Play Unplugged – Join Us!

Last summer, Michelle told me about an amazing program Heber Valley started called Play Unplugged. A program that got kids off screens and outside. With fun activities like star gazing, hunting for bugs, riding a horse, hiking, sidewalk chalk, or fishing in a mountain lake. Check out their list. It’s awesome!

Each time kids did one of these activities, they went to a local business to get a “brag badge” which they put on a lanyard. After gathering so many badges their names went into a drawing for prizes at the end of the summer.

 We talked about how fabulous it would be if we could get something similar rolling in Salt Lake City.

So, as Utah’s Young Mother of the Year for 2013, Michelle determined to make it happen.

Along with all her great writing on Raising Real Men and her example of happy devotion to her family, Michelle is now gifting our community a tremendous tradition. (And yes, that is Kathie Lee standing next to Michelle at the American Mothers convention in NYC.)

Michelle contacted Erik Rowland, who ran the program in Heber and happens to be a friend of mine from high school. Erik was willing to help.

Together, he, his team, and Michelle pitched the idea to Salt Lake County and Granite School District, who listened, loved it, and jumped on board.

Now, with the sponsorship of Intermountain Health Care, Salt Lake County, and Granite School District, Granite Unplugged is coming to Salt Lake City!Keep reading, because even if you don’t live here, you can participate too!If you live local but your kids don’t attend Granite School District, just pick up a lanyard at the Salt Lake County Office and join us!

Or if you live out of state, you can visit the Unplugged website this summer for their list of activities. There will be lots of great ideas for summer adventures. Maybe your kids could create their own badges for each activity they accomplish?

Who knows, maybe Unplugged will get big enough they’ll be able to start programs all over the nation! It’s a program worth doing everywhere. One that benefits kids, families, and local businesses.

Right now, our big hurdle is getting local businesses to sponsor badges. Every day this week I stopped by a business and invited them to participate. We’ve had a handful say yes.

Once business owners understand the program, how it benefits families, as well as their own marketing plan, they realize it’s a win-win for everyone.

It’s $500 to sponsor a badge. With that, a business receives 500 badges to hand out, some incredible marketing, and a huge increase in foot-traffic.

Last year, Heber businesses that participated saw a 400% – 500% increase in foot traffic. Already, Heber has all of its sponsors in place because it was so successful last year.

Each sponsor gets their logo in a magazine that will go home with every child in Granite School District – that’s 61,000 families! As well as a page on the Unplugged Website to post their logo and services, the badge they are sponsoring, and any promotions they’d like to run during the summer.

The genius of this program is that each business gets to choose the badge they hand out. If they choose an easier or more popular activity, they’ll get more traffic.

Wednesday of this week, we got together with Michelle to film a promo video for Granite Unplugged.

Our kids did the sidewalk chalk activity. They drew all kinds of creative art on the squares of Michelle’s driveway. The sun was warm that afternoon and it felt so good to be outside.

I watched as Michelle did her thing – got down on the grass, leaned back in the bushes, all to get the perfect shot. Both video and still frame.

Spencer preferred the ride-along approach. He climbed on Xander’s back, Efelee dangling over Xander’s shoulder, and watched Xander draw. Xander drew him a big blue elephant with a pink peanut for a snack.

Can I say once again how much I love those Lehnardt boys?

Mary was our fearless leader. She helped the kids choose the activity.