YORKTOWN, Va. –
The whirring of blenders all but drowned out the laughter and sound of children running and playing inside the Bethel Manor Youth Center in Yorktown, Nov. 5. A small group gathered around the mixers, eager to learn how the oranges, apples and bananas would combine into healthy smoothies and quench the thirst of their friends inside the nearby gymnasium.
"Can we eat these?" one boy asked, holding a peeled orange above his head.
The instructor nodded his head and smiled as the boy dropped the fruit into the blender. This exercise was not just about preparing a snack; it was designed to introduce children to the first phase of the Langley Air Force Base Youth Program's Triple Play experience - the "mind," which concentrates on incorporating healthy living and active learning into the everyday lives of participants.
Created by the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, Triple Play is designed to improve healthy habits, nutrition and physical fitness through interactive activities and exercises that target the mind, body and soul of children.
"Triple Play focuses on the overall wellbeing of children," said Shanda Allmond-Misse, Langley Air Force Base Youth Programs manager. "It teaches kids how to lead a better, healthier lifestyle."
A healthier lifestyle is the cornerstone of Triple Play, which was developed through a partnership between the BGCA and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, with support from National Government Services, a health information technology contractor.
"I'm proud to be here to see Triple Play in action," said Tim Masheck, NGS vice president of health IT. "We have been supporting military families for years."
Masheck, in continuing NGS' support to the program, presented a check made out to Langley Youth Programs for $14,225. The grant will go toward ensuring Triple Play becomes a part of the center's daily routine.
"It really makes health fun," Allmond-Misse said, as she watched children in the gymnasium take turns dribbling basketballs through a series of cones. "The staff participates, which motivates the kids to emulate their behavior. Everyone stays active."
These activities were implemented to focus on the "body" portion of Triple Play. As the children challenged each other to who could finish the dribbling obstacle course the fastest, another group lined up to test their skills in a free-throw contest. Through a variety of sports, fitness programs, activities and competitions, the Youth Center maximizes participants' opportunities.
While children hurried to chase down loose basketballs, the rhythmic tones of hip-hop music echoed throughout the gymnasium as Tonya Hutchinson led a group in a Zumba routine.
"I want them to have the fun. I want them to know the importance of exercise, while still enjoying themselves," said Hutchinson, a certified Zumba instructor. "It's not about knowing the steps; it's about keeping in motion."
Almost on cue, two girls at the Zumba station collided into one another before laughing, hugging and returning to the dance. As part of the "soul" aspect of Triple Play, Zumba allows participants to develop and sustain positive relationships with others, while building a strong foundation of self-worth.
"The music behind Zumba really touches the soul," Hutchinson said. "For me and some of the kids here, it has become a lifestyle."
As the music played and the children danced, the Youth Center staff stepped back and watched, hoping that a lifestyle of fitness for the mind, body and soul was carried on the notes and into the hearts of the children, and back to their military families.