, and other groups in the “Rescuing Recess” campaign, which aims to recruit volunteers to contribute 1 million hours to support recess and physical activity this school year.
A new report by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation has found that while recess is the single best way to help kids be more physically active, recess is declining, especially in schools that primarily educate children from minority and low-income families.
“Recess is about having fun and blowing off steam, but it’s much more. Recess is essential to children’s social, physical, and emotional development. It stimulates the mind and the body – and is part of the answer to some big challenges like violence and childhood obesity,” said Corporation CEO David Eisner. “Never again should a lack of staff be a reason for kids missing recess when volunteers can fill the gap.”
Eisner noted that this campaign is a natural fit for the Corporation and its Senior Corps, AmeriCorps, VISTA, NCCC, and Learn and Serve America programs, which engage tens of thousands of participants each year in teaching, tutoring, mentoring, running afterschool programs, and recruiting parents and other community volunteers to get involved in school life. Through direct service and by mobilizing other volunteers, national service participants can take a leadership role in the campaign – including middle and high school students involved in service-learning who can serve as recess coaches for younger kids.
Sports4Kids, an AmeriCorps grantee that engages 75 members in schools across the country to promote healthy physical activities during recess and afterschool, is another new partner in the Rescuing Recess campaign. "Many schools are cutting back on programs that engage kids in physical activity," said Jill Vialet, president and founder of Sports4Kids. “Safe and healthy play should be an important part of any strategy for preventing violence, creating an environment for academic achievement, promoting emotional well-being, and improving children's health."
Schools wishing to participate in this year’s Rescuing Recess program should visit rescuingrecess.com to complete the volunteer challenge registration. Schools can receive one of 10,000 free Rescuing Recess kits that contain a recess monitor training video, red rubber balls, sidewalk chalk, jump ropes, and a “Bring Learning to Life” service-learning DVD from the Corporation. Top-recruiting schools from each state and the District of Columbia can earn $2,500 grants toward supporting physical activity programs and healthy lifestyle initiatives, as well as $250 gift certificates for sports merchandise. An ultimate winning school will be announced in June to receive a $25,000 cash grant and a recess rally event.
There are a variety of easy ways for volunteers to get involved, including being a recess monitor, helping a PE teacher, participating in a school beautification project for the playground or gym, bringing healthy after-recess snacks to a classroom, engaging students in a service-learning project that supports physical activity and school wellness, or managing other volunteers.
Dwyane Wade, Miami Heat guard and 2006 NBA Finals MVP, has signed on to serve as the national spokesperson for Rescuing Recess. Wade will lead fellow NBA players, legends and WNBA stars in making public school appearances during the school year as volunteer recess monitors. "Rescuing Recess is a perfect fit for me to meet with kids and share how being active and healthy is an important part of being a good student," Wade continued. "In fact, using recess to blow off steam and to re-energize will actually help them do better with their schoolwork."
“Every one of us wants to see school success in teaching kids to lead healthy, active lifestyles. This new campaign will help bring parents, caregivers, and adults of all ages to the playground for kids,” said Stuart Snyder, executive vice president and chief operating officer of Turner Broadcasting’s Animation, Young Adults and Kids Media group, which oversees Cartoon Network.
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The Corporation for National and Community Service improves lives, strengthens communities, and fosters civic engagement through service and volunteering. Providing service opportunities for millions of Americans of all ages and backgrounds, Corporation programs include Senior Corps, AmeriCorps, and Learn and Serve America. For more information, visit nationalservice.gov.
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