Have you ever considered hiking to the top of Mt. Everest? I know I have! I get my adventurous spirit from my dad. He was quite the outdoorsman. Imagine my surprise when I learned of the Mt. Everest Challenge right here at Hawkins. Talk about excited!
Hawkins has been executing this challenge year after year since 2013. April Brenisholtz, our HR Director partnered with a wellness source to bring this fantastic concept to Hawkins. Although it was initially a weight loss only driven program, she found a way to make it into a true wellness incentive program that it has evolved to today in which all employees find ways to push themselves into fitness without even knowing it, converse with other employees and share their accomplishments thereby forming friendships with one another, and by making some adjustments so that everyone could feel included and earn fun incentives along the way to keep going. No small feat! Her main goal for everyone during the 5-week challenge is for employees to think “healthy.” She even introduces what she calls, “Food of the Week.” April loves to cook and enjoys putting together different foods for tasting that employees may not try otherwise. She prepares various dishes to share with everyone throughout the challenge.
How the challenge works is on a points system. You earn points for activities, like walking, or being outside for 30 minutes, or as simple as laying down your cell phone for an hour, helping to keep our common area kitchen clean, or even for drinking 32 ounces of water. Once you reach the first Camp, you earn a prize. Everything is done on the honor system. No police here!
Hawkins funds the event and provides the incentives that employees win once they complete each Camp climb. Prizes include hiking and camping gear, outdoor dishes, Coach coin purses, Yeti and Camelbak tumblers, blankets, etc. The list goes on. There are larger prizes at the end for whoever completes the entire challenge to the top of the mountain and back down. Our CEO, Brian Huffaker says, “I look forward to the event every year because it is a way to reset mentally, focus on our health, and do active things you can’t normally do during the winter months, and it’s a jumpstart to summer.” He goes on to add, “I am happy to support the event because of the employee comradery, competitive nature, and its fun to see small rewards motivate people.”
I spoke with Grant Kohler, our IT Systems Administrator, to ask him why he has been competing in the challenge year after year and what keeps bringing him back. Grant shared, “The prizes are awesome as I collect outdoor gear for all my adventures, plus it’s a good time of year to be active and it motivates me for good healthy habits.” Grant also shared that it was good that April mixes it up every year as it helps for competitiveness.
This is my first year for the challenge and I know I have stepped up my game this week. I think the first week is the hardest for any new habit and it will only get better and better!
