The 2009 Governor’s Challenge Competition is a contest among California k-12 schools that encourages California students, parents and teachers to get active, healthy and fit. 

How can my school participate?

The principal of every school wishing to participate in the 2009 Governor's Challenge Competition should select a Governor's Challenge Coordinator to lead the school's efforts in the Competition.  Governor’s Challenge Coordinators can register at www.CalGovCouncil.org/Coordinator.   

Schools must have students complete the Governor’s Challenge by May 31, 2009 – the Governor’s Challenge is to be active 30-60 minutes a day at least three days a week for a month. 

When can our school take the Governor’s Challenge?

Schools can begin taking a Governor’s Challenge on any date up until May 4, 2009

Can schools attempt more than one Governor’s Challenge per year?

Yes.  Schools are encouraged to attempt as many Governor’s Challenges as they would like during the academic year.  The more Governor’s Challenges your school attempts, the more optortunities you will have to record “Active Days” a key factor in determining our ultimate award winners.

School Awards

• Grand Prizes -  Three brand new fitness activity centers (retail value $100,000 each) to the grand prize winning elementary school, middle school and high school thanks to the Anthem Blue Cross Foundation with support from iTECH Fitness
• Regional Awards – Eleven $5,000 awards to purchase physical activity equipment thanks to CVS/pharmacy^®
• Front Runner Recognitions – $1,000 awards to the elementary, middle and high schools in each region that record the most Active Days by January 31, 2009 thanks to CVS/pharmacy^®

 

How can my school qualify to be considered for a regional or grand prize award?

There are two ways to qualify as a finalist for one of our eleven regional awards and three grand prizes in the 2009 Governor’s Challenge Competition:

1. A school can finish with the highest percentage of students completing the Governor’s Challenge in its region.

• Or -

2. A school can finish with the highest number of students completing the Governor’s Challenge in its region (at least one elementary, one middle school and one high school per region will become a finalist through this path).

To win a Regional Award and qualify as a finalist for the Grand Prize

Each finalist for our Regional Awards and Grand Prizes will be asked to submit three essays, one describing their school’s commitment to promoting healthy eating on campus, one describing their commitment to supporting physical activity on campus, and one describing the impact a brand new fitness center would have on their school community.  Essays, will be reviewed and considered along with the school’s total number of Active Days by the Governor’s Council and the Network for a Healthy California in determining award winners.

Is there a minimum enrollment a school must have to qualify for Awards?

Yes, to qualify as a regional or grand prize winner in the Governor’s Challenge Competition, schools must have a minimum enrollment of 100 students.

Are there any student and teacher incentives and rewards?

Incentives

• All Students (K-12)
• Students who take the Governor’s Challenge qualify for one free lift ticket at Mammoth Mountain
• High School Students
• High School students qualify for a free 30 day pass to 24 Hour Fitness when they sign up for the Governor’s Challenge and a free 90 day pass when they complete the Governor’s Challenge.  Please Note: to qualify for the 24 Hour Fitness incentives, high school students need to sign up for the Governor’s Challenge directly at http://www.calgovcouncil.org/challenge/students. 
• California Teachers and Parents
• California teachers and parents can download a free 30 day California Teacher Pass to 24 Hour Fitness when they sign up to take the Governor’s Challenge themselves.

Rewards

All students completing the Governor’s Challenge will qualify for a Certificate of Completion from the Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports thanks to General Mills.  Students can earn one certificate per academic year.

Who can sign up?

• Governor’s Challenge Coordinator – one person from each school, selected by the Principal, should sign up to lead the school’s efforts in the Governor’s Challenge Competition.  The Governor’s Challenge Coordinator will have the opportunity to upload a school’s student roster onto the Governor’s Council website which will make the administration of the Governor’s Challenge faster and easier. www.CalGovCouncil.org/Coordinator
• Students – can sign up for the Governor’s Challenge directly, track their own Active Days and qualify for incentives and rewards www.CalGovCouncil.org/Students

Note: Students who have the school coordinator administering the Governor’s Challenge on their behalf should not sign up for the Challenge directly

• Parents, Teachers and Other Individuals – can sign up for the Governor’s Challenge themselves, and be active on behalf of the school of their choice  www.CalGovCouncil.org/ParentTeacherAndOthers 

Who can participate in the Governor’s Challenge Competition?

Any student actively enrolled in an accredited California school in grades k-12, or any California teacher may participate in the Governor’s Challenge Competition by taking the Governor’s Challenge on behalf of his or her school. 

What counts as physical activity in the Governor’s Challenge?

To successfully complete the Governor’s Challenge, students must be active 30-60 minutes a day at least 3 days a week for a month in addition to the physical activity they engage in as part of their school’s regularly scheduled physical education classes.  For the purposes of this competition, physical activity is broadly defined and can include any and all forms of physical activity including, but not limited to such things as playing basketball, lacrosse, soccer, or volleyball or biking, boarding, diving, hiking, surfing, swimming, walking, and wrestling.

Where do coordinators record students’ physical activity?

In order to get credit for taking and completing the Governor’s Challenge, coordinators must record their students’ Active Days on-line at www.CalGovCouncil.org/Coordinator (students who do not have their school’s coordinator administering the Governor’s Challenge on their behalf can record their own Active Days)

How does the Council know if students and teachers are really being active?

The Governor’s Challenge Competition and the Governor’s Challenge are based on the “honor system” which is a critical part of many sports and fundamental to fair play.  Note: In determining the finalists for the Governor’s Challenge Competition, the Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports does reserve the right to ask the school’s principal to verify its Governor’s Challenge completions.

What is the duration of the competition?

Coordiantors, Parents, Teachers and students must record their Active Days by midnight May 31, 2009 in order for their school to get credit for their efforts in the 2009 Governor’s Challenge Competition.

Where can I access promotional materials for the 2009 Governor’s Challenge?

Click on the following links to download and print:

       2009 Governor’s Challenge Competition brochure

       2009 Governor’s Challenge Competition poster

       2009 Governor’s Challenge Competition flyer

       2009 Governor’s Challenge Competition brochure in Spanish

       2009 Governor’s Challenge Competition poster in Spanish

       2009 Governor’s Challenge Competition flyer in Spanish

For more information

Email info@CalGovCouncil.org or call 310 867-2951.