JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas –
An obstacle course and a cooking demonstration will again highlight activities as the 59th Medical Wing hosts the second annual Kids in Motion event Aug. 26 at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph’s Heritage Park.
The free event, which attracted more than 250 people last year, emphasizes the importance of physical activity and diet in combating childhood obesity, said Aracelis Gonzalez-Anderson, 359th Aerospace Medicine Squadron health promotions coordinator. September is National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month.
“Kids in Motion addresses a growing epidemic in the United States that affects more than 30 percent of our children,” she said. “The obstacle course we use during the event reinforces the idea that fitness activities should be part of children’s daily lives.”
The event will offer an obstacle course for two age groups – 5 to 10 years old and 10 to 14 years old.
“There will be obstacles such as a balancing beam, short climbing walls and low crawls,” Gonzalez-Anderson said. “The children will be timed when they go through the course, then go through it again to try to beat their first time. They won’t be racing each other; we want them to get better for themselves.”
The cooking demonstration will allow children to see how they can easily create healthy snacks for themselves, she said.
Kids in Motion will also feature an information fair with entities such as United Way, Blue Star Families, JBSA-Randolph Youth Programs and other JBSA and community organizations as well as appearances by mascots from different JBSA units and San Antonio Parks and Recreation’s Mobile Fit vehicle.
Airman 1st Class David Flint, 359th AMDS Bioenvironmental Engineering Flight technician and a co-chair for the event, said he also volunteered for the inaugural event last year.
“I think it’s an important thing to help kids get outside more and be more active,” he said. “Kids spend too much time on computers and playing video games.”
“This event is important for the JBSA community because I think it brings people together and it can teach kids how to be active and stay healthy,” Flint said.
Combating childhood obesity is important because obesity leads to heart failure, respiratory problems, diabetes, hypertension and other serious health problems, Gonzalez-Anderson said.
“Parents who support this event are sending a message to their children how important it is to be physically fit and eat right,” she said. “It all starts with us. If we teach kids early on, hopefully this will play an important role in keeping them healthier for a brighter future.”
Kids in Motion is scheduled to begin at 8 a.m. Aug. 26 with registration starting at 7 a.m. Those who wish to register early may do so online at https://kids-motion-obstacle-course.event.brite.com.
The event is open to all Department of Defense ID cardholders and their family members. For more information, call 652-3641.