Vegas PBS program works to keep kids fit

While some kids danced to Michael Jackson's "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough," others played basketball and competed in the long jump, a relay race and shot put events. Still others ran around the gym seemingly aimless.

They did so Sept. 6 at the Donald W. Reynolds Clubhouse of the Las Vegas Boys & Girls Club, 2980 Robindale Road, as part of Vegas PBS' Keeping Kids Fit program to fight childhood obesity.

"If you make the activities look fun, they might just want to do it," said Syeshia Hill, a freshman at Silverado High School, 1650 Silver Hawk Ave. "It's good to keep the kids out of trouble and motivate them to stay at the Boys & Girls Club(s)."

In a little more than two weeks, Vegas PBS plans to host its third annual 5K run and one-mile walk to support Keeping Kids Fit. The race is scheduled to begin at 8 a.m. Oct. 6 at Vegas PBS, 3050 E. Flamingo Road. Registration is set from 6:30 to 7:45 a.m.

Registration is $25 if postmarked by Sept. 28, $35 by Oct. 4 and $40 on race day. The event is open to all ages and will feature Elmo, music and prizes.

For more information or to register, visit vegaspbs.org/kkf5k.

Seventh-grader Danielle Willis of Schofield Middle School, 8625 Spencer St., has been coming to the Boys & Girls Clubs after school for more than three years. Kids are always kept active anyway, she said, but this event was a welcome surprise.

"It'll teach them to stay fit, be healthy," Danielle said. "The club is really good about keeping us fit and stuff. We always exercise and stuff."

Only after they finish their homework, she added.

About 50 students participated in the Keeping Kids Fit event, rotating to different activity stations. Danielle's favorite was the dancing station, led by Fremont Street performer Dj lady gogo, known by day as Alexandria Halbauer.

Students received stickers at every station they went to in order to encourage a variety of exercises, said Vegas PBS program assistant Jessica Carroll.

After collecting three stickers, kids could redeem them for a prize: listening to Carroll's demonstration about portion sizes and sugar content.

Carroll filled kids' hands with baby carrots, explaining to them that a handful is a way to approximate one fruit-and-vegetable serving of the five recommended daily.

She also had kids guess how much sugar was in a chocolate bar, Powerade and Monster Energy drink. Carroll explained the chocolate had about seven teaspoons, the Powerade had 10 and the Monster Energy drink had 13.

Keeping Kids Fit started about five years ago, Carroll said, and is mainly a school-based program.

"It is a long-term project where we go to elementary and middle schools and educate families and children about healthy choices," Carroll said. "From exercise, through nutrition and even dental health."

The 5K run and one-mile walk is the program's biggest annual fundraiser and what keeps it alive, she said.

For more information about Keeping Kids Fit and health tips, visit vegaspbs.org and search under the "Kids & Families" menu at the top of the page.

Contact View education reporter Jeff Mosier at jmosier@viewnews.com or 224-5524.