Steve met with Alice on May 23, 2024 to share more about HealthCode's work.

Please introduce yourself Steve and let us know a little about you.

I'm Steve Amos and I head up the nonprofit HealthCode. Our mission is to empower people to live healthier, happier lives, free from preventable chronic diseases. I've been around the Texas Children in Nature Community since its origin. I was on the statewide steering committee with Nancy Heron and other amazing folks. As a seasoned Eagle Scout, this is especially important to me personally, in terms of what we're doing to engage kids - young and old - to be active, outside, and able enjoy the wonderful benefits of nature.

Before starting HealthCode, I had a career in international marketing and advertising. Moving to Austin in 1988, from New York City, with the advertising agency GSD&M. I worked on the Texas tourism account – including nature tourism - and several other clients. Since 1999, I have been working in the areas of education and health, leveraging technology to make real-world impacts.

Please tell us about HealthCode and the work happening there.

HealthCode is a nonprofit that helps empower people to live healthier lives free of preventable chronic diseases. At 2013 SXSW we heard the phrase “sitting is the new smoking”; there's a lot of research showing that it’s true.

Our team came up with the great idea to “gamify behavior” to help motivate people to get up and live more active lives. So, in 2014, we launched our first virtual activity event, April’s Million Mile Month; now in its 11th year. Helping people to get up and move through a fun, global, virtual activity event for anyone locally, across Texas and around the globe.

The goal is to help people get up and move by setting their own personal goal. Plus, doing that within the context of a community of support like the workplace, schools, faith based communities; to get up and move and get outside.

And so that's how we got started. Since COVID we now have an event each month. Once someone adds more movement to their lives, we layer in support for nutrition, sleep, mindfulness, and positive social connections.

I think that's one of the many positive aspects of the Texas Children in Nature Network. You're helping connect people in a positive way and getting them outside and moving, which is fantastic. Thank you!

What are the main goals of this work?

Here’s a secret. The Million Mile Month is not about the miles.

Rather, helping each person to get up and move, to connect with others, and to help individuals realize they matter, and are worthy of a healthier, happier life.

Our goal is to help connect with individuals and create the opportunity for a positive health journey. This work can only be done with a positive community of support like the organizations you work with. Our interest is in supporting your partners and schools, churches, companies, and communities to engage their employees and their families to be more active and healthier. So, they can enjoy the benefits of a healthier life, which ultimately creates a happier life, and a more positive connected, thriving community.

Tell us a bit about the Marathon in a Month event happening in October and later events.

October’s Marathon in a Month was originally requested by school districts. They said, “We love HealthCode’s April event, it's so simple and easy to use, and it's engaging our employees, our students, and families to be active. Can you provide a fall event in October?”

So, Marathon in a Month is where participants have a full 31 days to accomplish their personal goal whether it's 26, 50, or 100 miles. It's not about the miles. It's about individuals setting a personal goal, achieving it, and then moving forward in the months ahead.

We are especially pumped as the National Fitness Foundation (NFF) has included HealthCode as a partner. NFF loves the idea of promoting October’s Marathon in a Month and April’s Million Mile Month to “bookend” the school year.

Plus, NFF has helped create cool resources, such as a SMART Goals Guide. We will work together to promote the Guide, along with HealthCode’s January iResolve event to help kick off the new year.

When COVID kicked in, HealthCode pivoted to deliver free monthly virtual activity events, available to all individuals and organizations. Such as November’s Turkey Trek, December’s Gift of Health, February’s Love Your Health, March’s Spring into Action, and others. Anyone can participate for free unless they want to donate, which is most appreciated.

We encourage a variety of activities like hiking, kayaking, or even yoga. We have a website that allows you to set your personal goal and enter your activity minutes or miles for all kinds of activities like walking, running, swimming, biking, skateboarding, and Zumba to track your progress and see how you're doing. We've been extremely fortunate for several years, in September to work with Austin Parks, leveraging September's event called Fall Into Action, to encourage people to get outside in their parks. All of these are potential opportunities for your partners to connect to their community and encourage people to be active.

Tip: You can still sign up for October’s Marathon in a Month and enter all activity accomplished since October 1st; no penalties for late starts.

Can you please share about the 10th anniversary of the Million Mile Month and how it got started and how it works?

The 10th anniversary of April’s Million Mile Month was an exciting opportunity to celebrate the positive impacts in people's lives over a decade. For the first time since COVID, we had a gathering to kick it off at the Austin City Hall. A proclamation from the Mayor of Austin was read about the 179,000 event participants who have burned over 2.2 billion calories, and to acknowledge all the wonderful organizations we've had the honor of working with: from school districts to the City of Austin, to Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas, United Healthcare and Humana; also with Silicon Labs, PCSI, Geico Military, Naturepedic and other healthcare and professional services.

Even more importantly is the future of where we need to go. Just as we were motivated in 2013 when we heard “sitting is the new smoking”, we are renewed in our motivation through Michael and Susan Dell Center for Healthy Living’s research showing the continued increase in obesity of our kids. Plus, the CDC “Unfit to Serve” report that over 70% of youth in America today are not qualified to serve in the military, predominantly because they're obese, overweight, and out of shape. These are terrible statistics and are indicators of extremely negative impacts on their future health, career, and quality of life.

That's why it's so important that we work with Texas Children in Nature Network to make these positive differences in kids’ lives to be more active, healthier, and being outside in nature is so vitally important for that.

How does the work of HealthCode make a difference in children having access and connection to nature?

HealthCode helps children connect to nature by engaging with their families. If you're an employer, we encourage your employees to participate in our programs and to involve their families. Our partnerships with schools is a big way we connect with children and families. Over the last several years we’ve been working with the Texas Associations of School Boards, Administrators (Superintendents), and Business Officials; in a special April Education Challenge.

Based upon the education collaboration’s success, HealthCode is reaching out to support student led organizations, such as student councils. This also has great potential for social emotional learning. As we help kids to be physically active – which is core to their future success, including building self-esteem, is also vital for mental and social wellbeing.

In addition, we team with municipalities to encourage kids and adults to get outside and explore their natural trails and parks. Such as was done with the City of Temple and January’s “iResolve” and Austin Parks with September “Fall Into Action.”

How can Texas Children in Nature Network be part of your work?

Thank you for asking. The Texas Children in Nature Network can continue to leverage HealthCode’s work in support of their goals on several levels.

Does your organization have information that you would like us to share with the HealthCode community? If so, just send it to us.

Consider using HealthCode’s free monthly events, whenever you want, for your organization and community. It's been exciting to see organizations use our platform because of the event public leaderboards - showing organizations, cities, and states. Plus, organizations love the metrics we provide. Many organizations are seeking funding and it's always nice to have metrics to support the funding request.

Also leverage HealthCode to connect your entire community to the importance of being active, healthy, and outside in nature. For example, in April we had a kickoff event at the Austin City Hall where we had the Mayor, County Judge, representatives from school districts, the business community, and other supporters. It’s a great media event, while helping weave the entire community together. Every month we provide programs that can support you and your partners in the children in nature community to be active, healthy, and to be outside. Learn more about how HealthCode can support your work here.

Thank you, Steve, for your time today.