The Grand Canyon Trekkers program is being implemented in 12 schools, including 5 Title I schools in the Paradise Valley Unified School District. An estimated 3000 children will participate. The evaluation component will include the monitoring of the distance each child walks/runs given that the 2007-8 research demonstrated that this activity positively influences cardio-respiratory endurance. In addition, a toolkit that outlines in detail, the operating model for Grand Canyon Trekkers and includes all materials necessary for implementation in a new school district will be developed. KSS is supporting the operation in the Title I schools, the evaluation and the toolkit development.

Learning from previous implementations of the Grand Canyon Trekkers (GCT) program to Title I schools will guide operation:

• Up until KSS involvement to expand to Title I schools, the GCT program was run with a strong volunteer base and PTA support. The schools are characterized by middle and upper-middle class families, motivated students and significant administrative and parental support. The GCT program is now self-sustaining in fourteen of these schools.
• Operating a program in Title I schools requires the support of a program coordinator to work directly with the schools for:
• Engaging volunteers through an orientation/training process and on-going encouragement.
• Helping volunteers accomplish their tasks (e.g. collecting and collating data).
• Providing parents with an overview of the GCT program through orientation meetings.
• Managing the GCT program supplies including the awards for the kids.
• Working with each school to recognize GCT participants and participant goal accomplishments during the 12-week duration of the program and to plan and execute celebration/awards events at the end of the 12 weeks.
• 6. Report findings and participate in follow up communication to the school district at the end of the program year.
• The GCT program cannot be successful without an active partnership commitment from each school’s administration. A partnership agreement will be required from each participating school for volunteer teacher time and for other resources for the program.