True Value Fitness Fun Day encourages children to lead active lives

More than 3,000 children from 34 Take Time For Fun_sm park districts converged on Lisle Park District July 18 to participate in the Midwest's largest youth fitness special event, and second largest youth fitness event in the country.

The True Value Fitness Fun Day, coordinated by IPRA Fitness and Recreation Committee, provided five hours of games and activities for children ages 7 to 12.

The emphasis of the program is to encourage children to develop an active lifestyle and create awareness for fitness. Day camp counselors were encouraged to prepare the children for this fitness day by promoting fitness activities within their daily camp programs throughout the summer. All counselors were provided with a run-to-fitness workbook to assist with the education and training of the campers prior to the event.

The True Value Fitness Fun Day activities were noncompetitive in nature and included nutrition bingo, maze tag, 600-yard run, relays, moonwalks, health expo, dance contest, human letter games, and an aerobic dance session. The nine activity areas were 15 minutes long with a five minute exchange period. Each activity area provided running, stretching, strength assessment, nutrition information, and fun.

This activity was recognized by the Governor's Council on Physical Fitness. Jeff Sunderland, executive director of the council, presented all Take Time For Fun_sm agencies with a plaque of appreciation for the promotion of youth fitness in Illinois.

Kara Rebau, camp director of the Schaumburg Park District, said, "The program was on a noncompetitive basis and activities were geared so that all kids were winners."

David Saldanha, 8, said, "Moonwalk, running, the sit-up test, and dance contest made me think about staying in shape."

The Fitness Fun Day program is the start of a statewide campaign to improve the condition of youth fitness in Illinois Park and Recreation Agencies. Next year, the Fitness Fun Day will be expanded to include more activities and children.

When your agency joins this statewide effort to promote park and recreation opportunities to the public, the benefits may surprise you. Additional feature programs will be made available to you; visibility and support of your agency is enhanced; opportunities for recognition of individual agencies and events are increased, and new resources for creative promotion of your agency are on hand. If you would like to join your peers in an exciting new direction for parks and recreation in Illinois, contact the Illinois Association of Park Districts at (217) 523-4554 or the Illinois Park & Recreation Association at (708) 991-2820.

The True Value Fitness Fun Day is an example of a feature program made available to agencies because they are members of the Take Time For Fun_sm campaign.

Thanks to the following Take Time For Fun_sm agencies for their participation and commitment to improving youth fitness.

Addison Park District, Susan Klimt; Batavia Park District, Mary Jo Kapelinski; Bolingbrook Park District, Ada Casado; Central Stickney Park District, Francesca Castellon; Channahon Stickney Park District, Sarah Davisson; Elgin Parks & Recreation, Maria Prehn; Franklin Park District, Mike Bliedl; Glen Ellyn Park District, Nancy Miner; Godley Park District, Linda Schott; Huntley Park District, Betsy Warrington; Glendale Heights Recreation Department, Keith Paloucek; Joliet Park District, Toni Swabowski; Lake Zurich Recreation Department, Monica Perry; Lisle Park District, Kim Paetschow; Midlothian Park District, Patricia Yeager; Northbrook Park District, Karen Browne; NWSRA, Shelly Johnson; Palatine Park District, Mary Sagen and Don Ritter; Park District of Forest Park, Larry Piekarz; Parks & Recreation of Oak Park, Jo Ann Zimmerman; Richton Park Parks & Recreation Department, Patrick Ryan; Rockford Park District, Gayle Dixon; Rolling Meadows Park District, Mary Muno; Romeoville Recreation Department, Steve Gulden; Salt Creek Park District, Heather Krupke; Schaumburg Park District, Dana Corvino; Skokie Park District, Lori Mills; Villa Park Recreation Department, Bradford Caldwell; Westmont Park District, Matt Ellmann; Wood Dale Park District, Gail De Phillips; York Center Park District, Sharon Labak; and Zion Park District, Kenneth Alien.

Special thanks to Lisle Park District for hosting the event. Also, much thanks to all day camp volunteers for their assistance with the games.

The event could not have taken place without the funding provided by True Value and the assistance of Hinckley & Schmitt and Gatorade.