Healthy Activities Club

The YKFC Healthy Activities Club is an activity program designed to provide active, fun, and educational growth opportunities during school breaks.  Club is open to youth ages 5-13 years who are registered with Bethel 4-H.

Activities include:

•          Swim Time:  recreational swimming, water safety, and water games

•          Sports Time: indoor and outdoor sports games and physical activities  

•          Relaxation Time: personal growth and mental health activities

•          Knowledge Time: educational and knowledge building activities

•          Nutrition Time: healthy snacks will be offered alongside nutritional activities

Schedule:

• June 3rd – Aug 9th, 2024 (skip July 1-5)

• September 3rd – September 6th, 2024

Participants may register for mornings, afternoons or the full day.  Participants registered for full day stay at the facility between sessions and should bring lunch.

·         Morning Session 8:00am-12:30pm

·         Afternoon Session 1:00pm-5:30pm

Rates: (5 day sessions)

Full Day = $250 per week; Half Day = $140 per week.

Partial scholarships available through generous support from The YKDelta Lifesavers Foundation. Scholarship application is available in the registration packet.

Registration: 

1. Register with Bethel 4-H,

2. We are currently adding interested participants to a waiting list for our Spring Break Club and will officially open registration after we have confirmed staffing. Contact us at ykfc@cityofbethel.net or 907-543-0390 or follow the link below to be added to the waiting list.

Benefits of the Smart Fit Girls Program:

Increased physical activity.

The health benefits of being physically active throughout the lifespan are widely known. Individuals who are highly physically active are more likely to have greater self-esteem, better body image, and increased physical activity self-efficacy.  Currently, the average PE program provides less than 12% of the recommended daily amount of physical activity, with adolescent girls being the least active group. Overall physical activity levels also drop significantly during adolescence, particularly for girls. A recent study found that girls participated in 2.5 hours less physical activity per week compared to boys.  So, during every SFG session, our girls spend ~45-60 minutes being active. A majority of this active time is focused on weight training but we also understand the importance of active play and have allocated time for free play as well.

Brain boost.

Regular physical activity and active play has been shown to contribute to academic achievement and reduce attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). One potential reason for these effects is the greater production of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) that results from being physically active. Moderate to vigorous physical activity has been shown to promote the production of BDNF, which aids in the creation of new brain cells and promotes memory retention and learning.

Self-love.

During our program, the girls learn about anatomy, nutrition, and different formats of weight training. They also have the opportunity to discuss psychosocial components of health, including self-esteem and body image. Having a high self-esteem has been shown to lead to many positive outcomes, including improved social relationships, occupational success, and academic achievement. Self-esteem has also been shown to have a positive association with body image; those who demonstrate high levels of self-esteem are more likely to report a positive body image.