Encouraging fitness and fun for fine health [Norwalk Reflector, Ohio]

Sept. 30--Reasons for the 'Fitness Trail'

Capture and enforce students at a young age the importance of having fun while they exercise

Physical education at the elementary level often takes a back seat or is one of the first to be cut out with budgets. This project was developed through the school's physical education program and is used in physical education classes.

Childhood obesity, Diabetes Type II and some heart diseases are all preventable. The fitness trail also is designed to promote family and community participation during the weekends, evenings and summer time.

Insurance rates and our health are very critical and what better way to teach students at a young age to be physically active and healthy.

SOURCE: Edison Elementary School

MILAN -- Milan Elementary physical education teacher Becky Parcher said she feels "fantastic" about the fitness trail recently added across from the school.

Her goal is to make students also feel fantastic -- and increase their health -- by encouraging them to use different stations on the trail. Fisher-Titus Medical Center (FTMC) funded half the $13,400 cost and donations covered the rest of the money. The project is a collaboration between FTMC, the Edison Local School District and the community, said Michele Skinn, the hospital's director of community benefits and outreach.

Any local businesses or community members interested in donating to future enhancements to the project should contact David Hermes at Edison Elementary at (419) 499-2471 ext. 1102.

Ohio's new educational standards now require, among other things, physical fitness scores.

Last year, 49 percent of Edison Elementary's first- through third-graders met national fitness standards, Parcher said. This year, the goal is at least 55 percent. Parcher said that at the end of the school year, she will compare this year's data with previous years' data.

School officials recently installed fitness equipment to make up the trail. The 10 fitness stations include a step-up station, body curl bench, horizontal chin-up and a parallel bar.

"Students are able to walk, jog or run from station to station," states a fact sheet. "We now call this 'Workout Wednesdays' and 'Thursday Training.'"

"I think it's a great opportunity," Principal David Hermes said. "I think we're doing a good job at really focusing on our young kids at Edison."

He added installing physical fitness habits in children when they're young will help them achieve good health by the time they're in middle school and high school.

The equipment is not only open to students, but the community.

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"It's open /7," Hermes said.

The entire facility, which includes the playground and fitness trail, was funded through grants and donations.

Hermes praised FTMC and other community partners for helping to make the playground and fitness trail possible.

Parcher said before the implementation of the fitness trail, students had the track available and equipment such as a wrestling mat in the gym.

By utilizing the new equipment, the goals for the students include improving their fitness level and reducing obesity. The 2011 Huron County Health Assessment identified obesity as a major issue in the county.

Parcher said another positive thing about the new equipment is that the baseball diamond, softball diamond, playground and batting cage, all of which are close together, can be used at the same time with no disruptions or inconveniences.

On Thursday, Skinn accompanied thirdgraders as they darted from station to station under Parcher's guidance.

"Follow her instructions and you'll grow up to be big and strong," Skinn told the students.

The students have walked five Wednesdays or Thursdays during their recess time since school has started. "Walking Wednesdays" was for the first- and secondgraders. "Thursday Trot" was for the thirdgraders. Students were able to walk a halfmile during one recess, which equals out to 21 /2 miles after the five recesses. The school as a whole has walked 837.5 miles to earn this fitness equipment.

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