Russ Rogers on a Mission to Get Families Moving

Capitola author Russ Rogers didn’t follow the typical path to becoming a wellness leader. After playing college baseball at Cal Poly, he stepped away from sports entirely, beginning his career as a youth pastor before to Mexico to serve in an orphanage.

His passion for service carried him back to Santa Cruz, where he took a job at Bethany College—then located at the campus now home to 1440 Multiversity. Rogers worked in fundraising and eventually helped to remodel the campus. But it was a chance conversation with the softball coach that shifted his path in a surprising direction.

“She asked me to come help with the girls because of my baseball background,” Russ recalls. He agreed to assist. Then the coach left, and someone asked, “Would you consider being a softball coach?” Undeterred, he knew he had to learn the game of softball—fast.

That opportunity turned into seven years of collegiate coaching, but it didn’t stop there. Kids and parents in the community started requesting private coaching, and soon Rogers found himself launching a business focused on baseball and softball training—teaching kids how to hit, pitch, and play the field.

The side hustle grew into a 20-year business. At the same time, he also launched a landscaping business. For two decades, he ran both until COVID-19 shut down schools and sports. “I said, you know, I think I’m done with coaching. I’m going to step back and focus on landscaping,” he says.

Then came a spark.

While on a flight to the East Coast, he pulled out a journal he’d carried around for over a year. “I hadn’t written a word in it,” he admits. But something shifted. “On that flight, I wrote the word move, and from there, the ideas just kept flowing.”

That one word became the seed for a series of children’s books called Today. The focus: helping families unplug from screens, get outside, and move together. “It’s really for the early years—kids five and under,” says Russ. “It’s about setting the tone early, raising outdoor kids.”

The Move Today Mission

Russ Rogers’ message is simple, but powerful: Families need to move together, play together, and connect—without screens.

“Back in the day, our parents had to tell us to come inside,” Russ says. “Now, they’re begging kids to go outside. That reversal is huge.”

It’s not just about physical activity—it’s about the mental toll of constant screen time. “You walk into restaurants and see whole families on their phones. It’s disturbing. That time could be spent bonding, talking, being present.”

To support his mission, Russ created Community Strides, a monthly walk held on the second Saturday of every month. “It’s easy. You can do it in any neighborhood,” he says. “Just get a few friends and family together and walk two miles. It’s about activity and socializing.”

He leads a walk on West Cliff every month and has watched the idea grow. “We’ve got walkers in 25 states and seven countries now. It’s amazing to see how something so simple can bring people together.”

And it’s not just young families—he notes that older couples in their 60s and 70s join regularly. “They thank me for ‘forcing’ them to show up. I say, ‘I didn’t force you—you just needed an invitation.’”

Russ has even walked alone during cold, rainy winters. “One day, the wind was so strong I had to switch sides of the street to avoid the ocean spray. But I kept going. No excuses.”

Building Boundaries, Breaking Patterns

Russ is realistic about the challenges parents face. “It’s hard to change when kids are already glued to devices. But you have to start somewhere,” he says.

He advises families to start small: “Set one hour each evening—maybe 6 to 7 p.m.—with no devices. Eat dinner. Go for a walk. Shoot hoops. Take a bike ride.”

Of course, some kids will protest. “They’ll scream. That’s what kids do,” Russ laughs. “But stick to it. You’re the parent. Set the boundaries now or it gets harder later.”

He believes starting early makes all the difference. “If your kids don’t know anything else, they won’t miss the screens,” he says. “But even if they’ve already got them, you can still lead by example.”

He recalls a quote from actor Matthew McConaughey, who didn’t give his kids phones until they were 16. “It’s possible,” says Russ. “You just need the will.”

What’s Next?

Russ is expanding his Today series to reach even more age groups. “I’m working on a version for elementary school kids and another for junior high and high school students,” he says. “The idea is to get them thinking, creating, moving—and writing their own story.”

Inspired by the legendary NC State coach Jim Valvano, Russ keeps three words in mind: laugh, cry, think. “If you can do all three in a day, that’s a good day,” he says. His books aim to help kids do just that.

He’s also developed a special anniversary edition of the Today series, complete with checkboxes for kids to mark off completed activities, jot down notes, and even add photos. “It’s interactive and fun. It turns wellness into a shared family project.”

For Russ, it’s not about selling books—it’s about building momentum for a movement. “I just want to help families reconnect—to themselves, to each other, and to the outdoors.”

The Bigger Picture

Russ isn’t just building a business—he’s building a community. One where families walk together. Where kids play outside. Where devices are left at the table.

And if that sounds too big, he has a simple piece of advice: Just take the first step.

“Maybe that step is one walk a month. Maybe it’s one hour without screens. Whatever it is, begin. That’s how change starts.”

To learn more about Russ Rogers, the Today book series, or Community Strides, follow @movetoday365 on Instagram or email [email protected].

By Elizabeth Borelli