February 2004
Y Night: Prescription for Fun and Fitness for Teens
Winter Park High School's Healthy School Team, the WEEKENDS organization, and the Central Florida YMCA have teamed up to write their own prescription for treating the obesity epidemic among teens--Y Night.
Designed to be healthy and social, and to show kids that physical fitness can be fun, Y Night is an evening of teen-oriented exercise classes, such as salsa and spinning, mixed with healthy snacks like smoothies and fresh fruit. It will be held from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. March 5 at the Peggy & Philip Crosby Wellness Center, a YMCA Family Center, located at 2005 Mizell Avenue, Winter Park.
The goal was to have an event for students that revolved around physical fitness that was also fun, said Chris Watson, school nurse at Winter Park High and one of the leaders of its Healthy School Team. "So many times I think kids hear the word 'exercise' and it's an immediate turn off. By offering classes such as salsa dancing and hip-hop, we're hoping to promote the whole idea that being active counts as exercise," she said.
Open to Winter Park High School students, the event will feature door prizes including a mountain bike.
The event also will include hip hop, water fitness, Bootcamp, Pilates, Yoga and Nutrition classes, as well as a Challenge Obstacle Course and Wallyball.
Winter Park High's Healthy School Team is a group funded by the Winter Park Health Foundation and made up of teachers, parents and staff. This team, like others organized at each of Winter Park High's elementary and middle feeder schools, is charged with designing projects that will improve the health of the school. Projects vary between schools.
WEEKENDS is a non-profit organization run by teens that provides substance-free fun events for high school students.
This is the first time the groups have worked together.
The cost for attending the event is $3. Sponsors expect about 200 students.
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