FAQ
What is the ACTIVE Life Movement?
The ACTIVE Life Movement is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization focused on leading a first-of-its kind, national health movement.
Our goal is to establish an ACTIVE American culture – a culture where healthy lifestyles are supported, embraced and easily accessible by all. We’re accomplishing this by building a growing community of change agents, and connecting them with the resources and opportunities necessary to create and advocate for ACTIVE change.
What are the benefits of joining the ACTIVE Life Movement?
The ACTIVE Life Movement provides individuals, families and groups with exclusive tips and tools for improving their own health and the health of their communities. Plus, creating a profile is FREE!
How do I create a profile on this site?
Click “Sign Up,” which is displayed in orange in the top left corner of every page on our site. Choose to sign up for Team AL if you’d like to make a difference as an individual or a family. Choose Partner System if you’re a representative of a school. Or choose Community Challenge if you’d like to take place in this unique program that matches high school students, college students and professionals in “squads” to complete community service projects.
How can I support the ACTIVE Life Movement?
You can support the ACTIVE Life Movement by making a donation, becoming an ally, volunteering at one of our events, or through your daily activities as part of Team ACTIVE Life, the Partner System or the Community Challenge.
If I make a donation to ACTIVE Life Movement, what is it used for?
Donations to the ACTIVE Life Movement are used to fund the creation of programs and resources that serve members of Team ACTIVE Life and make the Partner System and Community Challenge a reality. Your support also makes it possible for us to put on the ACTIVE Life Summit, ACTIVE Life Tour and other community events that introduce thousands to the benefits of healthier lifestyles. Best of all, donations help keep all of these things free for participants.
Privacy/Safety
How do you ensure the safety of minors?
We take safety and privacy very seriously. Users must be 13 years old to create a profile on this site. If a parent creates a Team ACTIVE Life profile for her family, we do not ask her to provide the names of her children (although we do ask for date of birth and gender for general reporting purposes).
All Community Challenge participants over 18 years of age must undergo a background check before they are approved for this program, and squads are trained to only meet in public places during the daytime.
Lastly, we give all members the option to keep their profile private and just enjoy the password-protected tools and resources we provide. And we ask all members to alert us immediately if they ever encounter inappropriate content.
How can I report inappropriate content on this site?
If you find any content objectionable, please e-mail us immediately. Use the contact form, and select “Report Inappropriate Content” to ensure a swift response and removal.
Profile Questions
What are the differences between the different kinds of ACTIVE Life Movement profiles?
ACTIVE Life Movement offers three different types of profiles, which reflect the three ways you can get involved in the Movement. All profiles are free. Sign up for a Team ACTIVE Life profile if you're an individual or family wanting to make a difference, and enter information that tells the world how you like to stay healthy and active. Sign up for a Partner System profile if you're a representative of a school, and enter information about how you and your students lead an active lifestyle. Sign up for a Community Challenge profile if you're a high school student, college student or professional who wants to be part of the Community Challenge.
Why should I create a profile?
By creating a profile, you'll gain exclusive access to tips and tools for becoming healthier and more active, and for helping those around you do the same. The ACTIVE Life Movement also offers unique tracking tools for Team ACTIVE Life members, ACTIVE Life partners and Community Challenge squads. Become an ACTIVE Life Partner, and you can record your school's activities in our Movement Map tool. Your Movement Meter rating will then display on your public profile, so you can chart your progress and compare activities with other schools. The Community Challenge also offers tools for measuring your personal health achievements, and the progress of your squad. And Team ACTIVE Life members can record their healthy habits and get personal Movement Meter scores.
What should I do if I encounter a problem with my profile?
If you have questions about your profile or encounter errors, please use our contact form to ask for help. Choose "Tech Support" from the drop-down menu to ensure a prompt response.
Community Challenge
Who participates in the Challenge? Is it free?
The Community Challenge matches five high schools with five professionals or college students to form a squad of ten members. A squad’s members do not all have to be from the same school, company or organization.
The Community Challenge is a completely free program for individuals. We do request that the company that the squad’s professional members work for acts as squad sponsor, making a yearly contribution of up to $500 for squad activities. If companies are unable to cover the costs or it’s a squad with college students, the individuals can all chip in, or they can simply join the squad and raise money and resources together.
I want to join! How do I sign up?
We're so glad you want be a part of the Challenge! The first step is to sign up by creating a profile and "Joining the ACTIVE Life Movement". As you sign up, you'll be able to indicate that you are interested in joining the Community Challenge and it'll walk you through the rest of the process. By joining, you'll also be considered a member of Team ACTIVE Life and hooked up to all kinds of other fun opportunities.
What if it's past September? Can I still sign up?
The Community Challenge follows a basic school year calendar each year, starting in September and ending in May. Squads compete for prizes based on their activities throughout the year so, after September, we encourage prospective members to create a profile to sign up for the following year’s challenge. We’ll let you know when it’s time to get started, and in the meantime you’ll receive free healthy and active tips as a member of Team ACTIVE Life.
Why do you ask companies for a $500 squad sponsorship fee? What is it used for?
All sponsorship dollars go directly towards squad activities, including the community service project. The squad’s professional leader will manage all financial transactions and purchases related to squad activities. If squads need additional funds, they are encouraged to fundraise. Tips and resources are in the ACTIVE Leader Training. No sponsorship fees go to ACTIVE Life for administration costs or any other purpose.
How do you ensure the safety of participants?
ACTIVE Life runs a complete background check on each squad member applicant that is over 18 years of age. This is done at no charge to prospective members. Also, squads receive guidelines about appropriate meeting times, places and conduct.
I want to join but my company can't sponsor the squad, or I'm a college student. What do I do?
The professional or college members on your team may consider all pitching in together, personally, to cover sponsorship costs (5 members @ $100 each = $500). Or, they can simply join the squad and raise money and resources together. They are many good tips in the ACTIVE Leader training.
What if I want to join but don't know four other people who want to sign up as a group with me?
ACTIVE Life can hook you up with other individual members to form a group of five students or five professionals or college students. If you’re a professional working with others from different companies, that means you may each need to contribute $100 toward the $500 for the sponsorship personally, or have your companies donate this amount individually. ACTIVE Life recruits the high school students separate from the professionals and college students and matches these groups up together, so you don't have to worry about recruitment there.
How are scholarships awarded?
ACTIVE Life’s board of directors awards scholarships (which are only open to high school students), based on the total number of points earned by a squad during the school year. All high school students on the top three squads will earn a $1,000 scholarship (based on a five student membership). One exceptional student that’s nominated will win a $2,000 scholarship. Squads earn points for building a robust social network, completing monthly group activities, blogging, posting videos/photos online, completing progress reports and making a big impact on the community through an effective service project.
How much time will I have to commit to participate?
We estimate that each member will probably spend about four hours per month on Community Challenge activities. Squad members will spend about 30 minutes per week blogging and communicating with other members online. Additionally, members will meet once a month for a group activity/event, and potentially once a month to plan future events. We recommendthat squads schedule their group activity and planning meeting back-to-back to save time.
What do you mean by doing a "health-focused community service project?
When we say “health-focused,” we mean the project will have to have the ultimate goal of improving physical activity or nutrition levels or of preventing the use of tobacco. Project plans will need to be approved by ACTIVE Life and meet all of the required criteria. View some project examples, criteria and a recommended timeline here.
How will we know what to do once the Challenge starts?
ACTIVE Life staff will be sure to get you signed up online and attached to a squad. Posted online is a Welcome & Orientation Video and matching guide to get you started. Once squads begin working together, their first task is to assign roles. There is a lot to accomplish in the program, so one high school student will pair up with one professional or college student and together they can take on one of the five suggested squad roles:
You can learn more about these roles in the Community Challenge Guide and the ACTIVE Leader Training. Once logged in, squad members will have access to all of the information they need to get started, get trained and be successful.
Team ACTIVE Life
What is an ACTIVEist?
ACTIVEist is the name for a member of TEAM ACTIVE Life.
What are the ultimate goals of Team ACTIVE Life?
The ultimate goal is to create a social change that will better the health of the community.
As an ACTIVEist what will I have to do?
After creating a profile, ACTIVEists receive regular tips and opportunities for making a difference in their communities. There are three main ways to help:
1. Advocate: Help us spread the word and get more people to join the ACTIVE Life Movement.
2. Participate: Update your profile, participate in contests, and share your experiences with us.
3. Volunteer: Serve your community at one-time events and through ongoing programs.
How can I get my school involved?
Ask your school’s PE coordinator or teacher to sign up your school to become an ACTIVE Life Partner School. They’ll enjoy immediate access to host of free activities, trainings and measurement tools designed to help students become healthier and more active.
Can I share volunteer opportunities with others through Team ACTIVE Life?
Yes. When you log into your profile, you can post volunteer opportunities to your calendar so that others can see them.
I’m just one person. Am I really helping?
Yes, Margaret Mead said, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” We believe that all of our small efforts do pay off, and that through your efforts you can inspire and empower others that collectively they can make a difference.
Can I use TEAM ACTIVE Life to find volunteer opportunities?
Yes. You can search for opportunities in your area by visiting the opportunities page on our website
What are examples of opportunities you offer?
We have advocacy and volunteer opportunities. Visit the opportunities page for a list.
What can kids younger than 14 years do?
Kids under 14 cannot create a profile on this site. As an adult, you can create a profile for your family and maintain it on everyone’s behalf, blogging about your activities and posting interesting local events. You can work together and volunteer with your family, establishing the basis for a lifelong habit that they will pass along to their own children. Children can do simple projects such as visiting residents at a local nursing home, making get well cards for other children, or participating in a sing-a-long at a local hospital.
