Konstantin Vengerowsky/Clarendon Citizen - Instructor Karen Hilton leads participants of the Mini Zonie Kid Camp through aerobics, one of the many activities held at the camp.
Mini Zonies teaches more than athletics
Cinan Muguercia, 10, said that besides the multiple athletic and educational activities she participated in, she and the other participants learned about the importance of respecting one another and team building at the Mini Zonies Kid Camp held last week at the Clarendon Health System’s Health and Wellness Center. The Zone held its second annual sports camp for participants ages 6-13.
The camp was held the week of July 11-15, and included activities such as aerobics, yoga, swimming, slip-n-slide, running and other physical and educational programs. Guest speakers came in everyday to the camp to talk about topics such as safety, nutrition and germ prevention.
“The goal was health and fitness, to get the kids to be more active,” said Travis Pruden, director of The Zone Health and Wellness Center.
Pruden said this year they had six participants.
“We educate from head to toe, from nutrition to seatbelt safety, stranger danger, and healthy meals,” said Karen Hilton, one of the instructors for the camp.
Hilton said that the children took part in many fun activities, such as water balloon games, hot potato and volleyball. They also had story book time, where they read their favorite stories in front of each other.
“We wanted to have good interaction between the children, and let them build up their self-esteem,” Hilton said.
Participants had a large focus on team building skills, and didn’t move forward with the next activity until they worked together as a team, she said.
“We learned that before you can be a leader, you have to be a follower,” Hilton said.
Hilton said that they took turns sharing duties, such as keeping play areas cleaned and organized, and were all very helpful towards each other.
She said that she wanted to have children be physically active, healthy and safe, while learning that exercising and eating healthy can be fun.
“We’re teaching them how to be happy and healthy kids inside and out,” said Hilton.
