Fitness camp keeps kids active and healthy

By Heather Warlick-Moore

If you are still looking for a summertime activity for your kids, the Oklahoma City Parks and Recreation Department has an affordable option that is sure to help your kids get into better shape.

Total Fitness Camp at Southern Oaks Recreation Center will keep your kids eating healthy and moving all day long.

“We have to catch kids early,” said Sue Wood, recreation program coordinator. “National health statistics show that childhood obesity and diabetes are both on the rise. If we can help our youth instill healthy lifestyle habits at an early age, we have a greater chance they will remain healthy, active adults.”

Certified physical education instructors lead the campers in a variety of activities including aerobics, tennis, basketball and Pillo Polo, an indoor polo game that uses soft pucks and Nerf-like balls. This is the camp’s first summer to specialize in fitness.

“I came to this camp so I could lose weight,” said Aundria Jackson, an 11-year-old camper. She said she didn’t want to start middle school and get made fun of for her weight. “It’s full of physical activities (that) help you in exercise. It can help you with your health and to get strong bones.”

“The objective here is to entertain the kids so that they’re having so much fun they don’t realize they’re getting fit,” said Steve Brooks, supervisor at the center. A former physical education teacher, he takes the kids for a mile-long walk every morning and coordinates activities throughout the days.

“We wear them out pretty good. They have a good time, though,” he said. The camp is open to kids ages 6 to 18.

Flex Gym and Oklahoma State University’s Oklahoma County Extension Center Community Nutrition Education Program staff members volunteer at the camp daily, coordinating specialized activities for the campers.

“Kids nowadays, their fun is sitting behind a TV playing video games, eating potato chips, stuff like that and they’re not getting out active anymore,” said Garrett Livesay, a Flex Gym trainer. “I don’t want them thinking they’re here for a job, you know, just doing straight exercises. I like to incorporate games and stuff in there where they’re keeping high levels of energy going all the time burning calories, staying in shape.”

The Regional Food Bank provides free breakfast, lunch and snacks for campers and Play in the Park program participants daily.

The camp costs $65 per week and campers can join the camp at any time throughout the summer. Sessions end July 31.

Camp participants have regular weigh-ins and measurements of their body mass index, or BMI, to chart their progress, but only for basic guidelines. The most important goal of the camp is to encourage kids to make healthy and active choices for their lives.

For more information or to register for the Total Fitness Camp, call 631-5441.