Sept. 2007 Issue of Pasadena Magazine Features Fitness Club for Kids After-School Program

September 2007 Issue

click on images to view and read article.

Thanks to the wonderful Charlie Spradling for her support of the Fitness Club for Kids Program.

Mt. Ave Jog-A-Thon Fundraiser Follow Up

Joggers cash in

By Mary O’Keefe, Crescenta Valley Sun

Mountain Avenue Elementary students ran to a “rock-n-roll” beat as they raced around the school’s upper field playground. They were running to have fun and raise money to support their school in the very first Mountain Avenue Elementary Jog-A-Thon.

The run took place all day on Nov. 9 and involved all students from kindergarten to sixth. The fundraising began a few weeks earlier where kids asked family and friends to donate either an amount for each lap ran or one general total. The money will support Mountain Avenue Committed to Kids, the school’s foundation.

“It was so well organized,” said Rebeca Witt, Mountain Avenue principal.

She added that although it was the first time for the event, everything from beginning to end ran smoothly.

Most students ran anywhere from 13 to 24 laps around the field with teachers and family members cheering them on. The starting line was an arch of blue and yellow balloons, the school’s colors, and there were signs of encouragement like “You Rock” posted around the track

Some of the students took advantage of advanced training by West Coast Boot Camp trainers.

Led by Adrian Pietrariu, students stayed after school on selected days before the race and stretched, did push ups and ran laps. The training paid off as they leaped into the air to high five Pietrariu as they rounded a curve on the track.

“We don’t know how much money we raised yet,” Witt said.

Students are to turn in their donations by today. “But if it was successful I am sure we will do it again. The kids loved it.”

Crescenta Valley Sun, November 16, 2007

November 10, 2007

Dear Friend of Mountain Avenue Elementary,

For the past 40 years Mountain Avenue Elementary School in La Crescenta has been educating our children in a tradition of excellence! Our school was a proud recipient of the 2005 National Blur Ribbon Award. The support we receive from our parents and the community has been the key to our achieving this level of excellence.

For the past 15 years, M.A.C.K. (Mountain Avenue Committed to Kids)- a parent-lead non-profit foundation, has been committed to enhancing the educational opportunities for the children of Mountain Avenue Elementary School.

We are writing you today to thank you for your generous support of our 1^st Annual Jog-a-thon Fundraiser that was held on November 9^th, 2007.

The money raised from this year’s event is earmarked to upgrade technology and to support continuing programs such as the library and computer lab.

Thank you for supporting us at Mountain Avenue Elementary and making a difference for our children.

Sincerely,

Christine Pehar

M.A.C.K. Jog-a-thon Chairperson

Fitness Club for Kids Summer Camp Report #4 - These "Tough Kids" can take the heat!

Monday August 13th - The forgiving weather of early August gave way to humidity and 90+ degree temperatures, but the campers at the 2007 Fitness Club for Kids Sports and Fitness Academy hardly gave notice as Adrian Pietrariu started the week with a hearty workout.

Sprints, crawls, push ups, ab work and leg strengthening drills got the campers ready for a snack of hard boiled eggs, fruits and vegetables, crackers, rice cakes, and lots of cold water.

Following the snack, Kasey Alfonso taught a Pilates class under a large shady oak tree and helped the campers stretch and loosen up from the morning workout.

Visits by reporters from the Glendale News Press and the La Canada Valley Sun highlighted the day, and the campers closed out the day with a passionate series of capture the flag games.

Here is a link to the Glendale News Press article

Here is a link to the La Canada Valley Sun article

Tuesday August 14th - Coach Jonathan took the kids on a cross country jog through the park and then set the campers to work with a series of leg lifts, step ups, and a challenging series of drills designed to build speed and conditioning.

Following snack, the campers played flag football.

After the football game and a nice cool down with a snack, more than 80 campers ages 6 through 15 visited from the Crescenta Canada YMCA summer camp, and took part in nutrition education seminars, ran a challenging obstacle course and enjoyed a healthy snack from the Fitness Club for Kids Program.

Wednesday August 15th - With instructors holding padded bags and kids grunting and screaming as they punch, kick and smack away at them, Wednesdays were proclaimed the official Self-Defense and Personal Safety Awareness Day in the Camp.

Coach Gil treated the campers to another self-defense and martial arts workout and training program - a clear favorite activity among all campers.

Following snack, the campers took part in another flag football game, and closed out the day with a frisbee golf tournament.

Thursday August 16th - Coach Jonathan pushed the campers through an exciting and challenging morning workout.

Following snack the campers participated in a Yoga session taught by Yoga specialist Mary Francis Spencer.

Following the second snack session, the campers were taught a dance routine by dance instructor Kasey Alfonso.

Friday August 17th - Planned activities include: Fitness Workout from Adrian, Whiffle Ball and Kick Ball on the basketball court, Nature Hike, Nutrition Education, and end of week camp awards.

Fitness Camp Report #3 - These "Tough Kids" Are Getting Ready to Go Back to School In Style

Monday August 6th - A new week kicked off and the Sports and Fitness Academy for Kids and the activities moved right into high gear for the week's group of campers.

On Monday, Coach Adrian ran the new campers through a series of fitness activities and a hurdle course that got the group warmed up and ready for more.

Following the workout, the campers were ready for a water break and nutritional snack with Nutrition Specialist Jon who walked the new campers through basic nutrition concepts while they snacked on turkey, watermelon, rice cakes, and assorted fruit.

After a good cool down, the campers made their way to the basketball court where a spirited game of kickball broke out. After the game the group enjoyed another round of snack and nutrition education.

A special visit from Pasadena Magazine gave the campers a chance to participate in a photo shoot with West Coast Boot Camp's Adrian Pietrariu.

To close out the day, campers participated in rolling, tumbling, and sprinting drills with Coach Mike.

Tuesday August 7th - Coach Johnathan woke the campers up with a cross country jog through Two Strike Park, followed by a series of fitness activities that gave the campers a vigirous early morning work out.

The group then took time to cool off with water, nutritious food and the first of two snack and nutrition education seminars from Jon Weber, West Coast Boot Camp's Nutrition Specialist.

Following the break, the group took part in a group Pilates class in the park. Kasey Alfonso showed the students basic Pilates stretching and conditioning movements.

The day was completed with a Nature Hike through the mountain trails at the park.

Wednesday August 8th - Coach Gil gave the campers a lesson in self-defense and the campers took part in a mock boxing workout session in the park.

Non contact sparring focusing on footwork, positioning and reaction gave many of the campers their first opportunity to understand basic self defense techniques.

Following snack, the group squared off in a game of soccer between the campers and the counselors. On two late goals by Ali and Ashley, the campers beat the Counselors and forced them to do 25 pushups on the spot.

Thursday August 9th - A perfect morning gave Coach Jon a chance to put the campers through a spirited workout, complete with hill climbs, wind sprints, crawls, and more.

Following the snack break the campers participated in a Dance Aerobics class in the park at Two Strike Park, featuring Kasey Alfonso as dance instructor.

After a second snack, the campers took part in a obstacle course that challenged and rewarded the campers for their hard work.

Relay teams completed the 5 sections of the course one section at a time, building teamwork and endurance skills.

Fitness Club for Kids Camp Report #2

The 2007 Sports and Fitness Academy for Kids ended week one with two outstanding days of action packed fitness games and activities.

Thursday August 2 - Coach Jonathan led the campers through the park on a cross country run that took them up and down sloping hills, through bike paths and across the lawns of Two Strike Park. Jonathan then led the team through a series of speed development drills, helping the campers develop better footwork and foot speed. After series of push ups, pull ups and sit ups, the campers took in a snack of grilled turkey patties, celery, watermelon, and carrots, along with crackers, O's and rice cakes.

Nutritionist Jon Weber grouped the students into teams and held a game of "Know your nutrition" to reinforce the lessons taught throughout the week.

The day ended with a huge water balloon and water fight at the request of the campers, who were deservedly rewarded for the great effort and work they had done during the week.

Friday August 3rd - It was hard to believe we had made it through week one. Each kid was a bit slower, and gladly the weather was a bit cooler. Coach Mike and Coach Skip led the class through a stretching session and then the campers walked and ran laps around the playground to get warmed up.

Following that, the campers worked on drills designed to improve balance, footwork, speed, and agility. Having completed an active first session, the campers were served up a healthy snack of chicken sausages, apples, rice cakes, whole wheat crackers, and an assortment of fruits.

Nutrition Specialist Jon Weber reviewed the week's nutrition lessons, and quizzed the students and awarded them for correct responses.

A grand obstacle course was set up following the first snack and the campers took to the challenges with a vigor.

Running, crawling, hopping, climbing steep slopes, running down hills through play structures, across monkey bars, and over hurdles gave each camper a run for their money.

Campers completed the course twice as individuals, and once as a team, learning to run and work with a group instead of as individuals.

After a final snack, Coach Mike led some of the campers in a greco-roman wrestling session where the campers learned how to set up and wrestle in a safe and competitive way. Other campers enjoyed a nature walk, played basketball or talked nutrition with Jon Weber.

The day and week was completed with an awards ceremony where two campers were recognized as Jr. Nutrition Specialists by Jon Weber, and each camper was given a commemorative Medal, a special West Coast Boot Camp Dog Tag, and a camp t-shirt.

Fitness Club for Kids Camp Report #1

Monday July 31st - The fitness camp started off with a strong day of running, push ups, squats/lunges, and exercises designed to strengthen and build endurance.

The campers did a tremendous job of keeping a busy pace set by Coach Adrian, and were rewarded with lots cold water and a fresh snack consisting of lean turkey patties, watermelon, fuji apples, and whole wheat crackers.

During their snack, Camp Nutritionist Jon Weber introduced the campers to foods that are high in protein and explained to them why foods that are high in protein are an essential part of any healthy diet.

After snack, Coach Skip broke out the basketballs and following a brief warmup, held a full court five on five basketball game. Following a second snack and nutrition session, the camp closed the day with a fierce series of games of capture the flag.

..................

Tuesday July 31st - Well rested from their first day of fitness camp, the campers participated in a series of crawling, running and endurance exercises with Coach Jonathan early Tuesday morning. Running up and down grassy hillsides, crab walking, wind sprints, touchies, and other cardio activities gave the campers a great early morning challenge.

During snack Camp Nutritionist Jon Weber served celery, apples, carrots, peanut butter (low fat/low sugar), watermelon and crackers while talking about high performance foods, and what foods were good to eat before and after participating in sports or other high energy activities.

After snack session #1, the campers split up - with one group taking a nature hike and another playing a game of soccer after a series of skill development training exercises. Snack session #2 followed and the day was completed with a spirited game of kick-ball.

..................

Wednesday August 1st - Martial Arts specialist Gil gave the campers an introduction to martial arts fitness during the first session.

A cross country jog through the park capped off the first session and set the campers up for a nutritious snack consisting of lean turkey, green beans, cucumber slices, carrots, apples, rice cakes and cheerios.

Camp Nutritionist Jon Weber introduced the campers to food packaging labels and taught each camper how to read labels and determine which packaged foods are healthier than others.

The campers then wrote down food ingredients and worked with each other as teams to determine which foods were the
healthiest.

Following snack, the students participated in an outdoor obstacle course that took them through the play structures, and up and down the signature hillsides at Two Strike Park.

After a second snack session and continued work on reading and understanding food labels, the campers participated in a brief volleyball skills workshop and closed out the day with a 45 minute volleyball game.

..................

Thursday - Football skills, Wrestling conditioning, Nature Hike, and, Whiffle Ball game.

Friday - Track and Field, Obstacle Course, "Name Your Nutrition" Game, and Week One Closing Ceremonies.

Fitness Club for Kids Summer Camp Now Open at Two Strike Park in La Crescenta, CA

Summer Sports and Fitness Academy for Kids Now Open!

Where:

Two Strike Park
La Crescenta, CA

When:

July 30th thru August 31st
9 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Monday through Friday

For kids ages 6 – Up

$125 per week per child

$35 per day per child*

*Group Discounts Available for Youth Summer Camps and Daycare providers

-------

This camp includes a daily nutritious snack, lots of water, and an opportunity to learn about nutrition directly from fitness and nutrition specialists.

-------

Students participating in the Sports and Fitness Academy will have an opportunity to select from a wide range of fitness games and activities each day.

Sports, nutrition, and fitness experts will provide students with an introduction to a wide range of exercise and fitness games and activities.

Other activities include: Martial arts and wrestling fitness, football, basketball, soccer, baseball, dance classes, capture the flag, lots of water fights, challenging outdoor obstacle courses, “Parents and Me” fitness day, Track and Field events, and more…..

Don’t miss out on one the funnest and most beneficial summer camps your child will ever attend!

----

Simply show up by 8:45 a.m. to sign up or call 818-952-1333 and sign up today!