Youngsters interested in a fun outdoor activity are invited to take part in the Healthy Kids Running Series (HKRS), an outdoor running event for youths in prekindergarten through sixth grade. The series is being offered once again this spring in Elverson.

The program takes place on Sundays at 2 p.m. at the West Nantmeal Township Recreation Area, located next to the township building at 455 N. Manor Road (Route 82), Elverson. The series began on April 24 and will conclude on May 22.

During the weekly events, youths compete in their designated age or grade level division: a 50-yard dash for prekindergarten students ages 2 and 3, a 75-yard dash for prekindergarten students ages 4 and 5, a quarter-mile race for kindergarten through first-grade students, a half-mile run for second- and third-graders, a 1-mile run for fourth- and fifth-graders and a 1-mile run for sixth- through eighth-graders. Races are run in order starting with the youngest participants.

This is the second year that the HKRS has been held at the park. Previously, the program took place at Twin Valley Middle School. "It is an occasion for kids to interface with kids they might not see regularly. Even for the parents, it's nice to meet different people," said Michele Raymond, who is running the local HKRS with Shaun McNary.

She said about 42 youngsters participated when the series was last offered in the spring of 2021. "We elected not to do it in the fall," Raymond noted. "Right now, I have 27 registered."

At the end of the series, the boys and girls who accumulate the most points in their respective distances are awarded trophies. All participants will receive a medal on May 22. "We have an app called Myles, and we are able to track the times," Raymond explained. "Every year we get better as an organization. (The app) is our latest (update). Parents have access to the app to see how their kids did."

Raymond noted that some participants are competitive runners, while others enjoy running just for fun. "It's more like a fun run for the younger kids, but for the older kids it's an opportunity to improve against their peers," she stated. "All of these running series have a different point of view. This is just a community run-type atmosphere. We want to be very encouraging."

Additionally, volunteers are needed to help out each week during the runs. "I call them encouragers. When kids are doing a quarter, half or a full mile, we need people to encourage the kids all the way around (the course)," she said. "That's very important."

For more information and to register and to learn about volunteer opportunities, visit http://www.runsignup.com/hkrselverson or http://www.facebook.com/hkrselverson. Registration is ongoing. Parents can register their children online or in person on the day of the events.