Hundreds of children across the Island are taking part in a new programme helping them to concentrate on the benefits of exercise.

They are taking part in the Children's Wellness Programme, the youth version of the 100 Day Challenge that is currently underway in Bermuda.

It is the first time the Challenge organisers have offered a youth version and schools have embraced the idea – with seven of the 31 private and public schools on board. And even though it has started there is still time for others to join, according to organisers.

Aimed at children from primary to senior school level, the programme is focused on physical activity and not weight loss.

"We didn't want to concentrate on weight loss for school-aged children, especially teenaged girls who can end up with psychological problems as a result of trying to lose weight," said organiser Sarah Burrows. The programme criteria are simple – 60 minutes of physical activity everyday must be completed. "It doesn't have to be in school time they can do it at home," added Ms Burrows. "It is on an honour-based system.

"The drawback is that if they want to cheat, they can, but we hope that they don't, and if they do that they realise they are only cheating themselves."

In addition to increased physical activity, Ms Burrows said the programme was also aimed at promoting healthy eating habits.

The programme sees groups of five to 30 students in a team with a team leader who collates their daily activity sheets each week. Ms Burrows said it was suggested that adults acted as team leaders for student groups and that each leader must have Internet access.

Lisa Bardgett, Development Director at Mount Saint Agnes Academy, said she agreed that it should not concentrate on weight loss and that many adults on last year's 100 Day Challenge became depressed when they did not see the pounds being shed. She said the youth programme had created a buzz around the school where all 450 students are taking part and cheating had not emerged as a problem. "We have students who are blowing the five hours for the week completely out of the water," said Ms Bardgett.

Ms Bardgett said classroom teachers were acting as team leaders for their classes and the move had made the programme very competitive as teachers were motivated to even take their class for a walk around the block to increase their activity hours.

At Clearwater Middle School, Deputy Principal Dr. Derek Tully, is overseeing the initiative, which involves all the students and all staff.

The school has been broken into groups of 10 students and each group has a chart on their class advisory board detailing the members and the specific activities and time taken at each activity, for each member. "We have different codes for completing the chart," said Dr. Tully. "For example if a child comes into school on Monday morning and reports that he/she went walking with mom and dad for 60 minutes along Clearwater Beach at the weekend, we complete the chart by blacking out one section."

Dr. Tully said in this way each child will have a complete record of his/her physical activity during the 15-week programme instead of only what was done during school hours.

He said health walks, jogs and runs would also take place at the school for not just students, but parents as well. And he said that regular meetings with Government Healthy School Coordinator Marie Beach would take place at Clearwater Beach car park.

Organisers of the Children's Wellness Programme will draw a $3,000 grand prize from among schools that successfully complete the challenge. Four, $500 cheques will also be up for grabs.

At Mount Saint Agnes students and teams will also compete for prizes at the school and there will be plenty special activities, like Wii competitions, sack races and perhaps hula-hoop competitions like the one held last Friday at Clearwater Middle School.

It is felt the benefits of increased activity and healthy eating could also translate into increased opportunities for young people in the sporting arena. Ms Burrows said organisers had teamed with the Bermuda Olympic Association (BOA) which is hoping the programme will help groom young people to be world-class athletes. "We support the programme from the point of view that by having the youth engaged in this healthy activity it will hopefully give them a mindset to achieving their goals of one day representing their country,' said Judy Simons, President of the BOA. Schools signed up on the programme are:

¦ Bermuda High School for Girls with 15 teams.

¦ The entire school, teachers and advisors of Clearwater Middle School.

¦ Dalton E. Tucker Primary School with two teams.

¦ The entire school at Mount Saint Agnes Academy.

¦ St. George's Preparatory school with two teams.

¦ Warwick Academy with 24 teams.

¦ West End Primary

Any school or group wishing to sign on may do so by contacting Sarah Burrows on 297-8427.