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NewsroomPress releasesHighmark Healthy High 5 SPARK Active Recreation Program Encourages Children To Make Regular Physical Activity Part of Their Everyday Lives JOHNSTOWN (May 3, 2007) Regular Physical Activity Helps Combat Health Risks Associated with Childhood Obesity and Improves Quality of Life 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 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 has shown through scientific trials an increase in fitness levels in children as well as promoting life-long appreciation for movement that ultimately creates the basis for a healthier lifestyle and obesity prevention. Children – no matter what 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 Debra Smith, health and fitness director, Johnstown YMCA. "The kids also enjoy the activities because they are not competitive and everyone can play and have fun." 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. The program is specially designed to boost heart rates, strengthen muscles and build endurance. There are currently 20 active SPARK sites in Cambria County with an estimated 1,200 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. A training session is schedule for the Johnstown area on Thursday, May 17 at the Greater Johnstown Career and Technology Center. The training session provides site leaders with SPARK Active Recreation program lesson plans, hands-on professional training and ongoing site support. Equipment is provided to ensure that every child has the opportunity to participate. Through its Highmark Healthy High 5 initiative, the Highmark 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 engaging our schools and communities in SPARK, together we can reverse the current trend and create lifelong healthy habits in children." To learn more about the Highmark Healthy High 5 SPARK Active Recreation Program or to register for the upcoming training session, call 1-800-652-9420 or visit, www.paspark.org. About Highmark Healthy High 5 For more information, contact:
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