Kids Night Out: CHHS Doctor of Physical Therapy Students Create an Evening of Play, Community, and Support
NAU College of Health and Human Services students in the Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program are making a meaningful impact beyond the classroom through their Kids Night Out events. Hosted twice a year by the NAU Department of Physical Therapy, Kids Night Out creates a fun and safe space for children in the Flagstaff community with disabilities or developmental delays and their siblings. Families can drop off their children for a supervised evening of play led by volunteer DPT students and certified pediatric physical therapists. The event is completely free for families, thanks to generous support from community sponsors and donors through the NAU Foundation.
Kids Night Out began in 2023 as a capstone project for DPT students completing their final year of didactic coursework. Now in its third year, the event has grown beyond a class requirement. The program was originally planned to be a once-a-year gathering at Summit Gymnastics Academy, but the overwhelming success of the Fall 2025 event inspired students to expand the program. This spring, they hosted a second Kids Night Out on NAU’s campus with a lively carnival theme, marking the third event overall and signaling hopes to establish two events annually moving forward.
Hosting the event on the NAU campus has opened new possibilities for activities and accessibility. The NAU Department of Physical Therapy offers abundant space and resources, including classrooms, toys, mats, slides, parachutes, and craft supplies, allowing DPT students to create a dynamic environment where kids can explore and play freely. Moving the event to campus also helps reduce venue costs while keeping the program sustainable. Community partnerships continue to play a vital role, with sponsorships and donations from organizations such as Fratelli’s Pizza, Babies to Kids, Pedal Over Parkinson’s Foundation, Carter Rehabilitation, Crumbl Cookie, Angela Davis at Sotheby’s International Realty, and Flagtown Tees.
Beyond the games and activities, Kids Night Out fosters an important sense of community. Raising children with developmental delays or disabilities can be both rewarding and demanding, and many parents have limited opportunities to connect with others who share similar experiences. The event gives parents a well-deserved evening off while their children build friendships, try new activities, and simply enjoy being kids. One parent sharing, “My boys have enjoyed meeting new people, learning new things, and having new experiences. We always have a blast every time we come out, and we have been doing it for a few years now!”
For the students volunteering their time, it is also an invaluable learning opportunity. Hands-on experiences with pediatric patients are rare in many physical therapy programs, and Kids Night Out allows NAU DPT students to apply classroom knowledge while discovering how engaging and creative pediatric physical therapy can be. For Kylie Drake, a member of the NAU DPT Flagstaff Campus Class of 2026, the event highlights the power of movement and connection. Through Kids Night Out, she has seen firsthand how important it is to create fun, supportive environments where children feel safe to explore, move, and build relationships with their peers. In the end, the goal is simple but meaningful: to give every child the chance to laugh, play, and just be a kid.