YMCAs across the country will celebrate Healthy Kids Day this weekend.
The YMCA of Kanawha Valley will hold its Healthy Kids Day starting at 5:30 p.m. today, and the Tri-County YMCA in Scott Depot will have its event from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.
Andreea Slusarciuc, business development director at the YMCA of Kanawha Valley, said children will be given an event passport and asked to attend four mandatory events: a youth CPR demonstration, a summer camp demonstration, a tennis activity and a pitch, hit and run Major League Baseball activity.
"This exposes the kids to all kinds of sports and activities we have here at the YMCA," Slusarciuc said. "This is helping the kids and their parents realize summer is just around the corner, and it's kind of like a warm-up - they have to figure out what they're going to do this summer."
There will also be optional stations, including a children's obstacle course, volleyball, kids yoga and more.
Slusarciuc said research has shown that children are more at risk to gain weight over the summer, so keeping them active is the best way to stay healthy.
The first 300 children will get free backpacks, and there will also be more than 250 prize giveaways, including 30 bikes.
Joe Stevens, community relations director with the Tri-County YMCA, said all families are welcome to explore summer activities.
"We want to make sure they understand there's lots of outdoor activities out there," Stevens said.
There will be demonstrations from Marshall University soccer, Hurricane High School baseball players and coaches, Hurricane Middle School track and the West Virginia Golf Association.
Representatives from the Secretary of State's Office and the State Treasurer's Office will also be there. Adults can register to vote for the November election or change their voter information.
Stevens said it's important for children to see adults exercising their democratic rights, and he said his 12-year-old son is already asking about when he can vote.
Officials with Putnam County Schools will be at the event to answer any questions parents with children entering the school system may have.
There will also be deputies from the Putnam County Sheriff's Department for a K-9 unit demonstration.
"It's important for parents to find out, besides having the opportunity to play video games, there's great chances for kids to get out and exercise and get active with school coming to an end here real soon," Stevens said.
Stevens said he doesn't think children staying indoors to play video games is a problem, but rather a continuing education scenario. He said it's important for children to realize they can have fun outside right in their own backyard.
"As long as we continue to educate people, we'll continue to have boys and girls having fun outside," Stevens said.
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