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Work Hard, Be Kind & Have Fun with Kilometer Kids!
Kilometer Kids is Atlanta Track Club's oldest and largest youth running program. The free, game-based curriculum is designed to teach kids 5-14 about goal setting, healthy habits, respect, and community building, all through exposing them to the sport of running. Over the course of the season, the goal for every Kilometer Kid is to run 26.2 miles or the equivalent of a marathon by attending two practices a week for 11 weeks. There is no fee to participate, and the program is for all elementary and middle school students regardless of running ability or experience. As a noncompetitive program, being a Kilometer Kid is not about running the fastest or winning the race. Instead it's all about working hard, being kind and having fun while becoming more physically active, being a part of a team and finding joy in the process.
To register a Kilometer Kids site as a site lead/head coach for Fall 2021, Spring 2022 or both seasons, click here. The Fall 2021 season will begin the week of August 30 and registration for participants will open on July 19. The Spring 2022 season will begin the week of February 21 and registration for participants will open in early January. Please reach out to kilometerkids@atlantatrackclub.org for more information.
Date & Time
Fall 2021 Season: August 30-November 19, 2021
Location
Bring it to your school, neighborhood, community organization or home!
The program launched in 2007 with one location serving 38 kids. Since then, Kilometer Kids has grown significantly and now impacts thousands of children each year in the Atlanta region and beyond. The program is funded by Atlanta Track Club, private donations, foundation grants and community partners. Kilometer Kids is also an official charity of the AJC Peachtree Road Race.
The Site-Based Program
What makes Kilometer Kids different from many other sports-based youth development programs is that we do not train outside volunteers and send them out to schools and communities. Instead, in order to host a Kilometer Kids program, we require someone from that school or community to serve as the coach.
Every program site is unique with different needs, and a member of that community is best equipped to understand those needs. We believe this model fosters a greater sense of camaraderie and trust. So, if you are a teacher looking to start an afterschool physical activity program for your students, a parent trying to get the kids in your neighborhood moving, or a member of a community organization looking for new sports-based youth programming, our site-based Kilometer Kids program is for you!
As the site lead/head coach, you have the flexibility to decide whether you will participate for the fall and/or spring season, where your team will practice, and what days and times works best for you and your participants to meet.
When you register as a Kilometer Kids site lead/head coach, you will get FREE access to:
Our 11 week, gamed-based running curriculum consisting of 22 daily lesson plans that include weekly themes and discussion questions, fun games, daily runs and resources for further learning
Coaching orientation, CPR/First Aid training, and SafeSport certification to prepare you for the season
Electronic mileage tracking tools to make tracking your participants' progress streamlined and organized
T-shirts, wristbands and other incentives to motivate your Kilometer Kids to reach the goal of running 26.2 total miles
Opportunities for your participants to compete in FREE, fun, midweek runs and other Atlanta Track Club youth running events
Support, consulting and mentoring from Atlanta Track Club Staff, elite athletes and veteran Kilometer Kids coaches
The Fall 2021 Season will begin the Week of August 30 and run through the week of November 15. To register as a site lead/head coach for Fall 2021, Spring 2022 or both seasons, click here.
The Virtual At-Home Program
While the overwhelming majority of Kilometer Kids programs are associated with specific schools, community organizations or churches, given the COVID-19 related changes to the school year, Atlanta Track Club is offering a virtual, at-home version of Kilometer Kids! If in-person programming is not available at your child's school or in your community, or your child is unable to participate in site-based programming, this program is for you. Tailored for the challenges families are facing during the pandemic at home, this free, 11 week, virtual program, allows parents and guardians the flexibility to practice on the days and times that work best for them and their children as they work toward reaching 26.2 miles over the course of the season!
When you register for the virtual program, your family will get FREE access to:
Weekly runs and games, educational videos and additional health & wellness resources delivered through a weekly newsletter
The Virtual Kilometer Kids Facebook Group to connect with other participants and their families to celebrate your accomplishments throughout the season and stay up-to-date on everyone's progress
Opportunities to compete in FREE, fun, midweek virtual runs hosted by Atlanta Track Club
Registration will open for the Fall 2021 Virtual Season on July 19. The program will start on August 29. To learn more, please contact us for more information.
For a glimpse at what's in store for you when you join our virtual program, click the image below to watch this video with a message from the running professor!
Atlanta Track Club Community Kilometer Kids:
Do you want to register your child for in-person Kilometer Kids but are not able to start a site in your school or community? Or are you looking to enroll your child in an afterschool program where they can meet new people? We've got a solution for you! Introducing Atlanta Track Club Community Kilometer Kids. We are excited to announce that Atlanta Track Club will be running two Kilometer Kids site-based programs at Brook Run Park and at Piedmont Park. For safety purposes, enrollment will be limited at both locations and COVID mitigation procedures will be in place including the wearing of masks unless actively exercising. Like all other Kilometer Kids sites, participation is free, but while school specific sites are restricted to those who attend that school, these teams are open to anyone!
Registration for Fall 2021 will open on July 19. Please check back soon for more information about location & practice times for the Fall 2021 season.
Meet Madison!
Madison is the Kilometer Kids Program Manager! Born and raised in Atlanta, she has fond memories of running the Peachtree Junior as a kid. After almost a decade away, she is excited to be back in warmer climate to join Atlanta Track Club to support youth through increasing access to opportunities for physical activity, and to build community through sport. Madison played collegiate soccer at Tufts University where she earned her B.A. in Community Health & Anthropology. She went on to earn her Master's in Public Health in Health Behavior & Health Education from the University of Michigan. In her free time, you can find Madison cheering on Atlanta United, looking for any excuse to eat ice cream, or planning her next travel adventure.
To learn more about Madison's journey with running, sports-based youth development and Atlanta Track Club, check out her feature in the January 2021 issue of Wingfoot Magazine!
Frequently Asked Questions:
What costs are associated with the program?
There are no fees associated with implementing or participating in Kilometer Kids.
Does Kilometer Kids have an age limit?
Yes. Kilometer Kids is for children between the ages of 5 and 14. The curriculum was created for an elementary and early middle school audience.
How often are Kilometer Kids practices held?
The program is designed to occur over an 11 week period where participants attend two practices a week. The days and times of those practices are determined by each individual site. This duration and frequency of practice allows ample time for each participant to try to achieve their 26.2 miles.
Who supervises each individual Kilometer Kids program on site?
Individual Kilometer Kids sites are responsible for providing a volunteer site lead/head coach. These individuals have attended a coaching orientation with Atlanta Track Club, have passed a background check, and are CPR/First Aid and SafeSport certified. They may be supported by assistant coaches and other parent volunteers also provided by the individual site. We recommend that there is one coach for every 15-20 kids.
What are the expectations and requirements to be a Kilometer Kids site lead/head coach?
To be a site lead/head coach of a Kilometer Kids program NO EXPERIENCE is required! We will provide you with daily practice plans, an orientation and lots of mentoring and support. All you need to do is register your team with us, have all of your participants register for your specific team on the Atlanta Track Club website, follow our curriculum and host the program twice a week for 11 weeks!
Can I start a new program?
Yes! Starting a new program is easy! Contact us for more information.
I would prefer my child join an existing team. Is there a Kilometer Kids site near me?
To see which Kilometer Kids sites are currently active, check the "Active Site-Based Programs" list above. If you do not see your child's school or a local community site near you on that list, contact us for more information about starting your own team or joining one of the Community Kilometer Kids sites.
My child's school does not have a Kilometer Kids team. Can they still participate in the program?
Yes! If your school does not have a Kilometer Kids team you can start your own team, join one of the Community Kilometer Kids sites, or enroll in the Virtual At-Home Kilometer Kids program. While school specific sites are restricted to those who attend that school, the community Kilometer Kids sites and the Virtual At-Home program are open to anyone
If I have more questions about Atlanta Track Club's Kilometer Kids program who should I contact?
