Queens Camp Aims To Get Kids Enthusiastic About Fitness
August 10, 2008
A local summer camp is working to buck the trend of youth obesity, teaching kids healthy lifestyle lessons they hope will stick. NY1 Health & Fitness reporter Kafi Drexel filed the following report.
Trying to do their part to help curb the childhood obesity epidemic, instructors from the Queens College Summer Sports Academy in Flushing say the goal is to do everything they can to get more kids interested in being active from an early age.
"The first thing is that it be fun. If it is not fun they are not going to repeat," explained Richard Wettan, assistant vice president of athletics at Queens College Summer Sports Academy. "They may do it when they are asked to do it, but then when they are on their own, they are not going to continue to do it. It has to be fun. You have to make a game out of everything that you do."
The program also includes Head Start nutrition programming. And, for most of the kids, putting a focus on fitness seems to be a message that is already getting through.
"I think it is important because most of the day we are inside. This is the time we get to go outside have fun," said camper Rebecca Fraser.
Campers, aged five to 14, learn the fundamentals of different sports. The focus is often on group activity, drills, and relay. Older kids are also introduced to "personal fitness," meaning instruction on starting to use the gym and some equipment.
One of the main goals for the program is to come up with exercise plans the kids can stick with and counselors say one of the key elements is variety.
"I think one of the hardest things with kids is keeping things new and fresh, so the more variation we can come up with, the more dedicated and the better they adhere to the programs we set forth for them," said counselor Ben Auerbach.
Campers say they've picked up lessons and healthier habits they plan on sticking to beyond the summer.
"I will definitely keep active because of the fun things I've learned," said camper Nailah Barnes. "I will try to do them at home and at school."
- Kafi Drexel
August 10, 2008
Queens Camp Aims To Get Kids Enthusiastic About Fitness
Kafi Drexel Kafi Drexel covers Health & Fitness for NY1 News.
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Kafi Drexel
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