“Our community takes pride in the uniqueness of our program, as we have recently garnered national attention. The Evergreen Fitness Team was recognized regionally by Action for Healthy Kids, and nationally by the National Education Association for schools taking action against childhood obesity.”
The first week each participant is given a pre-session evaluation. The evaluation includes strength and flexibility measurements, body mass measurements, cardiovascular tests, blood pressure readings, and a questionnaire of eating habits. With the pre-session test each student is given a health risk appraisal. The following six weeks, for 2½ hours a day, each student completes a personal workout program that is designed to fit his or her needs. The 2½ hour session is split into half physical training and nutrition education, with the other half fun activities or games that promote cardiovascular fitness. Some of the activities include: obstacle courses, a climbing wall, dodge ball, and human foosball. During the main six-week portion of the program, students are required to complete a nutrition log of food they consume each day. The team members rate themselves daily on how they perform both physically and on their eating habits. At the completion of the program the students are given a post-session evaluation showing the gains in their fitness level, and the differences from their pre-session evaluation. A post-session health risk appraisal is given to the students so they can work on their year round fitness goals.
Because of the number of students that are participating in the program, our day is split into a morning and afternoon session. The 7th and 8th graders participate in the morning with the 5th and 6th graders making up the afternoon session. While the program was originally offered only to the district’s 5th through 8th graders, the increasing popularity of the program has allowed the program to expand to the district’s 2nd, 3rd and 4th graders. Last year’s roster grew to 123 participants. In addition to the summer program, Evergreen Fitness now offers a Christmas and Spring Break program to encourage students to be even more excited about physical fitness.
