Event Logistics Guide INTRODUCTION

About VERB™

VERB is a national, multicultural campaign that encourages tweens (9–13 year olds) to be physically active every day. The VERB campaign uses a combination of paid advertising, school and community promotions, and the Internet to promote physical activity as cool, fun, and a way to have a good time with friends. The successful, five–year campaign began in 2001 and comes to a close in 2006.

Communities Getting Involved

Tweens across the country are highly aware of VERB. They like VERB. They think it is "cool" and they know it is all about being physically active. Local communities can take advantage of the VERB campaign's appeal to tweens by planning activities and holding events that get kids interested in and excited about being physically active. If you choose to hold a community–wide physical activity event, use this document as a logistical planning guide.

Producing a community–wide VERB Activity Zone event is a great way to bring the VERB campaign to your community. Health fairs have long been an effective way to introduce adults to the importance of health screenings and preventive health measures. That, however, does not work for kids. Kids are interested in what is cool and fun. That is what a community–wide VERB Activity Zone event is all about.

The VERB Activity Zone creates an environment to inspire tweens to discover the fun of physical activity. It provides opportunities for tweens to try new, fun, and cool physical activities, while separately introducing parents to the variety of physical activity options available in their communities. And, local organizations that offer physical activities through after–school programs, classes, and clubs can increase patronage by promoting their offerings to tweens and parents of tweens.