Last modified Wed., January 10, 2007 - 05:00 PM
Originally created Thursday, January 11, 2007

CircusFit comes to NAS Jacksonville Youth Center

By Shannon Leonard, MWR Marketing Director

Shanya Warthen and Dean the Clown practice their hula hoop skills during the CircusFit Program at the NAS Jax Youth Activities Center Dec. 28. Photos by Shannon Leonard

NAS Jacksonville partnered with Feld Entertainment to bring CircusFit to a group of children attending holiday camp at the NAS Jax Youth Activities Center Dec. 28. The children were entertained by clowns and circus music, while participating in warm-up exercises, juggling, hula-hoop games, jump roping and much more.

Holly Harrington, director of Event Marketing and Sales for Feld Entertainment, stated "this is a fun and exciting way to show kids fitness as well as a way to reach out to the military community and show our appreciation of all the armed forces."

Each child walked away with a water bottle, stuffed animal, clown nose and a free ticket to the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus, which is coming to the Jacksonville Veteran's Memorial Arena Jan. 17-21.

Through the CircusFit Program, the Ringling Bros. acrobats, clowns, high wire and trapeze artists and many other performer-athletes help show youths an awe-inspiring and action-packed approach to health and fitness, motivating them to get up and move with games and activities that are more play than work. The CircusFit Program provides educators, youth group leaders and parents an easy-to-follow, flexible structure. CircusFit lessons combine educational health and science information with physical movement and exercise so that fitness can be integrated into almost any curriculum or time frame.

Jesse the Clown teaches Jasmine Reaves some balancing techniques during his visit to the NAS Jax Youth Activities Center.

United States health officials have identified a new epidemic impacting the youth of America, childhood obesity and inactivity. The number of children affected is staggering. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the percentage of children and adolescents who are defined as overweight has more than doubled in the past 20 years. If this trend continues, overweight children are more inclined to be prone to a host of weight-related illnesses, including diabetes and heart disease in adulthood. CircusFit is a program implemented to help motivate children towards a healthy lifestyle and hopefully to eventually improve these statistics!

Neither the Morale, Welfare and Recreation Department nor the U.S. Navy or any other part of the federal government officially endorses any company, sponsor or its products or services.

A group of kids from the NAS Jax Youth Activities Center warm up before participating in the CircusFit Program Dec. 28.

A group of kids from the NAS Jax Youth Activities Center clown around with professionals from the Ringling Bros. Barnum and Bailey at the CircusFit Program.

CircusFit participants get an opportunity to learn how to juggle from some real professionals.