CLUBS
In the year 2000, at kidsrunning.com's onset, I set the goal of sharing running clubs with others, so that every child could have the chance to be part of one. Along the way I started my own Happy Feet club, but now in 2009, I still have the same goal - sharing! So I am happy to present a fairly new club from Kathleen Goyette in Washington. FitKids USA has so many wonderful components and it might be just the thing for your community. It is called FitKids USA. Please check it out!
- Carol Goodrow |
May 26, 2009
ELEMENTARY STUDENTS (VIRTUALLY) RUN TO BEIJING ON A WORLD TOUR
Focus on Health, Education, Global Awareness and Volunteerism Gets Kids Moving
Yakima, WA - Kids from the Yakima Valley have been on a world tour as part of the FitKids USA childhood obesity intervention project. Since February of 2005 FitKids volunteers have worked in 70 classrooms and addressed more than 3000 kids in assemblies while working with students and classroom teachers. Teachers around the valley have accompanied their students and collectively logged 35,792 miles of physical activity. The 2008 / 2009 tour virtually took students over 8,000 miles from Neuchatel Switzerland, home of the FitKids cooperative organizations IMBEWU & Roger Federer Foundation, to Beijing, China site of the 2008 Summer Olympics.
"FitKids at its most basic level is about getting kids moving for 7 minutes during their school day and educating them about the power of nutrition, exercise and making positive choices; however we've tried to make the program more meaningful by associating with a severely disadvantaged sister school in South Africa" said program director Kathleen Goyette. "We believe that by working with 'sister schoolmates' who have little access to food, water and education, it motivates our students to take better care of themselves so they can in turn contribute to others around our community and around the world."
About FitKids:
FitKids promotes daily physical activity, sound nutrition and healthy lifestyle choices. Leaders commit to becoming Movement Mentors and participate with their members in running, walking, jumping & playing for fitness and fun while addressing the following areas:
- Goal Setting and Achievement
- Mathematics - Mileage Tracking
- Writing - Pen Pals
- United States & World Geography
- Volunteerism & Citizenship
- Intercultural Awareness
Kids Helping Kids - FK Volunteer Efforts:
FitKids programming teaches children that they are indeed capable of making a difference in the lives of those less fortunate. FitKids students at Wilson Middle School and West Valley High School along with individual student projects have produced fund-raisers that achieved the following for their sister school:
- Repaired the electrical system restoring electricity to our sister school
- Provided equipment for a mobile kitchen facility so more children can be fed at their sister school and local community center in South Africa
- Provided a budget for breakfast which supplied nearly 15,000 breakfast portions
- Increased security for the students and staff of Daniels' Primary School
- Provided postage and supplies for the pen pal program
FitKids Partner Athletes:
Roger Federer, World Champion Tennis Player & Olympic Gold Medalist, Andy Mahre, Professional Skier, Phil & Steve Mahre, Olympic Gold & Silver Medalists and World Cup Champions, Gordy Sheer, USA LUGE Olympic Silver Medalist
FitKids Partner Organizations:
IMBEWU-SUISSE and IMBEWU-South Africa / Roger Federer Foundation / Yakima Greenway Foundation / Central Washington University Dietetic Internship Program / White Pass Ski Area / RevItUp!
FitKids Community Events:
5th Annual Family Field Day - May 1, 2010 Ð Sarg Hubbard Park www.famfieldday.org
Join the FitKids Team: We're heading to Vancouver for 2010 Olympics! FitKids is always looking for teachers, coaches and youth leaders who are interested in joining the fun. Contact us online at fitkidsusa.org.
Contact: Kathleen Goyette, Program Director
Phone: 509.945.3189
Email: kat@skiwhitepass.com
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