PHOTOS: Radio Disney Kicks Off Rutherford Elementary School's PowerUp Challenge

Radio Disney helped Lakeview Health kick off Rutherford Elementary School's PowerUp School Challenge Thursday with a high-energy assembly filled with dancing, games and nutrition facts.

PowerUp is Lakeview Health's new community-wide youth health initiative to make the valley a place where it's fun, easy and popular for youth to eat well and be active, Amanda Honsvall, PowerUp's school outreach coordinator.

PowerUp is a collaborative effort between Lakeview Hospital and Stillwater Medical Group clinics, schools, public health, restaurants and businesses to engage families and youth in the Stillwater and Somerset communities to get kids excited about fruit, vegetables and physical activity.

"Our goal is to change the way kids think about healthy lifestyle behaviors so that they are able to reach their full potential," Honsvall said.

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Following Thursday's kick-off assembly, Aaron Danielson, a physical education teacher at Rutherford, will follow up with a 4-week program encouraging kids to track the fruits and vegetables they consume, as well as their physical activity

A PowerUp Challenge will happen in all of the Stillwater and Somerset elementary schools this year. 

"We are very hopeful that this will help reinforce healthy habits for elementary students in the valley," Honsvall said.

Each school will earn a PowerUp Bucks prize grant toward any type of wellness materials or equipment they need based on the average participation rate of their students over the four-week period.

Families can also add to this prize grant by "liking" their school's photo on the PowerUp Kids Facebook page

Click here more information about PowerUp, as well as recipes, tips and activities.

Click here for a list of winter activities.