FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 4, 2008

CONTACT: Diane Nevill, (623) 930-3554, Public Information Officer
Susan Murray, 623-930-3543, Teen Services Coordinator

GLENDALE, Ariz. – Anyone who passes by the Glendale Main Library, 5959 W. Brown St., between 10 a.m.-1 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 20 will see children and adults busy doing all sorts of physical activities on the front lawn. It is the library’s free Family Fitness Fair.

The fair is designed to provide families with ideas of free or inexpensive ways to keep in shape and add new activities to the fitness routine.   This year’s fair will include some stations with water activities to help keep participants cool.

      Stations will be set up around the grounds. At each station, participants will find resource lists and instructions that will make it easy for families to replicate these activities at home.

      The stations include:

• FitDeck – Facilitators will use the FitDeck cards (a deck of cards with fun exercises on each card) to play a game of Mother, May I? Exercises are all simple body movements which will help children get moving.
• Frisbee Horseshoes – Facilitators will help children play a game of horseshoes, but with the added twist of Frisbees. This station will teach children arm strength, accuracy and strategy as well as teamwork. They must earn a set number of points for their team, according to their flick of the Frisbee.
• Jump Rope Contest – Build leg muscles while jumping rope. Participants also practice agility and counting skills.
• Parachute – This is one big parachute! Families will work together to try many different techniques with the parachute. Children will improve their listening and teamwork skills.
• Speed Stacking – Adults and children learn the ins and outs of speed stacking, a new game involving the stacking of cups into patterns in the shortest amount of time. Participants compete against the timer and each other to get the fastest time. This station helps increase hand-eye coordination as well as help children think strategically. It also increases the heart rate.
• Through-the-Hoops – A hula hoop is used to help children (and agile adults) practice summersaults, tucking their heads for safety. This fun, easy exercise helps children practice their gross motor skills.
• Yoga – A licensed yoga instructor will teach families some easy moves that will increase flexibility and strength while decreasing stress. Yoga can easily be done at home as long as there is an open space to practice.
• Octopus Relay – Children will get into teams and compete to run an obstacle course.  This relay race is made more challenging by carrying a liter bottle, filled with water and lots of holes.  Children must get the most water to the opposite end of the course.  Prepare to get wet!
• Twister Scram - This fast-action twist on the classic Twister game offers hours of outdoor fun for kids. It's easy to set up and easy to play: just spread out the colored mats, then spin the spinner and dash for the dots. Run fast and don't be last, or you're out! The last player left is the Twister Scram champ.\
• Bubble Mania! – Families will learn how easy it is to create their own long-lasting bubble solution, as well as experiment with what makes the biggest bubble.  Lots of fun that will keep families busy all year long.

Facilitators will include volunteers from the Main Library’s Teen Library Council and other teenage volunteers.

All persons attending the Family Fitness Fair receive a free Fit for Life water bottle and water will also be provided. The event is part of the Be Fit: New Skills for a New Future series that is sponsored by a Fit for Life grant from MetLife and Libraries for the Future. No reservations are required to attend. For more information, call 623-930-3537.