Fit for fun

  • Published
  • By 2nd Lt. Agneta Murnan
  • 71st Flying Training Wing Public Affairs
Vance Air Force Base, Okla. --  Fit to fight may be the motto for Air Force service members, but fit for fun and fit for life could be the mottos for teen fitness at Vance Air Force Base.

Kate Holdeman, youth programs coordinator, is working with resources around the base and on-line to get teenagers to form healthy exercise and eating habits.

"Sixty minutes of physical activity a day is recommended by the Surgeon General," said Ms. Holdeman. "That's really the benchmark, but the teens don't always get that at school. They need to run and to use those large muscles."

The teen center, open 4 to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 4 to11 p.m. Friday and 3 to 11 p.m. Saturday, has time designated each day for self-led or staff-led physical activities.

"It might be a brand new sport that kids haven't tried, or it might be a favorite sport like dodge ball. We focus on helping them develop their motor skills, coordination and learn new rules for games," Ms. Holdeman explained.

All physical activities can then be logged in FitFactor, an Air Force-wide Web-based program that helps youth, parents and staff track and evaluate fitness activities through a point system which awards teens silicone bracelets, T-Shirts, visors, backpacks and more for healthy behavior. The program is also intended to provide parents with information on the model behaviors.

"The whole idea behind FitFactor is being active every day, because it takes a long time to develop a habit," said Ms. Holdeman.

The teen center staff is not stopping at daily fitness time and Internet tracking; the teen center, located in the back of Bldg. 455, is getting a fitness center of its own in 2008. The room is planned to include a treadmill, recumbent bike, rowing machine, Stairmaster, boxing speed-bag kit, Core Balls and a soft-floor area for yoga or Pilates.

The teen center also uses 4-H curriculum for nutrition education and conducts healthy cooking classes.

"They should be able to come to one place and have all of the tools they need to become well rounded individuals," Ms. Holdeman said.

According to Ms. Holdeman, the teen center is working with the base fitness center to ensure safe and constructive exercise.

"We want to open up teens' eyes in terms of how fun being physically active can be," said the director.

For more information, call the teen center, at 213-6762 or 213-7166.