Partner Programs
Anchorage Programs
The Anchorage Parks and Recreation Department is responsible for implementing year-round recreation programs or all ages. The Anchorage Parks and Recreation Activity Guide is a great resource for affordable and fun Anchorage-based activities for the whole family. Healthy Futures partners with Anchorage Parks and Recreation to host the Bonny Sosa Tuesday Night Races every fall and collaborates on numerous Anchorage-based events and activities.
Alaska Aces
The Alaska Aces are a highly successful hockey team in the mid-level professional ECHL league. The Aces partner with Healthy Futures by providing free or discounted tickets for youth and having players, coaches and their polar bear mascot Boomer attend events such as the Tuesday Nights Runs and Winter Jamboree.
Anchorage School District Health and Physical Education K-12 instruction promotes healthy behaviors for today and into the future. Setting goals, making decisions, accessing scientifically, and self management are just some of the skills that are fundamental to instruction at all levels. Healthy Futures parters with the ASD Health and PE department on numerous levels including the Elementary School Jamborees and the ARISE after school program.
Anchorage Skate Club is a non-profit organization created to encourage kids and adults to get outside and use the beautiful outdoor skating rinks that Anchorage has to offer. Anchorage Skate Club provides after-school “learn to skate” and evening “learn to hockey” programs and Saturday pond hockey sessions. Programs are geared toward non-competitive skating and open to all levels of ability.
Alaska Pacific University Nordic Ski Center began a decade ago as a regional Olympic training center for cross-country skiers. The program developed some of the best elite skiers in the country including many Olympians and national medalists. The program is also committed to the community and frequently partners with Healthy Futures to provide role model athletes at events including the Jamborees, Bonny Sosa Tuesday Night Races, school assemblies and the ARISE program.
Orienteering is the sport of cross country navigation using map and compass. To some it is a competitive race while to others it is a chance to get out and explore the countryside, challenge the mind, and enjoy the company. Arctic Orienteering Club places a priority on training people new to the sport and beginners and young people are encouraged to take part. Healthy Futures supports Arctic Orienteering Club by covering the cost of entry for any children wishing to participate and providing incentives for the Big-O event for ASD K-6th graders in May.
Skinny Raven is Alaska’s premier running store. It also organizes and times event while sponsoring many others. Skinny Raven partners with Healthy Futures primarily through the Superhero Showdown, a youth-oriented event that attracts hundreds of kids and serves an an important fundraiser for Healthy Futures.
University of Alaska Anchorage
Healthy Futures partners with University of Alaska Anchorage in putting on the Healthy Futures – Kid’s Mile. The Kid’s Mile and Health and Fitness Expo are new additions to the popular annual Mayor’s Midnight Sun Marathon & Half Marathon organized by UAA and Anchorage Parks and Recreation. The Healthy Futures – Kid’s Mile is a free event for youth of grade school age with a full mile or half mile option. Healthy Futures will provide a DJ, and Celebrity Guest Athletes (Healthy Heroes) to hand out finishers medals and meet the kids afterwards.
Kenai Peninsula Programs
The TTA is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting Nordic skiing and other activities as a healthy individual and family activity. The heart of the group’s activities is the Tsalteshi Trails located just south of Soldotna, where 25 kilometers (15 miles) of trails are groomed for cross country skiing in the winter and are open for hikers, runners, mountain bikers and leashed dogs when there is no snow. Current programs include the Salmon Run Series, several summer running camps, a cycling series and a youth ski program.
Rural Programs
NANANordic’s goal is introduce the lifetime sport of cross-country skiing to rural Alaska starting with villages in the NANA region. The program serves more than 1,500 students and adults in April each year. Villages on skis are Ambler, Buckland, Deering, Kiana, Kivalina, Kobuk, Kotzebue, Noatak, Noorvik, Selawik and Shungnak. Healthy Futures provides T-Shirts and other incentives to participating children. Healthy Futures spokesperson Lars Flora is the Director of NANA Nordic.
Statewide Programs
The Alaska Club provides activities and events like family-fun night and youth yoga throughout the year. The Alaska Club rewards children that are participating in the Healthy Futures Challenge by providing reduced or free entry to designated events and activities. Visit The Alaska Club website to see list of statewide locations and community events. View the Healthy Futures event calendar and event profile page to learn more about Healthy Futures-supported activities at The Alaska Club.
Camp Fire is a nonprofit youth development agency that seeks to give every child the opportunity to discover the best in themselves and others in a fun, safe learning environment. It serves more than 5,000 youth through before- and after-school programs, a summer program, camps, community centers and its rural program. Camp Fire partners with Healthy Futures by attending events that it supports and helps organize.
Futsal is a game of soccer with a low bounce ball mostly played indoors. Futsal AK’s goal is to promote healthier children by participating in futsal and to inspire kids to play more and educate players, parents and coaches about the positive aspects of playing a fun game with a ball and goals. Futsal in Alaska is being promoted by Futsal AK as a player development initiative. Futsal AK specializes in the promotion and education of the sport of futsal through training programs and the organization of teams to compete in leagues and tournaments. This is at a time when the game is starting to gain recognition in the Arctic Winter Games and at the local level as the importance to the development of the soccer player in Alaska and the United States.
The State of Alaska Department of Health and Social Services Play Every Day Campaign works to increase public awareness about the risks of childhood obesity and the importance of physical activity to prevent and reduce childhood obesity. The campaign reaches out to parents, teachers and others who support Alaska children. Healthy Futures partners with Play Every Day in implementing and promoting the elementary Healthy Futures Challenge for elementary-age children. Together, we work with schools to promote the Challenge and ask parents to make physical activity a part of their family’s day.