Tips for motivating people to excercise?

I previously posted about my participation in a volunary company health program called the Global Corporate Challenge. The challenge starts in less than 2 weeks and I'm looking for ideas on how to keep the team (6 other people besides me) motivated to the end of the Challenge which is on Sept. 4. As Team Captain I met with the team (well half since the other half had last minute conflicts) and distributed the starter kits and a packet of info I put together. To get the team excited, I personalized each kit with a Challenge team jersey that I printed out with each person's name and added a small bag of chocolates and wrapped it up in some raffia cord Those at the meeting loved the extra touch I added to the otherwise blah starter kit box.

I've never done something like this before so I'm not quite sure how to keep the team motivated during the entire Challenge. The Challenge is actually a lot more involved than I thought it would be One thought I had was to give out a small prize every week to whoever records the most steps for the week. "Steps" can be from walking, running, riding a bike, swimming, working out at the gym, etc. As Team Captain I can track everyone's progress from my account. My mentor suggested emailing weekly tips on how to get in those extra steps, like walk between buildings instead of taking the shuttle, and also setting an example to the team by sharing how I took extra steps that day or week.

Those present at the meeting seemed excited about the mini team challenges in which we can challenge another team participating in the Challenge. This could be another team within the department (I know of at least one other team), within the company, or some random team from a random company halfway across the globe. I think it would be easiest to stick with teams within the department and company. Having another team or two to challenge for the most steps (and a potential prize) is incentive to get those steps in, I think  

Does anyone have other suggestions and how to make things fun for everyone?  I'm open to all ideas

I like your ideas so far @LTS3  I think having small goals to work to every week keeps people motivated. Maybe you could put up a chart with everyone's name, number of steps they've done and this weeks 1st place, 2nd place and 3rd place participants highlighted in some way. Visual reminders work well for me.

How about a weekly group activity that people wouldn't otherwise get the chance to try? Something fun like a dance class or volunteer dog walking for a local shelter or canoeing? Some gyms will let you take a free or discounted trial lesson in something you've never done before, maybe you could take advantage of those?

Thanks for the suggestions! I'm not sure about a group activity. It would have to be done outside of work and people have family and other things to do after work so getting the team together would be hard. Not to mention we live in different areas and 4 of us work weekends A leader board is definitely doable. I can get a template off the event web site.

A little less than a week to go until the event starts There's a kick off event next Wednesday with a free healthy snack and stuff. The email said that over 800 employees locally are participating (!). I'm not sure how many employees for the entire global company are participating.

Still open to other ideas, even if it's just general people motivating tips and not exercise-specific