The Highmark Foundation's Highmark Healthy High 5 SPARK Active Recreation program is currently recruiting new program sites throughout the Southwestern Pennsylvania region. SPARK (Sports Play and Active Recreation for Kids) is a nationally recognized physical activity program designed to provide children with an inclusive, non-competitive recreation experience regardless of their ability, size or gender. Organizations interested in becoming a SPARK site are encouraged to visit www.paSPARK.org or call 1-800-652-9420 by August 31.
All program components are provided by Highmark Healthy High 5 at no cost to qualifying organizations. Site recreation leaders receive lesson plans (in an easy-to-use binder), hands-on professional training during a two-day workshop, ongoing site support and equipment vouchers based on need assessments.
To qualify as a SPARK site organizations must:
"Less than 25 percent of school-age children get even 20 minutes of rigorous daily physical activity, well below the minimum of 60 minutes prescribed by researchers," said Kweilin Nassar, Highmark Healthy High 5 project director. "By engaging our schools and communities in SPARK, together we can reverse the current trend and create lifelong healthy habits in children."
The next SPARK training workshop will be held on September 20, 2007 at the Penn Hills YMCA, 11817 Frankstown Road, in Pittsburgh, Pa. Space is limited and interested organizations are encouraged to call 1-800-652-9420 or visit www.paSPARK.org and click on "Become a SPARK site" by August 31.