Hanscom makes fit families a focus

  • Published
  • By Sarah Olaciregui
  • 66th Air Base Group Public Affairs
HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. --  For the past several years, Hanscom has been helping families get out and get fit courtesy of the Air Force's FitFamily program. With many more events in the works, staff at the Fitness and Sports Center as well as the Youth Center are reaching out for more family participation.

"The Air Force wants its members to be 'fit to fight,'" said Ann-Marie Ely, Youth Sports and Fitness director. "Fitness should be a family thing, not just an individual thing. It's important for the whole family to be active."

As a result, the youth and fitness centers are planning a myriad of activities in which families may participate.

"Any fitness activity a family participates in together can be logged on the FitFamily website," said Ely. "A parent can log on and record events."

The site can be found at www.usaffitfamily.com.

Upcoming events include a Good Form Running Clinic July 25 from noon to 1 p.m. in the Tennis Bubble. The event is free and will feature interactive sessions on how to improve running form. Participants are encouraged to bring their lunch. To sign up, visit the fitness center.

"There will be a presentation by an Olympic coach," said Stephen Grant, a member of the Fitness Assessment Cell and Fitness Programs.

From July 23 through 26 at 3 p.m., there will be a Dribble Time Soccer challenge. The course will be set up outside the fitness center.

An ongoing activity for the entire family includes disc golf in Castle Park. Anyone interested can stop by the fitness center to pick up Frisbees. There are also monthly 5Ks held the third Wednesday of each month at 7:30 a.m., sponsored by the fitness center.

"More programs are in the works," said Paul Shoesmith, Fitness and Sports Center Operations director. "We're taking requests. We're always looking for what our customers want."

Within the next couple of months, the Youth Center is planning activities such as a Ready, Set, Run Club, a Day for Kids on Sept. 15, a Disc Golf Tournament in October and Youth and Family 5K Nov. 10, with many more events being planned for the new year.

"The FitFamily website is also a great resource for families," said Ely. "It contains articles about eating healthy, recipe contests and an opportunity to subscribe to an e-newsletter."

Due to the success of the FitFamily initiative, other similar websites have been created by the Air Force. For example, a FitLiving website has been established for Air Force civilians, contractors, retirees and single Airmen. The site is similar to FitFamily in how members can track their activity progress.

The FitLiving site can be found at www.usaflivingfit.com.  

"What I like about the FitLiving website is how it has a lot of links to other websites to learn more about fitness and health," said Shoesmith. "The site points you to reputable information."

Children may also participate in the FitFactor website. Hanscom youth involved in the School Age and Youth programs can receive help from staff with logging in their points on the website.

"The FitFactor site is solely for kids," said Ely. "They receive points for activities and a chance to win prizes."

Staff members hope the success of the FitFamily initiative continues.

"Next year, we plan to do the Armed Forces Kids Run again," said Ely. "This year we had 46 participants, including a lot of families."

Organizers also want to continue the Amazing Base scavenger hunt as well as roll the Hershey's Track and Field event into a FitFamily activity.

"We had 22 kids participate in the local Hershey's Track and Field meet here June 6," Grant said. "Of those, we had three Hanscom kids go on to win in events at the state championship."

The winners included Asher Spain winning the 9 and10 year old standing long jump, Julianna Byington winning the 13 and 14 year old girls' softball throw and Joseph Molvar winning the 13 and 14 year old boys' 800 meter run.

"We're waiting on the national results to see if any of them qualified to go to Pennsylvania to compete," said Grant.

In addition, a military member assigned to Hanscom won the Air Force Fit Family "Cook It Up" Healthy Recipe Contest last year. Tech. Sgt. Michelle Abrahamsson was able to meet celebrity chef Herb Mesa and demonstrate her original recipe for apple turkey picadillo at the Minuteman Commons.

More information about the upcoming fitness activities can be found on the fitness center's website at www.hanscomservices.com/FitnessandSportsCenter.asp or by searching for the center on Facebook. Links to FitFamily and more can be found on the Youth Center's web page at www.hanscomservices.com/YouthCenter.asp or by calling Ely at 781-225-6046.