The Fit Kids Program is currently operating as a non-profit organization at East Tennessee State University in the Department of Kinesiology, Sport and Leisure Sciences.  This program is primarily supported through grants and donations within the community.  Fit Kid’s main supporter is Mountain States Health Alliance.   

Fit Kids is currently in 3 local counties:  Washington County, Unicoi County, and Carter County, Tennessee. 

Within those counties Fit Kids visits 9 Elementary Schools at least twice a week to offer our supplemental Physical Education/Wellness program to Pre-K through 5^th grade. 

Our Fit Kids instructors go through a week of training and observing before entering their schools.  Two of our Fit Kids instructors are the sole Physical Education Teacher in their schools.  These are our schools with most need.  They do not have  a physical education teacher, and therefore, rely on Fit Kids to teach their children the importance of health and fitness.  Without Fit Kids these children would not get to experience the great joys and importance of exercise!  This is just one reason we feel the community is still in need of the Fit Kids Program.   

The other Fit Kids instructors are fortunate enough to have Physical Education teachers in their schools.  In these schools we feel it is important for the classroom teachers to get involved with the teaching of fitness and nutrition.  Here the Fit Kids instructors will spend 15-20 minutes in each classroom giving “brain breaks.”  These “brain breaks” serve as a time when the pencils go down and the kids get up !  The Fit Kids instructor will spend the next 15 minutes teaching the class activities that will get their heart rates up and remind them once again of the importance of fitness and living a healthy lifestyle.  Many studies have been conducted; stating that these frequent breaks during the day help the children perform better in the classroom, as well as, get exercise they need during the day.