April 7, 2004

Children's Museum and Fitness Center create partnership

By
Herald staff writer

      There were balls to bounce, mats to climb on and tunnels to crawl through for the youngsters who visited the Great Lakes Children's Museum during "Bodies in Motion" Friday evening.
      The Great Lakes Children's Museum, in collaboration with The Fitness Center of Traverse City, offered a hands-on look at equipment The Fitness Center will have available in their new Play Care program.
      Helping children stretch their imagination as well as their bodies is the goal behind the partnership between the Great Lakes Children's Museum and The Fitness Center.
      "We are pleased to join the Fitness Center in promoting healthy choices for families," said Mary Manner, director of education at the museum. "We will encourage children and their families to explore fitness and nutrition in creative, interactive ways."
      The Fitness Center offers families a way for parents and their young children to become fit and have fun at the same time. Their new Play Care program allows children ages two to five to engage in active play while their parents work out at the facility.
      "The idea of Play Care is to give kids a chance to have fun and blow off steam while their moms and dads are staying fit," said Jennifer Pampu, program director at The Fitness Center.
      "The services allows the whole family to have a revitalizing break," Pampu noted.
      The Fitness Center promotes exercise and flexibility programs that are appropriate for young children. Children in Play Care may use exercise balls, balance beams, hula hoops, tunnels, obstacle courses, all led by fitness professionals.
      Fitness Center management sought out the partnership with the Great Lakes Children's Museum because of the museum's expertise at creating an exciting learning environment for young children. In turn, they will donate equipment to the museum to be used for exhibits and programs and will also make a $50 donation to the museum for each member who joins the facility this month.
      "They wanted to support us in some way. By showcasing their new equipment and program we are promoting play-time along with family-time, talking about fitness at the same time benefits everyone," said museum development director Lisa Bracey.
      For more information on Play Care, call The Fitness Center at 941-8787. For information on the Great Lakes Children's Museum, call 932-4526.