5th Gear Kids™ is the first school-based program to be built as part of a partnership across two distinct school districts. Aurora Public Schools and Cherry Creek School District, in close collaboration with Dr. James O. Hill from the Anschutz Health and Wellness Center, designed a program to improve the health and wellness of children by empowering the 5th grader. With funding from The Colorado Health Foundation and support from Children’s Hospital Foundation, 5th Gear Kids™ was created, and the goal of empowering children to achieve health is becoming a reality.

Aurora Public Schools and Cherry Creek School District enroll approximately 7000 5th graders each year. During Fall of 2012, 5th graders in both districts will be the first to students to take part in 5th Gear Kids™. In partnership with BSCS, 5th Gear Kids has developed an energy balance curriculum for 5th graders. In Cherry Creek School District, 5th Gear kids will learn about energy balance in science class. In Aurora Public Schools, 5th Gear kids will learn about energy balance in physical education class. Both school districts will receive additional resources to encourage 5th graders to apply what they learn about energy balance in the cafeteria, the playground and at home. Additionally, every 5th grader will get an ID card that will give them access to special 5th Gear Kids™ promotions out in the community. 5th graders will use their ID cards to earn points for being active and eating healthy. Then they can use the points they earned to get cool prizes. 5th grade teachers will also get ID cards, supplied by program partner King Soopers.

5th Gear Kids™ newsletters will go from school to home every month, with a calendar of activities and promotions to help 5th graders and their families become healthy consumers. All of the current 5th Gear Kids™ partners and their offers are listed on the website. Stay tuned to hear about more fun opportunites and offers from our partners!