Fall 2021 CARY Run Club "Chameleons Getting Active"
We're back! After a long, long, long break we are excited to be able to bring back the Cary Elementary Run Club!
This is a fun, no pressure way to get some fresh air, exercise, socialize with friends, and start the school day energized and focused! Students run or walk around the track, race, or do fitness activities in each session. We keep track of progress by student, class, and grade to see how active students can be over the course of a season, with class and individual recognition for highest participation levels at the end.
ELIGIBILITY
All Carpenter students in grades K to 5 are able to participate (we do ask that parents of kindergartners stay with them for their first in-person session)
There is no cost to participate
Students do not need to have prior running or sports backgrounds. We welcome students of all ability levels, and students run, walk, skip, etc. at their own pace.
PARTICIPATION This fall, there are two options to get involved:
IN PERSON - We will meet (weather permitting, when school is in session) on Friday mornings from 8:15-8:45 at the Carpenter Elementary Track.
VIRTUAL - If you can't join us on Friday mornings, students can be active for up to 30 minutes wherever they are and then enter their time through a form on this website.
SESSION DATES We will meet in-person on the following dates this fall:
October 15, 22, and 29
November 5 and 19
December 3, 10, and 17
In person sessions meet from 8:15 to 8:45.
REQUIRED ITEMS There are no required items to participate, but it's a good idea for in-person sessions to have comfortable shoes and water.
REGISTRATION Click on the link in the header at the top of this page to register! It's as simple as that!
We hope to see you at the track!
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS What exactly do the students do for in-person sessions? On the day of a session, students meet on the track at 8:15 and check-in with a parent volunteer. They are then free to start laps on the course marked by colored cones (five laps equals one mile). We organize races or challenges for students who want to participate and try something different. At 8:45 when the first bell rings, students grab their bags and head to the front of the school to start their day!
What if the weather is bad? If we cannot meet in-person because the weather or track conditions won't allow it, we will send out an email by 7:30 a.m. to let you know that Run Club is cancelled, as well as posting on the Run Club website. If there is light, misty rain we may still meet. If it's sunny but there has been heavy rain, we may not because often large puddles form and need a few days to dry up. Be sure to check your inbox and/or the website before every in-person session.
We did Run Club in the past. Are in-person sessions the same as before COVID? No, they're not. In the past we used cards and a scanning app to track student laps and mileage. We are not doing that this fall, but hope to return to that practice in the future.
What COVID safety protocols are you following? We are working with school administration and will follow WCPSS safety protocols for outdoor school activities. Should those change over the course of the season we will advise you accordingly.
Can my child participate in-person if they are tracked out? Yes, as long as you can get them home after the session. There is no transportation from school for tracked out students. You can always use the virtual option form if you can't make it in person.
Can my child participate if they attend the YMCA for before school care? Yes. On the registration form there is space to indicate your child wishes to participate. We will generate a list and share it with the YMCA.
Can I drop my child off before 8:15? NO! We cannot guarantee coverage before 8:15, and in the event we had to cancel and you missed the notice your child will be unsupervised.
Can I stay and participate with my child? Of course! You are welcome to do so but it is not a requirement (except for the first in-person session for kindergartners!)
Do you need volunteer help? We always need help on the day of in-person sessions but there are options to get more involved with planning and organizing the club if you'd like. Just send an email to cesrunclub@gmail.com.
How will students be recognized? We are still working this out for fall 2021. Have patience with us and we will share details in early November.
My student attended an in-person session. Do they also need to fill out the form to submit time? No. If your student attends in-person, volunteers will use that day's registration forms to enter time. You only need to complete the time form if using the virtual option.
What if my student is active on more days than Friday and wants to fill out the form for all those days (like last year)? This fall we are recognizing one day a week to balance the virtual and in-person options.