Submitted by Len Saunders, founder of Project ACES
Looking to join the world’s largest exercise class? Look no further, as Project ACES is coming up in a few weeks. Project ACES (All Children Exercise Simultaneously) is a program of the Youth Fitness Coalition, Inc. This program was created by retired physical education teacher Len Saunders in 1989 to motivate children to exercise. Project ACES takes place on the first Wednesday in May. This lines up perfectly with National Physical Fitness and Sports Month and SHAPE America’s National Physical Education Week. Schools around the world use this program to encourage their students to get active and learn some different fitness aspects. One of the goals of Project ACES is to address the issue of childhood obesity and raise awareness.
The 36th anniversary of Project ACES will be taking place on May 1st, 2024 at 10 AM. The children participating will either exercise, walk, jog, bike, dance, do aerobics, or a combination of all the above. Each school organizes its own participation assembly for the 15-45 minutes the program runs. There is no specific routine to follow, just have the children do some form of exercise at 10 AM. Feel free to be as creative as you would like. Many schools choose to invite local celebrities to the event and play music to accompany the activities. Organizers of local events can choose to get the whole school involved, or just selected classes. The majority of schools will get the entire school population outside onto a playfield, put on music, and have everyone in the school have some fun by moving and exercising together. If you cannot do it at 10 AM, no worries. Project ACES is flexible, as there are many schools that may participate in the afternoon on May 1st, or even on a different day.
If it rains, have a backup plan. Some schools have the student body go to the gym and do aerobics and calisthenics. Another option if it rains is to pump music over the PA system, and have the classes exercise in their classrooms. Invite the local media to cover the event. The children will love to see themselves in the newspapers or on TV. Proclamations from the Mayor’s and/or Governor’s office may also be read. Project ACES is a great way to highlight your Physical Education program.
Visit the Project ACES website for more information at: www.projectaces.com You can sign your school up on this page and find all information regarding the program including contact information for the organizers. There is no fee to participate. Please spread the word about this year’s event!
About the Author
Len Saunders graduated with honors from the University of Bridgeport in Connecticut, majoring in Physical Education. He later went on to receive a master’s degree in exercise physiology from Montclair State University in New Jersey. Len is an award-winning, best-selling author and a motivational speaker in the fight against childhood obesity. He is recognized nationally for his innovative wellness events. Len’s contribution to children’s health has literally reached millions of children and their parents worldwide. You may have seen Len on such media giants as CNN, Good Morning America, CNBC, The Today Show, ESPN, Nickelodeon, MSNBC, The Fox Channel as well as the front page of The Wall Street Journal.
Len is best known for creating Project ACES (All Children Exercise Simultaneously), an internationally recognized program that literally has millions of children from all 50 states and over 50 countries exercise in unison during the first Wednesday in May. He has created dozens more nationally recognized programs that teach children about leading a healthy lifestyle. Len is also an accomplished author of seven books, with his most recent, ‘I Can Do That’ released in 2017.
