Over 200 get active for annual Summer Youth Fitness Fun Day

July 6, 2018

Aeneas Antone

Gila River Indian News

Children from across the Gila River Indian Community gathered to participate in the Summer Youth Fitness Fun Day on June 21 at Jumpstreet in order to encourage kids to be active and exercise.

“It was very successful,” said Alieshawshongam Walking Badger, Special Events Coordinator. “We had over 200 kids from Districts one through seven. This has been an annual [event]. This is probably the third year we’ve did it and it’s for the district’s summer youth programs.”

Jumpstreet was chosen as the place to hold the event because with the triple-digit weather, an indoor venue was best suited for the occasion.

The Summer Fitness Fun Day’s main purpose is to get kids out of the house and to be active while still having a lot of fun. Jumpstreet is an indoor trampoline park for kids of all ages with many activities including a dodgeball arena, two basketball hoops, a jumping air cushion, an obstacle course, a mechanical bull and an area for free jumping. Many kids stay at home and are on their technology devices for several hours of the day so this was an opportunity for them to enjoy time with their friends and exercise.

A dodgeball tournament was held with each district participating in the competition. The tournament was divided into two leagues based on age. District 4 took first place for the older league and District 3 landed on top for the younger league.

The Summer Youth Fitness Fun Day was sponsored by the Gila River Health Initiative. In addition to all the activities the children did, the children were provided a free pizza lunch.