Learning new ways to be healthy

The Fort Bliss Youth Sports and Fitness program is a place where kids can explore their strengths and improve their weaknesses in a positive, safe, and nurturing environment. The Youth Sports Program offers an extensive variety of sports, clinics, camps, events, and fitness classes to engage kids and teach them that maintaining their health through physical activity can be fun.

Since reopening in April, the program has started to include a holistic health approach to help youth bounce back from the Covid-19 shutdown, discover their ambitions, and meet their goals. One youth in particular, Demerius Rondon, came in with a big fitness goal and the fortitude to do whatever he needed to do to reach it.

What he did not realize at the time was that fitness goals take so much more than showing up to the gym every day; he learned that he also needed to adjust how he ate and how he cared for his body. However, the biggest obstacle he faced was his mental and emotional perspective. Working with Demerius for just two months, the staff began to notice his fitness goal taking shape, his confidence increasing, and

Learning new his demeanor shifting to a more joyful one. ways to be healthy During the summer, he volunteered within the program mentoring BY LEXLY BLEDSOE FAMILY & MWR YOUTH SPORTS other kids in the fitness classes and camps where he furthered his journey, by learning to create opportunities for those with mental or physical obstacles. When he is not here, the kids are noticeably disappointed. Demerius is not the only youth who has benefited from the new health-integrated approach. The camp participants in both fitness and volleyball had the opportunity to learn about health topics spanning nutrition for athletes, stress management, recovery, mobility training, and even yoga! They were individually challenged to create and meet their health and fitness goals using this holistic approach. Do you have youth in your family who are interested in becoming more active? Explore what the Fort Bliss Youth Sports and Fitness program has to offer! Stay in the know by following their Facebook page, search Ft. Bliss CYS Youth Sports & Fitness. For more information, call 915568-2617.