Freiker: Students ZAP to and from School: A study of how the Freiker system has turned the commute to and from school into the most anticipated physical activity of the day

Background: When it comes to encouraging elementary students to participate in school health programs, it's not enough to solely provide the opportunities; schools must entice children to participate. The Freiker system does just that for an elementary in southwest Denver with a largely Latino student population. Purpose: The Freiker system encourages kids to walk or bike to school. Freiker, which stands for FREquent BIKER, is a solar-powered devise that “ZAPS” (i.e. reads) the RFID tags on students' backpacks and counts the times students walk or bike to school and the approximate distance they travel throughout the school year. Significance: Elementary aged children are having PE and recess times cut therefore students need motivation to get PA outside of school hours, even en route to school. Methodology: Students at this school wait in line to hear the ZAP that signifies they've been counted, a reward for their trek to school. Throughout the year students are recognized for being frequent walkers or bikers and given rewards for their commitment to regular PA. Findings: The program started with such high participation that students cumulatively walked over 2,500 miles in just over 1 month – the same distance from Denver to Boston! Conclusions: With school administrators and community members intimately involved in the planning process, this program can be tailored to meet the strengths and needs of any school community. The successes and shortcomings this program offers are valuable lessons for teaching the importance of PA to elementary students, their families, and school communities.