JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska -- The United Service Organizations is scheduled to host a Kid’s Wellness Fair in celebration of the Month of the Military Child at the Buckner Physical Fitness Center, April 22, 2017, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Month of the Military Child is a time to honor the important role military children play in the armed forces community.
“We wanted to do something fun for children as well as incorporate a wellness aspect,” said Ann Jarvis, USO Alaska Center operations and program manager. “The event will cover fitness, nutrition, sleep, emotional needs and safety.”
The USO partnered with the Family Advocacy Program and several other agencies to bring the entire event together, Jarvis continued.
“This fair is not like every other resource fair where you walk around and get information and pamphlets, we’re offering projects and aiming for every table to be interactive,” Jarvis said.
For the fitness section of the fair, there will be zumba and yoga classes, an obstacle course, and a bounce house, Jarvis explained. For the nutrition section, the Health and Wellness Center dieticians will have sugar-comparison projects.
“The USO is putting together a ‘make your own’ trail mix bar station, so each child will be able to pick and choose what to put in their own bar to take home,” Jarvis said. “There will also be an obstacle course with silly glasses and tricycles regarding the effects of losing sleep.”
Various organizations will have interactive tables and speak about their availability on base, and therapy dogs will be making the rounds as part of the emotional needs portion, Jarvis explained.
“The [Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson] Fire Department will be bringing the fire prevention safety house as well as fire trucks to speak about safety,” Jarvis said.
Also in regards to safety, there will be two disaster-preparedness presentations offered by the Red Cross throughout the event.
“With the event falling on Earth Day, Family Advocacy will have a plant project and speak on family growth and how it’s important,” Jarvis said. “And the Parks and Recreation Department, and the Alaska Department of Fish and Game will be offering information about our national parks system and how to get out and have fun in nature.”
For more information about the event, contact Jarvis at ajarvis@uso.org.