The Fit Generation
From learning to swim and building confidence to creating lifelong healthy habits, Memorial Fit Camp is helping shape a stronger, healthier generation—one day at a time.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, children and adolescents ages 6 to 17 years old need at least 60 minutes of physical activity every day because it boosts brain health, academic focus, and lowers stress. At Memorial Fit Camp children are getting at least 60 minutes of physical activity every day and so much more!
Fit camp launched in 2011 by Memorial Childcare Ministry to address the growing need to increase physical activity in school age youth and fight childhood obesity. This program provides health and wellness, recreation, spiritual teachings, and helps build confidence. The mission is to help youth establish healthy lifelong habits.
According to the Childcare Director April Cook, programs for youth are a highly regarded need for families. “Capacity is one of the biggest challenges. We are always full, which limits space for new students,” said Cook. To create more space for enrollment, Memorial has a childcare expansion underway which will make more seats available.
Fit camp is unique because staff truly care about the needs of children. There is also a Family Services Coordinator on site that connects parents, staff and families with resources that they need. One notable alumnus is DJ Redding, who attended Fit Camp and now works behind the scenes with the Memphis Grizzlies. Cook hopes students remember Memorial Child Care Ministry as a comfort zone for them, a place they can return and possibly send their own families to as they grow older. When asked how success is measured, she said, “success is measured one day at a time. We learn every day through training, reading, memorizing, and planning, and we keep that process on repeat.”
To better understand the impact of Fit Camp I interviewed Jade who has attended the program for the last seven years.
Leia: What do you like most about Fit Camp?
Jade: I like going on field trips to different places like cMOE and Deep Blue.
Leia: What have you learned in this program?
Jade: I learned how to swim. At first, I was scared of swimming, but I learned by going to camp and it gave me confidence.
Leia: What challenges have you overcome so far?
Jade: Meeting new people was hard, but now I have lots of friends.
Leia: Who has influenced you the most?
Jade: Ms. Lyric because she’s always happy and has confidence and that inspires me.
Memorial Fit Camp serves about 50 youth throughout the year, grades K-6th after school and during school breaks. Community partners consist of Building Blocks, Welborn Foundation, City of Evansville, Black Nurses of Evansville, Evansville Promise Neighborhood and Indiana Youth Institute. Fit Camp’s program activities consist of swimming, hiking, boxing, fitness educational crafts, lessons and bible study.
For more about Memorial Youth Programs:
Memorial Community Development Corp
645 Connie Robinson Way Evansville, IN
Ph: 812-423-7166
www.memorialcdc.org
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