Youth day at McAdoo Fitness Center

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Alyssa M. Akers
  • Minot Air Force Base Public Affairs

The McAdoo Fitness Center hosted an event for the Youth Center children at Minot Air Force Base, April 17.

Approximately 60 children attended the event, created to celebrate the month of the military child and promote a healthy lifestyle in school-age children.

Tech Sgt. Daniece Burris, 5th Force Support Squadron fitness and sport section chief, started planning for the event as soon as she heard children were out of school for the day.

“We decided we would do a bunch of events and make popcorn for the kids,” said Burris.

In the morning, kindergarteners and first-graders arrived at the fitness center for two hours. These children participated in four activities consisting of a mock fitness assessment, bounce house, a video exercise with fitness balls and group games such as duck duck goose, freeze tag and more.

In the afternoon, second and third-graders arrived at the fitness center. These children participated in the same first three activities as the other group, changing the last activity of group games to a game of wallyball.

“They especially loved doing the ball exercises and wallyball,” said Burris.

Burris mentioned that children like to know what their military parents do when they aren’t around.

“We implemented the mock PT test for that reason,” Burris said. “The children tend to not know what we do, so this was a way to show them in a fun way.”

This event was the first of its kind. With the great turnout and positive feedback, there are plans of it occurring again in the future.

“This event was fantastic,” said Burris. “The kids loved it, and so did the parents. I hope they will do it again next year.”