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Feb 27

Fitness kids

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Published: Mon, February 27, 2012 @ 12:00 a.m.

Salem Center in helps keep kids motivated

PHOTOS and story

By Jessica m. KANALAS

jkanalas@vindy.com

Wellness and exercise were executive director Heather Young’s main motivators for creating the new Children’s Fitness Center at the Salem Community Center.

This new room opened Nov. 27, 2010, after minor construction to an existing room. It gives children age 6 to 12 a place to get physical and mental exercise.

Before the children’s room, the Salem Community Center had few options for such an age group. Those 12 and older were allowed to use the second-floor facility on their own, but anyone younger had to remain either with their parents in the common areas such as the basketball court or pool or be placed in day care while their parents worked out upstairs.

Young received a grant that allowed for the room to be remodeled and a new, one-year program to begin. STOMP (Surge To Optimum Max Power), a free program, was created and consisted of three 12-week sessions designed to improve the health, wellness and knowledge of the local youth.

“It wasn’t just about weight loss,” Young said. “We try to create the habit young.”

Children who participated met with trainers, kept a journal, received handouts on nutrition and were given prizes with their success as motivation.

Between Nov. 29, 2010, and Sept. 30, 2011, when the grant ended, 2,275 children visited the Children’s Fitness Center through the STOMP program. An additional 4,779 visits were made through programming and memberships, according to the center’s records.

“It’s amazing just seeing the kids in there exercising,” Young said.

Christa Hutton of Lisbon has been coming to the Salem Community Center for three years and said she loves the new addition. Hutton’s family would split up workouts because of the age issue. Christa, her husband Dan, or their daughter, Kelsie, 15, would have to stay home to watch the younger kids.

“Now, it’s a family event,” Christa Hutton said. “We take advantage of everything.”

She brings her younger children, Katelyn, 9, and Hunter, 10, with her three or four times a week knowing they are working out as well as being watched by the center’s employees.

Amanda Rummel of Hanoverton, who also works at the center, said it helps motivate her.

“I love that it’s not just childcare,” she said. “And it’s not about your size. It’s about being healthy.”

The Children’s Fitness Center offers smaller equipment such as ellipticals, treadmills and benches to fit the smaller bodies of children. There are strength-training and cardio machines, free weights and a chin-up bar as well as a Wii, Xbox and Kinect. The room also holds two bikes with complete computers attached, which are run by the child’s biking activity. When the child is in motion, the computer is on and games are available to play, but if the child stops working out, the computer shuts off. These types of equipment allow for knowledge growth as well as physical activity and motivation.

The center is open Monday through Thursday, 4 to 8 p.m.; Friday, 4 to 7 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

If you’d like to support the center, $25 tickets are on sale for the third annual Girls Night Out event, which is taking place from 4 to 9 p.m. March 28 at the center. The evening includes dinner, almost 60 vendors for shopping and several speakers who focus on women’s issues such as migraines, fitness and nutrition. All proceeds go to the Children’s Fitness Center for future programming. Call the center at 330-332-5885 for more ticket information.

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