7 Fresh Fun Runs for Spring – Fun, Fitness & Fundraising!

Looking for a way to bring your school together, keep kids active, and raise big funds—all while having a blast? A Fun Run is the perfect spring fundraiser! Whether you’re hosting a Walk-Athon or Jog-Athon, these 7 creative themes will make your event stand out, boost participation, and create unforgettable memories for students, parents, and staff.

From out-of-this-world space adventures to glow-in-the-dark fun, these themes are easy to organize and guaranteed to excite your school community. Ready to find the perfect fit for your school? Let’s go!

Futuristic Fun Run – An Out-of-This-World Experience

Blast off into an exciting sci-fi adventure with a Futuristic Fun Run! This high-energy theme will transport students to a galaxy of fun, complete with neon colors, space-age accessories, and interstellar challenges.

How to Make it Epic:

• Dress Code: Encourage students to wear metallics, glow gear, or astronaut outfits to match the futuristic theme.
• Track Decor: Use LED lights, space props, and neon signs to create a high-tech feel.
• Fun Additions: Include “laser” obstacles (streamers across the track), moon bounce zones, or a portal finish line.
• Interactive Element: Give each student a “mission”—like completing a lap to save the galaxy!

Example: Lynx Laps Futuristic Fun Run
The Lynx Laps Futuristic Fun Run raised over $53,000 and had incredible engagement thanks to creative incentives! This included a SCHOOL-WIDE Laser Lunch Party, Glow-in-the-Dark Fun Run Wristbands and Holographic Larry Fun Run Stickers for students. They even had a 24-hour Power Challenge to drive in the most donations [check out the promo below].

This theme is perfect for all ages and adds a futuristic, high-energy twist to a traditional Fun Run. Based on the example from Grayhawk PTO, it’s clearly a profitable way to shake up your fundraiser!

Glow-in-the-Dark Fun Run

Transform your school’s fundraising event into a magical, after-dark experience with a Glow-in-the-Dark Fun Run. This event is perfect for the warmer nights of spring, offering a unique twist on traditional fun runs. Participants can create their own glow-in-the-dark t-shirts, accessorize with glow sticks, and run a track adorned with neon decorations.

Ideal Setting:

• Outdoor Option: Host the run at dusk to utilize the natural transition from daylight to darkness, enhancing the glow effect. Ensure the path is well-lit with additional lights for safety as the evening progresses.
   
• Indoor Alternative: For schools with limited outdoor space or for added convenience, the gymnasium can serve as an excellent venue. Conduct the event during the day with the lights off to mimic the night-time glow effect.

While suitable for all ages, this type of fun run is especially popular among middle school students!

Example: Pershing School (K-8) creatively hosted their Glow Run in the gymnasium during recess for grades K-5. Middle school students were involved as helpers, fostering a sense of community and leadership among the older students.

A Glow-in-the-Dark Fun Run not only promises an unforgettable experience for participants but also serves as a profitable event for schools. With proper planning, safety considerations, and school-wide involvement, your Glow Run can be a highlight of the spring fundraising season!

Dr. Seuss Dash

Bring the whimsical world of Dr. Seuss to your next school fundraiser with a Dr. Seuss Dash! This unique event combines the joy of reading with the energy of a Fun Run, making it an educational and active experience for students. Hosted ideally in March to coincide with Dr. Seuss’s birthday on March 2nd, this theme adds a celebratory twist to both reading and running.

• Transform your track or chosen venue into a Dr. Seuss-themed wonderland. Think colorful decorations, character cutouts, and themed music to set the tone.
• Themed Activities: Incorporate Dr. Seuss-inspired activities like character relay races, themed crafts, and dress up days leading up to the event.
• Use vibrant, Dr. Seuss-inspired promotional materials to capture the imagination and excitement of potential participants. Check out these incentive ideas for a Dr. Seuss Read-Athon – they can also work for a Fun Run!

The Dr. Seuss Dash offers a creative and engaging way to fundraiser with a fun, themed event that can bring in big donations!

Bubble Fun Run

Embrace the joy of spring with a Bubble Fun Run, where participants dash through clouds of bubbles, making for a memorable and Instagram-worthy event. This theme incorporates bubble machines along the track and offers a variety of bubble-themed prizes, from gum and wands to giant bubble kits. Add an extra layer of fun with Bubble Challenges, engaging participants in friendly competitions like the biggest gum bubble or the longest-lasting bubble.

• Bubble Stations: Strategically place bubble or foam machines at various points along the track, especially at the start and finish lines, to create a festive and fun atmosphere.
• Bubble Prizes: Reward participants with bubble-themed prizes, encouraging engagement and adding to the excitement.
• Bubble Challenges: Organize mini-competitions during the event, such as bubble-blowing contests, with small prizes to keep the energy high.

Successful Example: Laurel Elementary’s Leapin’ Lions Bubble Run! They creatively used bubbles at key points and provided huge bubble wands for play. Achievers of the superstar goal enjoyed a special bubble war with the principal!

Rewards and Celebrations:

• Individual Rewards: Offer unique experiences like a bubble war with the school principal or staff for students who reach fundraising milestones or achieve a Superstar Goal!
• Class Incentive: The top-earning class could be treated to a Bubbles and Cake party!
• School-Wide Achievement: Celebrate reaching the overall school goal with a Bubble Greeting from staff and PTA at drop-off, making for a magical start to the day!

Pro Tips:

• Safety First: Ensure that bubble solution is safe and non-toxic, and consider potential slipping hazards (better to have it on the grass than on the pavement)
• Engage the Community: Invite parents and local businesses to sponsor bubble stations or donate prizes
• Bubble Machines + Blowers: Have multiple bubble machines and handheld bubble blowers that your parents can use at stations every quarter mile
• DIY Foam Solution: Make your own non-toxic solution and use large, industrial fans with mesh netting and a box fan to get the foam effect without the expensive machine

A Bubble Fun Run offers an exciting way to celebrate spring while fundraising for your school. This offers the magic of a Color Run without the mess but with all the joyous memories!

Superhero Fun Run

Transform your next Fun Run into an epic adventure with a Superhero theme. Encourage participants to don their capes, masks, and superhero gear on the day of the event. This theme is perfect for spring, allowing everyone to enjoy the great outdoors while channeling their favorite heroes.

Event Highlights:

• Dress Code: Invite students, teachers, and parents to dress up as their favorite superheroes, adding a fun touch to the run.
  • Superhero Spirit Day: Coincide the event with a Superhero Spirit Day, amplifying excitement and participation throughout the school.
• Special Appearances: Have the principal or a popular teacher dress up as iconic characters like Batman to lead the run, adding a memorable twist.
• Decorations and Atmosphere: Use comic book-themed decorations along the run route and in gathering areas to enhance the superhero vibe.
  • Community Engagement: Partner with local comic book stores, costume shops, or community organizations to sponsor the event or provide prizes and decorations!
• Local Heroes: Invite local community heroes, such as firefighters, police officers, or nurses, to participate or be special guests, reinforcing the real-life superhero concept.
• Interactive Elements: Incorporate superhero-themed challenges or obstacles along the run route for an interactive experience.
• Photo Opportunities: Set up themed photo booths or backdrops where participants can take pictures in their costumes!
• Rewards: Offer superhero-themed medals, certificates, or other incentives to all participants 

A Superhero Fun Run is an excellent way to engage the entire school community in a fun, active, and imaginative way. It provides a unique opportunity to celebrate the hero in everyone while promoting fitness and raising funds for your school!

Color Run

This popular event involves participants running through stations where volunteers toss safe, colored powder onto their white t-shirts, turning the run into a moving rainbow of fun!! It’s a joyful way to embrace the season and engage your school in a memorable fundraising event. The event is easy to organize with minimal setup—just volunteers, colored powder, and a running course.

Event Essentials:

• Participant Gear: Encourage everyone to wear white t-shirts to maximize the color effect.
• Color Stations: Set up 4-5 color stations along the course, each equipped with a different color of powder, ensuring a variety of hues.
• Volunteer Teams: Assign 2-4 volunteers per station, tasked with safely tossing the colored powder as runners pass by.

Planning Tips:

• Timing: Schedule the Color Run for the end of the school day or on a weekend to minimize disruption to the academic schedule.
• Course Setup: Use cones to mark the course clearly, ensuring it’s easy to follow and safe for all participants.
• Safety First: Make sure the colored powder is non-toxic, safe for skin and eyes, and environmentally friendly. 

Making It Special:

• Opening Ceremony: Kick off the event with a fun warm-up session 
• Finish Line Festivities: Celebrate the end of the run with music, refreshments, and a group color toss, creating a memorable finale.
• Community Involvement: Invite local businesses to sponsor color stations or donate prizes and refreshments

A Color Run not only brings the school together for a fun-filled day but also serves as an effective fundraiser. With careful planning, enthusiastic volunteers, and a splash of color, your school can host an unforgettable event!

Shamrockin’ Fun Run

Channel the luck of the Irish with a Shamrockin’ Fun Run, perfectly timed to coincide with St. Patrick’s Day celebrations. This event infuses the traditional Fun Run with festive Irish spirit through themed activities, green attire, and unique fundraising incentives that are sure to engage the entire school community.

Event Highlights:

• Dress Code: Encourage participants to wear their best green outfits or St. Patrick’s Day costumes, adding to the festive atmosphere.
• Fundraising Tracker: Use a “Fill the Pot with Gold Coins” visual in each classroom to chart fundraising progress, turning the effort into a fun competition. This is easy to do with FundHub’s online classroom leaderboard!
• Incentive: Offer a unique incentive such as “Slime the Principal” if the school reaches its fundraising goal, adding a fun twist that students will eagerly work to achieve!

Planning Tips:

• Spirit Days: Leading up to the event, organize Dress in Green days to build excitement and unity among students and staff.
• Course Decoration: Decorate the Fun Run track with shamrocks, rainbows, and pots of gold to fully embrace the theme.
• Community Engagement: Invite local Irish cultural groups or entertainers to add authenticity to the event.

Making It Special:

• Opening Ceremony: Begin with Irish music or a brief dance performance to set the tone and energize participants.
• Themed Stations: Consider having themed stations along the run with Irish-inspired challenges or activities.
• Post-Run Celebration: Conclude with a small celebration featuring Irish treats, music, and perhaps a best-dressed contest to reward the most spirited outfits.

The Shamrockin’ Fun Run offers a unique way to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day while promoting fitness and raising funds for your school. With a mix of festive spirit, community involvement, and fun incentives, this event is sure to be a hit, leaving participants feeling lucky to be a part of your school community!

At Get Movin’, we’re excited to partner with you for a successful fundraising event

At Get Movin’, we’re here to help schools host fun, profitable, and easy-to-manage fundraising events.

Want to see how it all works? Take a free tour with us! We’ll walk you through the platform, show you how to boost participation, and make sure your school’s Spring Fun Run is a huge success!

The post 7 Fresh Fun Run Ideas appeared first on Get Movin' Fundraising.

Boost Read-Athon Donations Through Classroom Participation

Planning a School Read-Athon? Don’t Forget About Your Teachers!

When planning a school fundraiser, we often focus on the students, parents, and donors—but there’s another group that can make a big difference for your event: your teachers! Teachers have a unique influence on students, and their involvement can significantly drive donations and participation in your Read-Athon fundraiser. Let’s explore why teachers love Read-Athons and how you can involve them to maximize your fundraising success!

Why Teachers Love Read-Athons

Teachers naturally gravitate toward activities that enhance student learning, and Read-Athons are a perfect match. These fundraisers combine literacy promotion with effective fundraising, making them a favorite among educators. Here’s why teachers love Read-Athons—and why administrators should, too.

(Tip: These points are great to have in hand when getting admin approval for your event!)

1. An Educational Activity They Can Get Behind

Teachers care deeply about their students’ academic growth. Unlike fundraisers that involve selling candy or gift wrap, a Read-Athon is centered on improving literacy—a foundational skill that impacts every subject.

• The Need: Reading scores have been on a decline since COVID, with educators nationwide seeking ways to boost literacy.
• The Impact: Read-Athons promote a school-wide focus on reading, giving teachers a reason to talk about its importance every day.

Read-Athons create excitement around books, encouraging students to read more while helping schools raise much-needed funds. It’s a win-win.

2. Easy Integration Into the Classroom

Teachers are busy, and they appreciate fundraisers that fit naturally into their lesson plans without adding extra work. Read-Athons do just that:

• Storytime: Reading aloud to the class? Those reading minutes count!
• Independent Reading: Silent reading time can be logged toward classroom totals.
• Group Activities: Reading circles and book discussions contribute to the overall reading goals.

3. Motivating Students With Fun Rewards

Teachers love watching their students set and achieve goals. Read-Athons make it easy to incentivize both reading and donations!

Here are a few ways teachers can encourage participation:

• Daily Shout-Outs: Teachers can highlight students who hit their reading or donation goals.
• Classroom Rivalries: A little competition between classrooms can ignite a fun, goal-driven environment. The Classroom Leaderboard on FundHub makes this easy to track in real-time!
• Reward Variety: From extra recess to a pizza party or certificates, teachers can help celebrate milestones big and small.

How to Boost Donations Through Classroom Participation

Teaming up with Get Movin’ Fundraising makes it simple for teachers to actively participate in a Read-Athon. Our platform includes teacher dashboards designed to make their participation easy and impactful. With FundHub, teachers can:

• Track reading minutes for their entire classroom or individual students.
• Monitor progress toward classroom donation goals.
• Celebrate successes with students in real-time, creating excitement and motivation as they work together to become top of the Classroom Leaderboard!

These tools empower teachers to stay engaged and drive student participation. Below are specific ways that the PTO/A can help teachers stay up-to-date and involved in your school Read-Athon!

1. Host a Read-Athon Guest Speaker Series

Invite teachers to bring their favorite children’s books to life. Not only does this build excitement, but it also promotes a love of reading across the school. Here’s how:

• Morning Announcements: Kick off the day with a teacher reading a chapter or excerpt from a beloved book.
• Assembly Readings: Incorporate live reading sessions into a kickoff assembly or event day.
• Virtual Storytime: Host online readings via Facebook Live to engage families and creating a special experience after school hours.

Pro Tip: Pair readings with fundraiser updates. For example, after a chapter reading, announce the top classroom for reading minutes or donations.

2. Recognize and Promote Achievements

Teachers love celebrating their students, and the PTO can make it even better by supporting them with fun tools and competitions. One great idea? Track social shares and turn them into a class-wide challenge!

• Run Reports: Use tools like FundHub to see how many parents are sharing student webpages for each class.
• Create a Class Competition: Share the results with teachers and challenge classrooms to see who can get the most shares.
• Reward the Winners: Celebrate the top class with a fun prize like a pizza party, extra recess, or a raffle reward.

This simple addition keeps parents involved, teachers excited, and students motivated. Plus, it’s an easy way to boost donations!

3. Create Teacher Incentives

Teachers love a little recognition, too! Adding fun incentives for teachers can keep them motivated and excited to rally their classrooms. The PTO/A can set up simple rewards to show appreciation for their hard work.

• Top Classroom Teacher Prize: Offer a gift card, lunch delivery, or even a special coffee run for the teacher whose class logs the most reading minutes or raises the most donations.
• Team Effort Reward: Celebrate all participating teachers with a group reward, like a casual lunch or treat day, if the school hits its overall goal.
• Fun Challenges: Encourage teachers to take on challenges for their classes, like dressing up as a character from a book or hosting a wacky theme day if their class reaches a milestone.

These small gestures go a long way in making teachers feel valued and creating a sense of fun and camaraderie during the fundraiser!

Raise More with Teacher Engagement

Teachers are the secret ingredient to a successful Read-Athon. By offering tools like classroom webpages, social share tracking, and fun incentives, you can keep teachers and students motivated throughout your fundraiser.

Want to see all the ways FundHub makes it easy for teachers to get involved? Book a FundHub Demo today and discover how our platform can help your school raise more!

The post Teachers Love Read-Athons appeared first on Get Movin' Fundraising.

Less Planning, More Unplugging – Streamline Your Event + Enjoy More Screen-Free Time

In today’s screen-dominated world, it’s crucial to remember the value of disconnecting and engaging in real-life experiences. That’s where an Unplug-A-Thon shines, particularly within school communities.

This guide is crafted for school parent groups aiming to promote healthy screen-time habits while raising funds. By embracing unplugging, we provide families a refreshing digital break, tracking “unplug” activities and inviting community support through donations.

What is an Unplug-A-Thon?

An Unplug-A-Thon reduces screen time and promotes offline activities. Participants track their non-screen activities, with friends and family donating to support the school and the global unplugging movement. This initiative boosts mental and physical well-being while serving as a creative fundraising opportunity. By joining, families reconnect with the world through activities like hiking, cooking, playing games, and more!

How It Works
Organizing an Unplug-A-Thon involves a few key steps:

• Set a Date and Duration: Choose a time frame for your Unplug-A-Thon, ranging from a single day to an entire month, depending on your school’s commitment level. Either way, make sure to keep your donation period open for at least a few weeks to meet your fundraising goal. 
   
• Registration: Participants register for the event, often through a platform like FundHub, which can track their offline activity and manage donations, incentives, and promotions.
   
• Activity Tracking: Utilize online counters or tracking sheets to record the time spent in non-screen activities. This can be self-reported or verified through various creative means, such as digit detox journals reviewed by the teacher, activity punch cards or bingo sheets, and photo journals to visually capture screen-free fun!
   
• Fundraising: Encourage participants to gather donations to support their commitment to unplug or the number of offline hours logged.
   
• Celebration and Recognition: Conclude the event with a celebration of the collective achievements and recognize top achievers – at the individual, class, and school level!

Screen-Free Activity Ideas + Categories

Outdoor Adventures

• Nature Scavenger Hunts: Create a list of natural items for participants to find, encouraging exploration and observation skills. Tailor the list to your local environment, including things like specific leaves, rocks, or wildlife.
   
• Guided Nature Walks: Partner with a local naturalist or park ranger to lead educational walks, teaching participants about local flora, fauna, and ecosystems.
   
• Family Bike Rides: Organize a community bike ride with different routes for varying skill levels. Include pit stops with refreshments and information about the local area.
   
• Outdoor Game Tournaments: Set up classic games like capture the flag, relay races, or obstacle courses in a local park or at your school for a day of family-friendly competition.

Creative Workshops

• Art in the Park: Host an outdoor art session where students can draw, paint, or play with clay or kinetic sand.
• Music and Movement: Organize a drum circle or dance workshop in the gym.
• DIY Craft Stations: Set up stations with different craft activities, such as bracelet making, pottery, or woodworking, allowing participants to hop from one to another. 

Community Service

• School Grounds Clean-Up: Organize a day dedicated to cleaning up the school, followed by a group picnic to celebrate the hard work.
   
• Gardening for Good: Partner with a local community garden or start one on the school grounds, inviting families to plant and tend to vegetables that can be donated to food banks or used in the cafeteria.
   
• Intergenerational Projects: Collaborate with a local senior center to pair up participants with seniors for storytelling, crafts, or other shared activities.
   
• Animal Shelter Assistance: Arrange for groups to volunteer at local animal shelters, helping with care, play, and maintenance tasks. Especially good for middle or high schools where students may need to acquire volunteer hours.

Unplug-A-Thon Incentives

Personalized Recognition

• Digital Detox Champions: Create special titles or awards for individuals or families who go above and beyond in their unplugging efforts, such as “Digital Detox Champion” or “Unplug Master.”
   
• Achievement Badges: Design virtual or physical badges for different milestones or activities completed during the Unplug-A-Thon, such as “Outdoor Explorer” for participating in a certain number of outdoor activities or “Book Worm” for hours spent reading.

Prize Draws

• Weekly Challenges: Introduce weekly challenges with smaller prize draws to keep the excitement going throughout the Unplug-A-Thon. Challenges can be themed around different activities like creativity, fitness, or community service.
   
• Social Media Shares: For participants willing to briefly reconnect online, encourage sharing of their Student Fundraising Webpages and share about their unplugged experiences on social media with a link for friends and family to donate. FundHub makes this super easy!

Special Experiences

For an exciting twist, consider hosting an Adventure Day with Educators where students can spend a day with their favorite teachers or school staff. Winners get to choose activities such as hiking, visiting museums, or embarking on fun educational trips, all while sticking to the unplugging theme.

Additionally, you can enhance the experience by arranging Local Talent Workshops. In these workshops, winners can engage in private sessions with local artists, chefs, athletes, or other community experts, learning new skills or hobbies directly from professionals. This not only fosters a deeper connection with the community but also provides students with valuable, hands-on experiences.

Host an unplug-a-thon with Fundhub!

Our partnership with Global Day of Unplugging enables schools, teams, and organizations to host meaningful Unplug-A-Thon fundraisers. This effort blends the joy of unplugging with the satisfaction of supporting a cause. Those interested in supporting the awareness campaign can join HERE.

School Example: Willow Tree’s Screen-Free Read-A-Thon

Willow Tree’s Unplug-A-Thon in September was a success, with “Friends of Willow Tree” encouraging families to go screen-free and dive into reading. This initiative promoted literacy and family bonding. FundHub made tracking reading minutes easy and fun!

An Unplug-A-Thon offers a unique opportunity to step away from our screens and reconnect with the world and people around us!

With FundHub, easily manage your event from anywhere—whether you’re hiking, at the zoo, or at a trampoline park. Our mobile platform lets you oversee every detail from your phone. Create personalized webpages for each group, complete with photos, goals, and messages. Track unplugging activities in real-time with our simple activity counter for individuals, classrooms, and the whole school. FundHub ensures your event is impactful and fun, all while giving you the flexibility to manage it on the go.

The post Hosting a School Unplug-A-Thon appeared first on Get Movin' Fundraising.

Childhood health and wellness are more important than ever and schools have a pivotal role in promoting healthy lifestyles. With obesity rates in children still a national concern, it’s crucial to integrate physical health where we can. One fun way to do this is through fitness-based fundraisers, which not only raise money but also contribute to the physical well-being of our students.

Why Fitness-Based Fundraising?

Traditional fundraisers often involve selling items like chocolate or pizza kits, which may be popular but contradict the message of health promotion within schools. These products do not support the nutritional guidelines that schools strive to uphold, such as providing balanced meals and ensuring that students get at least 60 minutes of physical activity each day.

Fitness-based fundraisers – like obstacle courses and bike rallies – offer a great alternative, turning fundraising events into opportunities for exercise and school-wide fun. These events encourage participation in physical activities, which is linked to better health, improved academic performance, and a stronger sense of teamwork in the school!

Six Engaging Fitness Fundraiser Ideas:

1. The Amazing Race:

Transform your school’s traditional Fun Run or Jog-Athon into an engaging “Amazing Race”-themed event. This concept is based on the popular TV show and includes a variety of challenges that test students’ athleticism, intelligence, and teamwork.

How to Host:

• Plan the Course: Design a course around your school campus or a local park. Include multiple stations where students must complete specific tasks before moving on.
• Design Challenges: Create challenges at each station, mixing physical activities (like short sprints, agility ladders) with mental tasks (puzzles, trivia). Ensure the challenges are age-appropriate and safe but still fun and engaging.
• Team Formation: Organize students into teams by class and encourage team names and themes to boost excitement.
• Scoring System: Develop a points system for each challenge. Points can be awarded for completing tasks, creativity in solving problems, and team spirit. Additional fundraising points can be earned based on the amount of money each team raises through donations.

The Amazing Race is a memorable fundraising event that students will look forward to year after year!

2. Ninja Warrior Challenge

The Ninja Warrior Challenge draws inspiration from the obstacle-based competition seen on TV. This active fundraiser is perfect for schools looking to promote fitness and teamwork, while providing a thrilling challenge that appeals to students of all ages.

How to Host:

• Design the Obstacle Course: Design an engaging and challenging obstacle course that can be set up on school grounds or a local park. Include obstacles like rope climbs, tire jumps, balance beams, mini hurdles, and crawl nets. Ensure safety is a priority with proper mats and padding where needed.
• Team Setup: Students can participate as individuals or in teams. Teams can encourage camaraderie and make the event feel more manageable for less confident students.
• Volunteer Staff: Organize a team of volunteers to help set up the course, register participants, supervise obstacles, and provide first aid if necessary.
• Day of Event Logistics: Start the day with a briefing about the course rules and safety. Organize a warm-up session to get participants ready and prevent injuries. Have a clear start and finish line, with timers if competition is timed.
• Engagement and Entertainment: Besides the main event, provide other engaging activities for spectators and participants waiting for their turn. This could include music, mini-games, and food stalls/trucks!

Aspen Academy hosts a Ninja Warrior Challenge each year with Get Movin’ Fundraising and always raises BIG money. But, they weren’t the only ones to use this fun idea – Mt. George International School also did a Ninja Challenge and raised almost $50k!

3. Color War

A Color War is an event where students are divided into teams based on colors, each representing their grade or a chosen team within the school. The event consists of various academic and fitness challenges, making it a fun competition that tests both mind and body. It’s an exciting way to engage the entire school community and raise significant funds.

How to Host:

• Select Teams and Colors: Assign a color to each grade or class. Encourage students to wear their team colors on the event day to foster team spirit.
• Design Challenges: Create a mix of academic and physical challenges. Academic challenges could include quizzes, spelling bees, or puzzle-solving tasks. Physical challenges might involve relay races, tug-of-war, or obstacle courses.
• Prizes for Winners: Award prizes for the top-performing teams in each category and overall winners. Consider creative experience incentives like a special lunch, extra recess, or a classroom party.

Immaculate Conception School hosted a Color War and raised over $25k! This is a great way to combine a Color Run with a fun school-wide competition.

4. Superhero Sprint

The Superhero Sprint adds a fun and imaginative twist to the classic fun run, inviting participants to dress up as their favorite superheroes. This theme not only makes the event more enjoyable but also attracts more participants and sponsors due to its visual appeal and the way it stands out from other events!

How to Host:

• Dress Code: Encourage participants to wear superhero costumes. Offer prizes for ‘Best Costume’, ‘Most Original Superhero’, and ‘Best Team Theme’ to inspire creativity.
• Decorations: Decorate the race course with superhero-themed banners, start and finish lines, and checkpoint markers. Consider themed music to play at various points along the route to keep energy high.
• Social Media Challenge: Start a social media challenge or hashtag campaign where participants can share their costumes and your group can share donation progress!

Stone Creek Elementary raised over $29k – which is $21k MORE than they’ve raised in the past – with their Superhero Sprint fundraiser!

5. Zumbathon

A Zumbathon is an energetic and super fun way to raise funds by having a fitness dance party. Participants engage in Zumba, a popular fitness program, led by certified instructors. A Zumbathon – or other dancing event – is an excellent way for students to participate in fundraising while improving their fitness.

Tips for Planning:

• Student Instructors: Where possible, include older students who are experienced dancers or those who show leadership in physical education to help lead the dance or assist instructors. This can empower students and help them get out of their shells for the event!
• Dance Clubs: Collaborate with school dance clubs or groups to participate actively in the event. They could perform dance routines as part of the Zumbathon or help in choreographing segments of the Zumba routines!
• Class Competitions: Organize the event so that classes can compete against each other in terms of participation, energy, and fundraising efforts. This can foster a friendly competition atmosphere, encouraging more students to get involved.

Emerson Parkside Academy hosted a Boogie Down and Sweat for Science Zumbathon! It doesn’t get more creative than that. Emerson created this fundraiser to keep their science program alive at their school and they raised major $$!

6. Kickball Tournament

Kickball tournaments are an excellent way for middle schools to combine sports, teamwork, and fundraising into one exciting event. This activity is particularly well-suited to middle school students because it is accessible to a wide range of skill levels and emphasizes both fun and competition.

How to Organize a Kickball Tournament:

• Set a Date and Location: Schedule the tournament during a time that minimizes conflicts with other school activities. Use the school’s athletic fields or a nearby park.
• Tournament Structure: Opt for a double elimination format, which allows teams a second chance to compete if they lose a game, keeping them engaged in the tournament for a longer period.
• Rules and Equipment: Clearly define the rules to ensure fairness and safety. Provide all necessary equipment, including bases, kickballs, and scorecards.
• Homeroom Teams: Organize teams by homeroom – or by school houses – to encourage class unity. This also simplifies organization and creates a friendly rivalry among classes.

Collierville Middle School hosts an annual Kickball Tournament for their Get Movin’ fundraiser. It is organized into homerooms competing with double elimination. Points are earned for wearing team t-shirts, # of students with any donation amount, and runs scored. Winner gets a trophy!

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