Denver Museum of Nature & Science Brings Wellness to Life With First Health and Wellness Challenge
When the Denver Museum of Nature & Science launched their first health and wellness challenge, the goal was simple: help people feel good, move more, and connect with one another in ways that make every day a little brighter.
With 471 employees eligible to join, the team wanted to create something everyone could take part in… something approachable, positive, meaningful, and fun.
Health and Wellness Challenges That Meet People Where They Are
Founded in 1900, the Denver Museum of Nature & Science is among the Rockies’ leading cultural institutions. They’re dedicated to inspiring curiosity about the natural world while extending a spirit of care to employees through comprehensive wellness initiatives, health education programs, and a supportive workplace. Integrating employee health into organization values creates an engaged, energized, and resilient workforce to strengthen a broader impact across Colorado and beyond.
The Museum’s 4-week Worldwide Wellness challenge invited participants to focus on 3 daily habits: being active, starting mornings with 30 minutes of movement, and making a meaningful connection. The idea was to build better habits through encouragement and community, not pressure.
“Wellness has definitely been a priority for the Museum, even before COVID. But we’ve noticed that since COVID, it’s kind of become a bigger concern, especially from the employee perspective and expecting employers to offer more than incentive programs or discounts,” explains Barbara Harrell, Human Resource Information System Administrator.
Total Team Effort Sparks Connection
Team spirit quickly took hold throughout the Museum: 75% of participants joined a team, forming 21 lively groups who encouraged, competed, and celebrated together. For a first-time challenge, that level of engagement and feedback was remarkable.
The results? Outstanding — 65% of participants met personal goals, while over 45% became active every day. That was a huge leap from the start, when almost no one reported daily activity.
“Friendly competition and being able to compete as a team made it so much fun,” a participant adds. “Our team used the built-in team chat to motivate and support each other.” Another recalls: “It was extra motivation to do the things I already wanted to do — especially alongside others!”
Celebrating Every Step of Health and Wellness Challenges
From the start, Museum leaders made sure their health and wellness challenge felt personal. They joined department huddles to promote the program, shared updates during staff meetings, and handed out promo cards directly to employees. Posters, TV message boards, and intranet updates aimed to keep the excitement front and center. By kickoff day, employee enthusiasm was sky high.
Barbara describes an important result: “People would come by my office and share stories with me. ‘You know, I never used to talk to this person or send them an email, but because of this challenge, I went over and talked to them and got to know them better.’ That’s awesome — bragging about all the little things that they were doing, which I loved hearing.”
Incentives also helped keep the energy going. Reward cards, PTO prizes, and random drawings gave everyone a reason to stay consistent and engaged. Together, participants logged more than 3000 points in physical activity, 2500 meaningful connections, and 2000 morning exercise sessions.
Related: How Jefferson County Brings Well-Being to Life With Wellness Challenges
Advantages
Employees note Worldwide Wellness helped them stay motivated, build accountability, and connect with coworkers in new and unique ways. The shared experience brought laughter, friendly competition, and a sense of belonging that extended beyond the challenge.
The key was making well-being fun and achievable. When employees feel supported and inspired, health and wellness challenges grow into more than a program — they become part of everyday life.
“It reminded me how good it feels to connect with others and get moving. I feel more motivated and positive every day,” responds another participant.
Why Organizations Offer These Programs
Health and wellness challenges aren’t just a good idea; they can be a smart strategic business move. Here’s how HES’s Worldwide Wellness advantages make it appealing to employers, wellness leaders, and employees:
Creates a fun, immersive experience.
This challenge goes beyond usual fitness trackers or step counts. The travel-themed journey invites participants to “visit” global destinations while they log healthy habits, making it feel more like an adventure than a chore.
Supports connection and camaraderie.
The program emphasizes engaging with others, forming teams or friendships, and sharing progress. That approach helps strengthen workplace relationships and improve the social side of well-being.
Applies science-backed results.
HES bases challenges on behavioral science. You can feel confident the approach isn’t just a gimmick but grounded in building positive change.
Encourages scalability and customization.
Whether your organization is large or small, HES challenges accommodate your size and culture. You can tailor the experience to your specific goals and audience to make sure everyone benefits.
Brings engagement and momentum.
A well-run challenge energizes employees, drives friendly competition, builds new habits, and acts as a springboard for broader well-being efforts. In short, it helps people turn “doing something once” into “doing something better every day.”
To boost energy, connections, and employee happiness, a program like HES Worldwide Wellness offers the upward momentum of an enjoyable experience plus the strategic backbone of a well-designed initiative that supports healthier lifestyles.
Learn More: The Science Behind HES Well-Being Challenges
The Start of Something Great
The Denver Museum of Nature and Science’s first health and wellness challenge was a clear win. Employees delighted in being active, staying consistent, and cheering each other on. The experience showed that when wellness feels accessible and enjoyable, engagement naturally follows.
Is your organization ready to build the same energy, connection, and confidence?
Our Worldwide Wellness has already helped organizations of all sizes create healthier workplaces.