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Kids & Trails

Kids need at least 60 minutes of active and vigorous play each day, and one of the easiest and most enjoyable ways to meet this goal is by playing outside. Let’s Move Outside! will help families become healthier and develop a more active lifestyle by finding nearby parks, trails and waters.

First Lady Michelle Obama launches Let’s Move Outside! campaign

Read more about Let's Move Outside

Read Mrs. Obama's remarks on Let's Move Outside

See a video of Peter Axelson promoting the Let's Move program

photo of kids on trail

On the Sarah Zigler National Recreation Trail, managed by the
Jacksonville Woodlands Association, Oregon

By Alexandra Traber, Office of the First Lady - March 17, 2010

First Lady Michelle Obama has been reaching out to everyone about moving forward together to give all our children the healthy start to life that they deserve!

She’s been talking with parents, teachers, local governments and community leaders, doctors and nurses, and, of course, kids!

Because Mrs. Obama’s Let’s Move! campaign has the ambitious goal of ending childhood obesity within a generation — she knows that we need everyone in our communities to pitch in.

And so today, in an effort to continue her outreach, Mrs. Obama spoke at the Grocery Manufacturers Association conference to challenge the industry to provide healthier options for families, to label their products more, and to market more responsibly to our children.

In her remarks, Mrs. Obama acknowledged the strides the industry has made in regards to promoting healthy habits for children. But she also challenged the industry — just as she has challenged parents, teachers, and kids themselves — to do more and to “step it up” for the sake of our youngest generation:

As you know, you all produce much of the food that our children eat — and have marketed to them — each day. The decisions you make determine what’s in our grocery store shelves, what’s in our school lunches, and what’s in the thousands of advertisements our kids are exposed to each year. And I know that many of you are undertaking efforts to significantly reformulate your products — and I hope that the time will come when all of you are.

Many of you are also working to educate kids about good nutrition, and to limit advertisements for certain products to our children. And I know that a number of you — and I’ve met several of the committee — have come together to create the Healthy Weight Commitment Foundation to help address the issue of childhood obesity. So there are so many good examples, wonderful examples, of folks beginning to move in the right direction. It’s very exciting.

But I’m here today to urge all of you to move faster and to go farther, because the truth is we don’t have a moment to waste — because a baby born today could be less than a decade away from showing the first signs of high cholesterol, high blood pressure, Type II diabetes, if he or she is obese as a child. A recent study even found that three-year-olds who were obese already had one of the symptoms of heart disease.

So we need you all to step it up! We all need to step up in this country!

This is a shared responsibility. That’s why I’ve gone to parents and I’ve asked them to do their part. They have a responsibility to watch what their kids eat and teach good habits. I’ve asked medical professionals to do their part. They have a responsibility to screen kids for obesity and help parents with these issues. Educators have a responsibility to build healthy schools. Governors and mayors have a responsibility to build healthy communities. And all of you have a responsibility as well.

And we need you not just to tweak around the edges, but to entirely rethink the products that you’re offering, the information that you provide about these products, and how you market those products to our children.

That starts with revamping or ramping up your efforts to reformulate your products, particularly those aimed at kids, so that they have less fat, salt, and sugar, and more of the nutrients that our kids need.

So let’s all follow Mrs. Obama’s lead. Let’s step up our efforts and step out with our kids more often. Let’s lead by example and let’s stamp out childhood obesity for all the future generations to come.

Read more about Let's Move Outside

Paralympians urge kids to get active

By Peter Axelson and Manny Guerra

photo of man

Peter Axelson

See a video of Peter promoting the Let's Move program

The 2010 Paralympic Winter Games, held recently in Vancouver, celebrate spirit in motion. Athletes with disabilities from around the world met to compete, inspiring and exciting the world with their performances— always moving forward and never giving up. These athletes remind us that when we work hard, we can achieve our dreams. We can all be sports champions.

As Paralympic-level athletes, we were proud to compete with some of the best athletes in the world— we pushed our limits and had fun too. But you don’t need to be an Olympian to get moving.

An important part of Let’s Move! is helping kids to stay physically active and making sure they have a healthy, balanced diet. Children need physical activity to be healthy and strong. Being
active can seem like a challenging goal, but it starts with finding an activity that you enjoy and making it a part of your routine.

It can be as simple as playing ball or finding an adaptive sport like sled hockey or mono-skiing that’s right for you. If you have a disability, there is adaptive equipment available that can help you play the sports you love. Parents can also play an important role by being active together with their children. Find a physical activity that the entire family can enjoy.

Peter Axelson is a world champion mono-skier, founder of Beneficial Designs (see pages 32-33), and Advisor to American Trails. Manny Guerra is a Paralympic gold medalist in sled hockey. Peter and Manny were part of the Presidential Delegation to the Closing Ceremony of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games.

Peter Axelson joins Presidential Delegation at Olympic Winter Games

Vice President Biden, Dr. Jill Biden to Lead U.S. Delegation to Opening Weekend of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games

photo of skier sitting on one ski

Peter Axelson skiing

The Vice President and Dr. Jill Biden will lead the U.S. delegation to the opening weekend of the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver, British Columbia. They will travel from February 12th through February 15th.

The delegation will attend the Opening Ceremony, meet with U.S. athletes, attend events and meet with other dignitaries and leaders from around the world.

The U.S. delegations traveling to Vancouver for the Olympic Opening Ceremony, Olympic Closing Ceremony and the Paralympic Opening Ceremony are listed below.

Delegation to the Opening Ceremony of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games

Vice President Joe Biden, Head of Delegation

Dr. Jill Biden

David Jacobson, U.S. Ambassador to Canada

Valerie Jarrett, Senior Advisor to the President

Mike Eruzione, 1980 Olympic gold medalist, U.S. Men’s Hockey Team

Peggy Fleming, 1968 Olympic gold medalist, Ladies Figure Skating

Vonetta Flowers, 2002 Olympic gold medalist, Women’s Bobsledding

Delegation to the Closing Ceremony of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games

Janet Napolitano, Department of Homeland Security Secretary, Head of Delegation

David Jacobson, U.S. Ambassador to Canada

Kathleen Sebelius, Department of Health and Human Services Secretary

Susan Rice, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations

Peter Axelson, U.S. Air Force Veteran, World Champion Mono Skier

Bonnie Blair, 5-time Olympic gold medalist and 1-time bronze medalist, Speed Skating

Manuel “Manny” Guerra, 2002 Paralympic gold medalist, Sled Hockey

Kristi Yamaguchi, 1992 Olympic gold medalist, Ladies Figure Skating

Delegation to the Opening Ceremony of the Vancouver 2010 Paralympic Winter Games

Eric Shinseki, Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary, Head of Delegation

David Jacobson, U.S. Ambassador to Canada

Lisa Jackson, Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency

Kareem Dale, Special Assistant to the President for Disability Policy

Jim Martinson, Vietnam Veteran, 1992 Paralympic gold medalist, Downhill Skiing

Mike May, 1984 Paralympic bronze medalist, Alpine Skiing

Bonnie St. John, 1984 Paralympic silver medalist and 2-time bronze medalist, Slalom and Giant Slalom

Melissa Stockwell, Operation Iraqi Freedom Veteran, 2008 Summer Paralympic swimmer

Related Pages:

Resources and Library:

Kids & Trails

First Lady Michelle Obama launches Let’s Move Outside! campaign

Paralympians urge kids to get active

Peter Axelson joins Presidential Delegation at Olympic Winter Games