Who can participate?
The 500 Festival KidsFit Program is available to all K-6th grade students in the state of Indiana (classrooms or groups).
What is the cost to participate?
The KidsFit Program is completely free! However, participants in grades 4-6 are invited to participate in the Delta Dental 500 Festival 5K, which takes place on the same morning as the OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini-Marathon on Saturday, May 2, 2020. We offer KidsFit participants a discounted registration fee of $15 per student. 5K registration information will be sent to registered schools in February 2020.
How does it work?
KidsFit was created by the 500 Festival as a 10 or 12-week running and physical education program for K-6th grade students across the state of Indiana. KidsFit activities and lessons meet the Indiana Department of Education’s Indiana State Academic Standards for Health and Physical Education. The program includes weekly activities with a step-by-step guide for any interested teachers in Indiana. Basic items such as jump ropes, cones, and stopwatches are needed to perform the weekly activities that are geared toward the Indianapolis 500®.
In addition to the weekly lessons and activities, students are expected to complete one mile of running or walking each week with the “Start Your Engines Running Plan.” Starting with Week One, the program will gradually grow in difficulty with longer running periods to build the students' stamina. Students are able to complete the running portion as a group or on an individual basis. Students will log and track their progress. The goal is for students to run 13.1 miles over the course of the program, the equivalent of a half-marathon.
How do I receive the curriculum?
Once you have registered your students to participate in the program, you will receive an email from the 500 Festival confirming registration. In the middle of January teachers will receive a packet with the curriculum, a classroom incentive chart for students to track their progress and KidsFit Program completion certificates.
As a teacher, what do I need to teach the KidsFit Program?
The 500 Festival has tried to make it as easy as possible for teachers to administer the Program in their classrooms, gymnasiums, athletic fields, or parking lots by providing a step-by-step lesson/activity curriculum. The curriculum packet will provide some basic props needed to complete activities. Teachers will just need basic physical education equipment like jump ropes, stopwatches, cones, etc.
How do I sign up my students to run at the Delta Dental 500 Festival 5K?
The 500 Festival will be able to accommodate a limited number of 4-6 grade KidsFit Program participants to come to downtown Indianapolis on May 2, 2020 and complete their final 3.1 miles along the OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini-Marathon course. Students will be accommodated on a first-come, first-served basis. The cost is $15 and registration will be available in February.
Can schools pay for their students to run on Mini morning?
Schools are able to purchase Delta Dental 500 Festival 5K entries for their students. The teacher will need to email Helen Khamis at
hkhamis@500festival.com to get a code to allow them to register each student. Teachers will then receive an invoice in the mail for all the total number of students that were registered.
What do students receive for completing the KidsFit program?
Each student who completes the program will receive an official certificate of completion when they finish the program. Additionally, each student who registers to participate in the KidsFit Final 5K (on May 2nd) will receive a t-shirt and a medal and have an authentic Mini-Marathon experience as they advance through Runner Services. After the race, all runners will be welcomed into the Mini-Marathon Post Race Party at Military Park where they can celebrate their accomplishment with their family members and enjoy the festivities.