Less than 25 percent of school-age children get even 20 minutes of rigorous daily physical activity, well below the minimum of 60 minutes prescribed by fitness researchers. Providing opportunities for fun, engaging activities for children is one of the ways we can help protect them from the health risks associated with physical inactivity and childhood obesity.
Highmark Healthy High 5 SPARK Active Recreation is a nationally-recognized program that provides children and adolescents ages 5-14 with a quality physical activity experience in an after-school or community program setting. The program, which is shown through scientific trials to increase fitness levels in children, promotes lifelong appreciation for movement that ultimately creates the basis for a healthier lifestyle and obesity prevention. Children — no matter their athletic ability or skill level — can participate in SPARK's non-competitive activities and games.
"Children who participate in SPARK have fun doing the games and activities. They don't even realize that they are getting their daily requirement of physical activity - and in turn are becoming healthier," said Jan Warischalk, Fleetwood Area School District nurse. "The program is specially designed to boost heart rates, strengthen muscles and build endurance."
Through active participation in the SPARK Program, instructors report that students show an increase and improvement in physical fitness scores, athletic skills such as throwing, catching and kicking, as well as improved self-esteem.
Fleetwood School District had three sessions of SPARK this school year, with instructors that included district staff and students from Kutztown University and Albright College. The total number of students who have participated in SPARK at Fleetwood is 132.
"Teachers and parents have told us they see students being more active at recess and home. SPARK is one of the best programs we have ever implemented to help our students be more active and to fight childhood obesity," said Warischalk. "We hope that in coming years we will see our Body Mass Index percentages decrease in the district, because of SPARK and the other nutrition and activity changes we make."
There are currently 10 active SPARK sites in the Lehigh Valley and Berks County with an estimated 450 children participating in the program.
Organizations that provide after-school programming or summer camps may qualify for no-cost training in Highmark Healthy High 5 SPARK Active Recreation.
The two-day training session provides site leaders with SPARK Active Recreation program lesson plans, hands-on professional training, and ongoing site support. Equipment is provided so that equipment needs are not a barrier to every child having the chance to participate. Highmark Foundation equipment vouchers of up to $2,500 are available to qualifying sites. Through its Highmark Healthy High 5 initiative, the Foundation recently awarded $88,000 in equipment grants to after-school and summer camp program providers across the 49 Pennsylvania counties it serves.
"Highmark Healthy High 5 is leveraging SPARK to help local organizations combat a serious health problem," said Kweilin Nassar, Highmark Healthy High 5 project director. "By providing SPARK training and support to providers in our schools and communities, together we can reverse the current trend and instill lifelong healthy habits in children."
To learn more about the Highmark Healthy High 5 SPARK Active Recreation Program or to register for one of the upcoming training sessions, call 1-800-652-9420 or visit www.paspark.org.