The Walking Classroom Press Kit

Program Background

Laura Fenn, M.S. Ed recorded her first educational podcast in 2010 for her fifth grade students in the kitchen of her Chapel Hill, NC home. Her idea grew from instructional demands eclipsing opportunities for student activity during the school day.

As an educator for over 15 years, Fenn noticed a direct correlation between her students’ academic performance and the amount of physical activity they regularly had. Out of this simple realization and her commitment to getting students the exercise they desperately needed without sacrificing instructional time, The Walking Classroom was born.

The Walk, Listen, and Learn methodology was an instant success in Fenn’s classroom. Her students’ attitudes about exercise improved, as did their end-of-grade achievement scores.

Now, the national award-winning nonprofit program is engaging over 60,000 students in a variety of educational settings nationwide.

Our mission is simple: to provide educators with age-appropriate, national standards–aligned tools that inspire students physically, mentally, and academically.