Steps 2 Summit

Mountains provide a different challenge for everyone who steps on them. Their difference is size, climate and landscape make them a prime location to test your physical fitness.

For some people, they are a place to push yourself to the limits of your physical and mental strength. Harsh environments such as the Himalayas and Andes provide a playground for extreme adventurers to test themselves in the harshest conditions.

Even here in the UK, mountains are visited by many different people for many different reasons. Some choose to simply explore their beauty and enjoy nothing more than a slow-paced stroll to experience the views. Others prefer to test themselves with feats of endurance and speed by completing challenges such as fell running or the three peaks.

The beauty of mountains is that they provide something for everyone. An environment for every person to be active and challenge themselves in any way they choose.

Steps 2 Summit is no different. It's unique approach to physical activity allows children to challenge themselves at their own pace to reach the summit of their mountain. It is not a one size fits all program. By using a course in school, children can complete as many laps as they choose, and by doing so, can set their own pace as to how quickly they want to summit. Some days they may do more laps than others. The key component is that each day they are active each day and working towards an end goal.

"You've got to think about the children for whom, this is what they shine at. This is what makes their day exciting for them. The fact that they are thinking we are going to do our steps and move up the board. The Steps 2 Summit walks are a great way for all children to participate and be included in a physical activity and challenge." Jackie Littlefair, PE Governor

Physical activity can take many forms in the Steps 2 Summit program and every activity can be given a numerical value to act as progress towards the summit of the mountain.

Got a group of children who play football every lunchtime? No problem! You can give a set period of play a numerical value and then credit it to each child's account that takes part. So, if you want to make 20 minutes of football the equivalent to a 1k trek on the mountain, you can.

By using lunchtimes as a forum to complete more laps, children have the opportunity to manage their own time and complete as much physical activity as they choose. The activity data stored in the Steps 2 Summit system gives a fantastic visual reminder of how much progress each child has made. This adds more motivation for children to get themselves active and race their friends to the summit.

Teachers can log in at any time and see exactly which children are being active in their class. The easy to understand data allows you to easily highlight children who are less active and, in turn, develop additional methods of engaging them. This could be through structured walking groups or by using some of the mountain hut training videos which are included in the program.

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"I have set up a Friday club and invited some children from Year 3 who hadn’t climbed very far. So, I invited those children to come every Friday to an extra session where they get scanned at lunch time with me and the Steps 2 Summit leaders. That is new but they are enjoying it and they are saying ‘Miss, I will see you on Friday; we are going to do our steps." Chloe Mills, PE Lead

The Mountain hut training videos are the perfect resource for coping with wet weather or smaller grounds and can be completed in any space where a big screen in present, making them a great option for the classroom.

The 7 min HIIT sessions are set at a number of different levels for each year group to be able to complete. They complement the program by being based around the story of the adventure. The videos are set in a Mountain Hut, with the explorer not being able to get out on the mountain due to the weather. As such, they need to keep their physical levels high and challenge the children to join them in their training program.

The videos, once completed, award a 1km credit to each child that has taken part.

"Families have been talking to me at the school gates saying the children have been home talking about the 7 summit challenge." Zoe Buxton, Headteacher

Steps 2 Summit is available to schools on an annual licence. Teacher can get their classes active for FREE by signing up for a Steps 2 Summit Trek Account. The Steps 2 Summit Trek Account allows teachers to add their class names to the program and record physical activity via an IPad/phone, mountain hut training videos and whole class activity. Start your class trek now

To experience the full Steps 2 Summit program, click on the button below and get started. Your adventure is waiting! Buy now