Georgians of all ages can participate in dozens of free or discounted programs and events across the state during “SHAPE Month” fitness promotions in September.

Gov. Nathan Deal signed the official proclamation on Aug. 30 as the Georgia SHAPE Coalition announced the observance.

“Georgia SHAPE is about improving the health of our state’s children,” Deal said. “And SHAPE Month is about letting every Georgia family know we support them and we want them to know fitness is fun.”

The month culminates in a special ceremony to honor the work of schools and physical education teachers at the Atlanta Braves game on Sept. 25 and the Atlanta Falcons game on Sept. 30.

Student winners of Georgia’s “Stay in SHAPE” contest also will be honored at the Falcons game. Students in kindergarten to 12th grade can enter a song, video or written words about how they stay physically fit. The deadline for submission to contest@GeorgiaSHAPE.org is Sept. 10.

Winners will receive two tickets to the game along with a new Polar Active fitness watch, and they will join the governor on the field before the game. All state parks and historic sites will be admission-free on Sept. 29, and all month long, hundreds of other programs from guided hikes to farmer’s markets will be available statewide.

SHAPE Month activities – organized with help from partners, agencies and athletic teams committed to improving child fitness in Georgia – coincide with National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month, also observed in September.

Deal’s SHAPE initiative is a statewide program that merges governmental, philanthropic, academic and business communities to address the childhood obesity epidemic. 

For more information about SHAPE Month activities or the Stay in SHAPE contest, visit www.GeorgiaSHAPE.org.