Thanks to the MN Department of Health’s Statewide Health Improvement Partnership (SHIP), students at three schools in northern Minnesota are going to benefit from student-led recess this school year. In late September of 2025, Playworks Minnesota had the opportunity to launch the Junior Coach Leadership Program with Falls Elementary, Littlefork-Big Falls School District, and Northome School.
SHIP funding from Koochiching County made this unprecedented Playworks partnership possible. Junior Coaches have been making a difference on the playground at schools across the Twin Cities since 2010, but the program is brand new to the three schools five hours north of the Twin Cities metro.
Making the Most of Recess
Many adults today have fond memories of recess – it was a time to play, be a kid, have fun with your peers, and recharge in the middle of the school day. That remains true for many kids today, however, lack of planning and other opportunities for play have made recess an increasingly challenging block of the school day for educators.
Most schools report that the vast majority of their behavior referrals are related to recess, and recent research highlighted in The Anxious Generation illustrates the negative effects of increased screen time and decreased play on children’ s mental health.
Many kids today simply don’t have the opportunity to play with and learn from their peers outside of school like their parents likely did. The Junior Coach program is giving kids a voice at recess and recreating play-based, peer-to-peer learning.
The Junior Coach Program in Koochiching County
Across the country, thousands of student leaders are empowered by their school’s Playworks Coach, administrators, teachers, and recess supervisors to transform the playground. Junior Coaches lead games like four square, basketball, soccer, jump rope, and more. They are also helping solve minor conflicts between students and modeling positive behaviors like inviting others to play and cheering for others.
In Koochiching County, a team of 4th-6th grade student leaders was selected at each of the three schools and trained by Playworks and a designated program lead from each school. Junior Coaches had an immediate impact on recess, with teachers sharing that the games they led with students instantly made the playground more inviting and engaging.
Teachers at Northome School shared that Junior Coaches support throughout recess and their assistance with the end of recess transition led to a smoother and a quicker transition back to learning in the afternoon.
This energetic and enthusiastic group of 45+ Junior Coaches in Koochiching County will be on the playground weekly throughout the school year and will be participating in regular leadership development trainings led by their school’s Junior Coach lead. Christine Lundin, Counselor and Junior Coach lead at Northome School shared this about the week with Playworks:
“Our Playworks team had a great week learning from Coach Brando! Students at recess were excited to join in new games and our team is feeling confident and ready to go. As a Junior Coach lead, the support provided by Playworks has made this an easy program to jump into and implement.”
The Future of the Program
Koochiching County’s Junior Coaches are part of a cohort of nearly 1,000 Junior Coaches who will be building positive recess culture in their schools at more than 50 Playworks Minnesota partner schools across the state this school year.
As Playworks adds new Junior Coach programs each month, the movement for a better recess and more play is in good hands with student leaders and committed schools in Minnesota.
