The American Heart Association, the National Football League and Discovery Education Team up to Take Students on a Virtual Field Trip

SILVER SPRING, Md., January 23, 2020 /3BL Media/ - Getting active for 60 minutes a day is critical as kids who are regularly active have a better chance of a healthy adulthood, but only 20% of kids get enough activity to meet the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ 2018 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans^[1]. That’s why the American Heart Association, the world’s leading nonprofit organization focused on heart and brain health for all, and the National Football League (NFL) in production collaboration with Discovery Education, the leading provider of digital curriculum resources, digital content and professional development for K-12 classrooms, are working together to make physical activity fun and inspire healthy lifestyles.

At 1 p.m. EST on Jan. 30, the NFL PLAY 60 Huddle Up and Get Moving! Virtual Field Trip will premier. Broadcast in classrooms across the country, the Virtual Field Trip gives students a behind-the-scenes look at the Miami Dolphins practice facility and stadium, which is home to Super Bowl LIV. Students will also learn ways to strengthen their muscles and hearts with Miami Dolphins players and cheerleaders. The virtual event makes physical activity fun and inspires healthy lifestyles through cardio and strengthening exercises. The livestream encourages classrooms to get active and give back to their community as part of the NFL’s Huddle for 100 initiative, which is asking people to volunteer 100 minutes of their time for a total of 100 million minutes to celebrate the NFL’s 100th season.

“Working together with the American Heart Association on PLAY 60, we’re excited for another Virtual Field Trip that will get youth across the country moving towards a healthier and more active lifestyle,” said Anna Isaacson, SVP of Social Responsibility, NFL. “Encouraging students to volunteer in their communities through this year’s Virtual Field Trip as part of the NFL’s Huddle for 100 emphasizes the importance of giving back which has been a constant theme throughout NFL100.”

Now through Super Bowl LIV, educators and students can Huddle to Play it Forward by getting out and volunteering to improve their school community or neighborhood. Participants are encouraged to share a photo or 15-second video of their classroom demonstrating healthy behaviors in the community on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram using #GetMovingPLAY60.

“Starting in childhood, lifelong healthy eating and regular physical activity are key to great cardiovascular health and to preventing heart disease and its risk factors. Engaging children in PLAY 60 is a strategy to make movement fun,” said Eduardo Sanchez, M.D., MPH, the American Heart Association's chief medical officer for prevention. “Active kids learn better. When kids are active, they focus more, think more clearly, react to stress more calmly, and perform and behave better in the classroom. Kids who are physically active as kids will help build healthy kids and future generations of adults with great health.”

The NFL and the American Heart Association have teamed up since 2006 to inspire kids through a fun and engaging way to get physically active. In addition to the NFL PLAY 60 Huddle Up and Get Moving! Virtual Field Trip, the American Heart Association and the NFL offer the free PLAY 60 app, which has been redesigned this year to help kids get more movement throughout the day. The PLAY 60 app allows users to control personalized avatars onscreen with their own physical movement. The app is available for iOS and Android devices.

Registration for the NFL PLAY 60 Huddle Up and Get Moving! Virtual Field Trip is now open at heart-nflplay60.com/register. To learn more about this program and to access the free resources, visit aha-nflplay60.discoveryeducation.com.

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About the American Heart Association

The American Heart Association is a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives. We are dedicated to ensuring equitable health in all communities. Through collaboration with numerous organizations, and powered by millions of volunteers, we fund innovative research, advocate for the public’s health and share lifesaving resources. The Dallas-based organization has been a leading source of health information for nearly a century. Connect with us on heart.org, Facebook, Twitter or by calling 1-800-AHA-USA1. 

About NFL PLAY 60

For a decade, NFL PLAY 60 has brought together the NFL's long-standing commitment to health and fitness with partner organizations to increase physical activity among youth. Since the program was launched in 2007, the NFL has committed more than $352 million to youth health and fitness through programming, grants, and media time for public service announcements. The NFL and its teams have constructed more than 265 NFL Youth Fitness Zones and integrated programs into over 73,000 schools since the campaign launched. NFL PLAY 60 is also implemented locally, as part of the NFL's in-school, after-school and team-based programs. For more information, visit NFL.com/PLAY60.

About Discovery Education

Discovery Education is the global leader in standards-aligned digital curriculum resources, engaging content, and professional learning for K-12 classrooms. Through its award-winning digital textbooks, multimedia resources, and the largest professional learning network of its kind, Discovery Education is transforming teaching and learning, creating immersive STEM experiences, and improving academic achievement around the globe. Discovery Education’s services are available in approximately half of U.S. classrooms and primary schools in the U.K. and reach over 5 million educators and 51 million students in more than 90 countries. Inspired by the global media company Discovery, Inc., Discovery Education partners with districts, states, and like-minded organizations to empower teachers with customized solutions that support the success of all learners. Explore the future of education at DiscoveryEducation.com.

For Media Inquiries:

American Heart Association

Linzy Cotaya: 504-872-3446 or 214-706-1173; linzy.cotaya@heart.org

For Public Inquiries: 1-800-AHA-USA1 (242-8721)

heart.org and stroke.org

NFL

Jordyn White
Jordyn.White@nfl.com

Discovery Education

Jackie Kavege
jkavege@discoveryed.com

^[1]  Department of Health and Human Services, Physical Activity Guidelines, page 14. Available for download here: https://health.gov/paguidelines/default.aspx