Seeking Youth Fitness Club Partnerships or Business Opportunities

The need for programs to educate and serve youth with a goal of preventing and reducing childhood obesity is greater than ever.

While the Fitness Club for Kids could not continue as a not for profit organization our skills, knowledge and dedication to fighting the problem still exists.

If you are interested in partnering or working with members of the Fitness Club for Kids management team feel free to get in touch.

And so too all good things must pass - Thank You for your support!

These are undoubtedly two of my fondest photos and moments from the two year run of our non-profit organization The Fitness Club For Kids. But like all good things, it too had to come to an end as the nation's and the California state economy has created an environment where running a start-up non profit is very difficult to do. In our two years, the program worked with more than 2,500 children from all parts of Los Angeles County, providing fun and engaging fitness and nutrition education services to children of all ages, races, and socioeconomic backgrounds.

The first photo features a group of children running on their elementary school playground with the towering buildings of downtown LA right in the background. The joy and pleasure seen in these kids faces is just wonderful.

The second photo is from our first Summer Fitness Academy in La Crescenta, CA. More than 150 kids took part in a wide range of fitness activities including: martial arts, obstacle courses, soccer, kick ball, baseball, dancing, pilates and even yoga. The students also ate healthy snacks and learned about nutrition from a certified nutritionist. In the photo you can see students and counselors taking part in a Yoga class under the shade of sycamore trees at Two Strike Park.

There are a lot of people to thank for helping with this organization and the thousands of kids touched by our efforts. To all of our board members, partners, and supporters - Thank You!

The Importance of Hydration As Summer Nears

Summer is almost here, and as the days grow longer and warmer more and more kids are at risk from suffering from easily avoidable bouts of dehydration.

Symptoms that indicate dehydration in young children include severe headaches, distorted vision, and ultimately vomiting. It is common for children to appear fine one moment and severely distraught the next and it often is difficult for parents to get their child to rehydrate once the symptoms has kicked in and the child becomes physically ill and often mentally anquished.

Dehydration is the condition a human body reaches when it does not have enough water inside to continue to function properly. Signs of dehydration include being thirsty, feeling lightheaded, dizzy, or tired, having a rapid heartbeat, dry lips and mouth, and dark colored or strong-smelling urine.

Our bodies rehydrates through drinking and eating. Our bodies lose water through sweating, vomiting, suffering from diarrhea, going to the bathroom, and even small amounts are lost through breathing. Sometimes these conditions are caused by sickness, other times these conditions are created through playing outside, participating in sports both indoors and outdoors, and through every day activities at school, home, or at the park.

It is important to remember is that our bodies do not work properly if they are not regularly hydrated. Most of us have been taught that drinking 8 glasses of water a day (64 ounces) will help us avoid becoming dehydrated. In most cases this is true, but if you are sick, or are participating in physical activity in warm or humid conditions your body may need more to continue to ensure your body functions properly.


That is why it is important to remember to drink water before participating in any activity to ensure that your body maintains proper levels of hydration at all times. If you are feeling thirsty, that is a sign that your body is feeling the stress of dehydration – so drinking lots of fluids in advance of any activity is as important as hydrating regularly during any sports or recreation activities you may participate in.

Milk is a good substitute for water, but juices, sodas, sports drinks, and other types of energy drinks are not good replenishment choices, especially for kids. Many of these drinks contain too much sugar, or in some cases small amounts of caffeine which actually makes your body eliminate water from your system - which causes your body to dehydrate more quickly. Water and Milk are the best sources of liquid nutrition and replenishment for young children.

So as the days grow hotter and summer vacations begin, make sure to encourage your children to make healthy choices about when and how much water they drink each day. More importantly, teach your children to listen to their bodies and if the symptoms of dehydration become apparent, instruct them on how to take immediate steps to ensure that their body is not dehydrated and is working properly so they can enjoy a long and fun summer vacation.

After-School and Weekend Fitness Classes for Kids starting this spring

Fitness Club for Kids Kick Off The Holiday Season In Style at the 32nd Annual Montrose Christmas Parade

More than 65 kids and parents enjoyed a festive evening of holiday cheer as the Fitness Club for Kids participated in the 32nd Annual Montrose Christmas Parade on Saturday December 6, 2008.

Kids rode on the West Coast Boot Camp humvees, in the back of Coach Brent's Four-Wheel Drive Truck, and on bikes and scooters at the head of the group as they traveled down Honolulu Avenue through the crowd estimated at more than 15,000 in attendance.

Here are a few highlights from the event...and Happy Holidays from the Fitness Club for Kids.

Back to School Children’s Health Fair on Saturday August 23, 2008

A brief note we received in the mail recently....

"Hi everyone,

I just wanted to extend my thank you and appreciation to all of you who came to volunteer at our Back to School Children’s Health Fair on Saturday, August 23, 2008 at El Cariso Park. Many of you came from so far away, and it took up your whole day. The event was a big success and we owe it to all of you! We are planning to make it an annual event, and we would love it if you would like to participate again. A more formal thank you is in the mail, but I thought I’d send you my personal thanks along with pictures from the day.

Please feel free to forward on to anyone who attended who might like to see the video or to those I missed. If there are any photos that you would like a copy of, please let me know and I’ll be happy to send you a cd of the photos or you can order a dvd on line directly. Again thank you and enjoy!

http://www.onetruemedia.com/otm_site/view_shared?p=720f3f250169bb3cfa056f&skin_id=601&utm_source=otm&utm_medium=email

Lori Wheeler, Deputy

Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky"

Join the Fitness Club for Kids at the 32nd Annual Montrose Christmas Parade

Ride In the 32nd Annual Montrose Christmas Parade with the Fitness Club for Kids!

Any Fitness Club for Kid student, or WCBC Boot Camp or Studio client who is interested in letting their children participate in the Fitness Club for Kids entry in the 32nd Annual Montrose Christmas Parade is encouraged to call the studio and RSVP before December 6th.

Meeting locations and contact information will be sent out via email or provided over the phone. Children will have to arrive between 5 and 5:15 p.m. and the parade starts at 6:15 p.m.

For more information or to RSVP please call 818-952-1333.

West Coast Boot Camp's Fitness Club for Kids Sponsors the Run for the Hungry Kids Mile Run

On a sunny crisp Thanksgiving morning, more than 250 kids and parents took to the street to help raise money for the homeless and jump start their holiday with a one-mile run through the city of La Canada, CA.

The Community Center of La Canada-Flintridge organized the event which took place along with a 5k run. Many of the children also ran in the 5K.

Here are a few highlights from the event.




Before the race Adrian led the kids in a stretch and warm up session



Lined up and anticipating the start of the race.



And they're off!



After the race Adrian, Natasha and Jackie (not shown) gave out medals to the kids.

AHA/AHG Update: Getting the Crowd Warmed up for the Los Angeles Start! Heart Walk 2008

On Saturday September 27th, the West Coast Boot Camp/Fitness Club for Kids program got the party started for more than 10,000 runners/walkers who attended one of the biggest fundraisers for the American Heart Association each year.

Adrian Pietrariu, head of the West Coast Boot Camp and one of the founders of the Fitness Club for Kids joined KCBS News Anchor Paul Majors and led the crowd through a brisk 5 minute series of warm up and stretching activities that got the crowd pumped up and ready to start the 5K course which traveled around the LA Memorial Coliseum under overcast skies.

Joining Adrian from the West Coast Boot Camp were fitness trainers Natasha, Jenica, Jackie, Gil and Jose.

Similar Start Heart Walk events were held in numerous cities around the county that same day.



Fitness Club for Kids Helps Kids Get Fit After School at Hoover Elementary School near downtown Los Angeles

On Friday October 17th, trainers from the Fitness Club for Kids spent part of the afternoon working with more than 65 elementary school students at Hoover Elementary near downtown Los Angeles. Group of students were given opportunities to run, jump, and engage in fun and recreational fitness activities as well as take part in a nutrition seminar hosted by the Alliance for a Healthier Generation - a joint initiative between the American Heart Association and the William J. Clinton Foundation.

The Fitness Club for Kids is "Go Healthy" Champion of the AHG and volunteers its time to support events like this whenever possible.


Fitness Club for Kids Joins LA County Department of Parks and Recreation and AHG to participate in the Back to School Health Fair on August 23rd at El Cariso Park in Sylmar, California.

More than 200 children from the local communities of Sylmar, Pacoima, and San Fernando took part in health screening and testing, received free dental services, picked up free books and goodies, and received a free backpack full of supplies for the upcoming school year.

The Fitness Club for Kids set up an fun and challenging obstacle course that each child had to participate in to receive their free backpack. The Alliance for a Healthier Generation handed out valuable information about healthy foods and coloring books for the kids.

Fitness Club for Kids to Sponsor the 15th Annual Run For the Hungry 5K/Kids Mile hosted by the Community Center of La Canada Flintridge, CA

The Fitness Club for Kids has joined the Community Center of La Canada-Flintrige to be a primary sponsor of the 15th annual Run for Hungry Kids Mile to be held on Thanksgiving Morning.

As part of the event, the Fitness Club for Kids has been offering a fitness and conditioning camp for kids each Tuesday and Thursday from 4 to 5 p.m. for kids hoping to get ready for the event or just have fun and get in shape.

The class is taught by Jenica Robinson, Program Manager for the Fitness Club for Kids, and includes track and field activities, strength and conditioning, and fun and games for kids of all ages.

A T-shirt and registration for the Kids Mile Run are included in the cost of the camp. For more information call 818-952-1333.

Fitness Club for Kids joins forces with Youth Policy Institute to provide physical fitness classes to LA area kids

Fitness Club for Kids joins forces with Youth Policy Institute (YPIUSA.org) in effort to provide quality physical fitness and nutrition education services to students in Los Angeles.


Since mid-September the Fitness Club for Kids has volunteered its staff to provide day long Physical Education classes for more than 150 students at Bert Corona Charter School in Pacoima and more than 100 students at Monsignor Romero Charter School in the Pico Union district near downtown Los Angeles.

On Saturday October 25th, the Fitness Club for Kids hosted a workshop for more than 10 PE Site Coordinators and Administrators from YPI where they were introduced to the Fitness Club For Kids program and took part in a fitness training session led by Adrian Pietrariu, founder of the Fitness Club for Kids.

Through its support of YPI the Fitness Club for Kids recently began offering Physical Education classes for more than 150 students at Pacoima Elementary School one day per week. The students have enjoyed a wide range of fitness and sports activities, and have all participated in nutrition seminars helping them understand how to make better food choices earlier in life.

The YPI organization and the Fitness Club for Kids will be working closely in the coming months to provide quality fitness and nutrition activities to the students and parents in the schools and communities that YPI's programs and services support.

Through its affiliation with YPI the Fitness Club for Kids has made great strides in having an impact in communities where some of the greatest need exists for fun, engaging and educational fitness and nutrition activities for kids.

Fitness Club for Kids and Community Center of La Canada-Flintridge Announce Fall Schedule - Classes for Moms and Seniors Featured in 2008

(click on image to view a larger version)

Seniors Classes will be offered every Thursday from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

Contact the Community Center of La Canada-Flintridge for more information on classes for seniors.

Fitness Instructor Matt Quintero helps Arroyo Seco Saints Place 2nd in California State Babe Ruth Baseball Championships

Matt Quintero and the rest of the Pasadena-based Arroyo Seco Saints finished second to Modesto in the recently completed Babe Ruth State Championship tournament. Quintero, a catcher who will start his second year at the University of San Franciso, played a pivotal role in helping the Saints reach the finals. Matt's clutch hitting and timely walks enabled the Saints to win close games early in the tournament.

Quintero, who graduated from St. Francis will return to USF in the fall where he will compete for the starting job behind the plate next spring.

Congratulations to Matt - a great coach for the Fitness Club for Kids, and an even better baseball player!

Jenica Robinson Named Program Manager of Fitness Club for Kids

For Immediate Release July 30, 2008
The Fitness Club for Kids Promotes Jenica Robinson to Program Manager


Jenica Robinson has been named Program Manager for the Fitness Club for Kids, a La Canada, California based non-profit organization dedicated to fighting childhood and adult obesity through interactive fitness and nutrition activities.

Jenica is a AFAA Certified personal trainer who loves to bring the best out of everyone at any age and fitness level. With two years of competitive boxing she knows how to push her clients to help them achieve their goals both physically and mentally.

"Jenica is a perfect fit to help our program mature to the next level. It is a sign of success that we can add such a talented person who can help the Fitness Club for Kids become even more popular among kids and their parents," said Skip McNevin, co-founder and Executive Director of the two year old organization.

"Jenica's passion for fitness and her ability to make exercise fun will be a tremendous advantage in our ability to create exciting new classes to fight childhood and adult obesity, in promoting our very popular after school and family fitness classes, and most importantly in growing the club's visibility among potential donors and strategic partners," noted McNevin.

Robinson has served as a personal fitness trainer for the West Coast Boot Camp for a year and has been an instructor in the Fitness Club for Kids program since 2007.

Jenica is a natural when it comes to working with kids. She has assisted kids in weight loss in a fun and enriching way. She is able to pull the best out of every child and motivate them to better themselves.

Her ability to customize a workout that makes them laugh and have fun while exercising sets her above the rest. Her training includes but not limited to special needs and overweight kids.

"Jenica's unique skills and tremendous attitude will allow more children throughout Los Angeles County to enjoy after school recreation opportunities that are not available on campus or in their local parks at this time," said Adrian Pietrariu, co-founder of the Fitness Club for Kids and owner of the West Coast Boot Camp Fitness Studios.

Jenica’s background in gymnastic, competitive boxing, basketball, track, volleyball, softball and cheer allows her to be flexible in designing the perfect program for her clients.

The mission of the Fitness Club for Kids is to fight the growth of childhood obesity through interactive education and awareness programs focusing on physical fitness and nutrition.

The Fitness Club for Kids provides after-school classes, fitness classes for adults, educational seminars for students K-8, and can design customized fitness sessions designed to teach children of all ages how to get fit and make healthy nutritional choices early in life.

For more information contact The Fitness Club for Kids at 818-952-1333 or email at info@fitnessclubforkids.com. Class schedules are available at http://www.fitnessclubforkids.org

Fitness Club for Kids Summer 2008 Registration Form Now Available On-Line

Here are our Summer 2008 Registration forms. Registration forms can me e-mailed to info@fitnessclubforkids.com or faxed to 818-279-0598. Walk up registration is now available at the La Canada Community Center and the West Coast Boot Camp Fitness Studios.

2008 Summer Sports Schedule

Check out our action packed summer schedule!



Two Strike Park, 5107 Rosemont Ave, La Crescenta, CA 91214

8:00 a.m. Senior Stretching, Strength, and Walking Classes

9:00 a.m. My Parents and Me Fitness Classes for the entire family

10 a.m to 12 p.m. Kids Summer Sports and Fitness Camps
Mon/Wed - Baseball Camp
Monday - Dance, Pilates, Yoga Classes
Tue/Thurs - Basketball Skills and Games
Friday - Flag Football Fridays
For Kids Ages 6 - 13




La Canada Community Center 4469 Chevy Chase Dr. La Canada, CA 91011

8:00 a.m. Senior Stretching, Strength, and Walking Classes

9:00 a.m. My Parents and Me Fitness Classes for the entire family

10 a.m to 12 p.m. Kids Summer Sports and Fitness Camps
Monday - Obstacle Course Races and Water Play
Tue/Thurs - Soccer Skills and Scrimmages
Wednesday - Flag Football Fun
Friday - Olympic Sports Training and Competition
For Ages 6 - 13

Complete Schedule is located at http://calendar.yahoo.com/fitnessclubforkids

Fitness Club for Kids Visit to Gratts Elementary School near downtown Los Angeles kicks of our status as "Go Healthy Champions" for AHA

There are days when starting a non-profit organization and struggling to make a difference in the community really pays off. Our recent morning training session at Gratts Elementary School was one of them.

Nestled beneath the towering skyline of downtown Los Angeles sits Gratts Elementary School, home to more than 500 students who live in and around central Los Angeles. The event was sponsored by the American Heart Association.

For more than 5 hours on the morning of Friday April 18, 2008, fitness trainers Adrian Pietrariu, Gil Uriarte, and Natasha Ventura led students from Kindergarten through 5th grade through a series of fitness games and activities. Program Nutritionist Jon Weber spent the morning presenting brief nutritional seminars to each class of students, spending 10 minute talking about healthy eating, nutritional basics, and the importance of hydration.

The event marked the first opportunity for the Fitness Club for Kids to serve in the role of a Go Healthy Champion on behalf of the Alliance for a Healthier Generation.

The Fitness Club for Kids is soon to be designated an official and proud "Go Healthy Champion" of the Alliance for a Healthier Generation - a joint initiative between the American Heart Association and the William J. Clinton Foundation.

In that role, the Fitness Club for Kids will participate and organize events and work in conjunction with the Alliance for a Healthier Generation in promoting children's fitness and nutrition and fighting the spread of childhood obesity.

Gearing Up for Spring and Summer with the Fitness Club for Kids

Hey everyone, its Skip McNevin, Program Director and co-founder of the Fitness Club for Kids. As you can see from our site, 2007 was a busy year for our fitness and nutrition awareness program and the coming year promises to be even more busy as our after-school program continues to expand throughout Southern California.

In April of 2007, Adrian at the West Coast Boot Camp and I decided that enough was enough and someone had to pro-actively tackle the rising epidemic of childhood obesity. In forming the non-profit organization known as the Fitness Club for Kids, we have created an organization that actively works to raise awareness of the problem and work with local government agencies and companies to sponsor programs and classes to help kids get in shape earlier in life.

In January we started teaching after-school classes at Mountain Avenue Elementary in La Crescenta, CA., where more than 25 kids participate in a one-hour fitness workout and nutrition seminar one day per week.

We expect to add another school in the city of La Crescenta in February, and we are expanding to serve schools in the Pasadena area coming in March and early April. So far we are thrilled with the managed growth of the program and the excitement our program has created among the parents and the students where we offer classes.

We also formalized our relationship with Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation and will offering customized fitness and nutrition classes to the LACPR after-school program. We will also be coordinating quarterly Health and Fitness Fairs in LA County Parks to promote healthy eating and fitness.

We have also implemented a development strategy to help fund our programs and support our low-income scholarship program designed to help kids take after-school classes even if their families can't afford the cost.

Please take a moment to learn more about the Fitness Club For Kids and if you are interested in participating or sponsoring one of our classes in a local park or on campus, please do not hesitate to e-mail or call us.

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