Cali kids trade candy for exercise

Students at Cali Calmécac Language Academy traded 84 pounds of
Halloween candy for the opportunity to see their teachers running
laps around the school field.
The program began with physical education teacher Kristine
Behrens looking for a way to encourage kids to lead a healthier
lifestyle.
“My motivation for doing a candy trade was based upon trying to
persuade my students to eat healthier and make smarter food
choices,” she said. “I also feel that it is important that the
teachers and staff eat healthy and lead healthy lifestyles. I
figured running or walking laps for their students would be enough
of an incentive to get some exercise.”
For every pound of candy brought into class by Behrens’ sixth
through eighth grade classes, a group of teachers and staff will
walk or run a lap. The teachers will also walk/run a lap for every
$5 that was donated to UNICEF as part of a school wide
fundraiser.
After receiving 84 pounds of candy and $816.32 in donations, the
adults will complete 248 laps of the field. Behrens said the
teachers and staff will walk in shifts to complete the laps as the
total will equal more than 40 miles.
David Escarcega, 11, said he was participating with the candy
trade for a couple of reasons and was excited to see who would run
laps. “I want to help and I want to help run with the teachers,” he
said.
Miguel Rizo and Callahan Carleton said he had learned about the
needs of students in other countries through the Unicef donations.
“I learned it helps give education, water food to help fight
diseases,” said Rizo.
Charleton said she learned about the inequity of other
countries. “Not all places around the world have education and food
like we do,” she said.
Behrens said she hoped the Unicef/candy experience would make an
impact on students. “As for the lesson the kids learn, I hope they
realize that they really can do with less and that there are other
kids and people who need just the basic necessities like water,
school supplies, etc.,” she said. “The kids have responded very
well.”
The candy collected during the program will be distributed to
local non-profits.