The Martha's Vineyard Times

YMCA makes kids wellness a fun day

May 2, 2012

Photo by Emily Galligan

Samantha Folts and Cassandra Silva took advantage of the free face painting. [More Photos]

The YMCA of Martha's Vineyard held its second annual Healthy Kids Day on Saturday, April 28. Close to 400 people joined in the fun. Activities included a kids taste test, family Zumba, hip hop, music and movement, free swim assessments and water games, field games and relays, face painting, basketball, piñata and more.

Many other Island organizations joined in the fun. They included the FARM Institute, Island Grown Schools, Vineyard Nutrition, Youth Task Force, Sassafras Earth Education, and the Cape & Islands Red Cross. Mass in Motion of Martha's Vineyard, which is working at the community level to promote a healthy, active lifestyle, sponsored the event.

"The goal of this event is to encourage people to incorporate fun and fitness into their daily activities and to improve the health and well-being of all individuals and our community as a whole," said Emily Galligan, Y director of marketing and public relations.

The Y holds Healthy Kids Day to teach healthy habits to kids and inspire a lifetime love of physical activity. Held annually at 1,600 YMCAs across the country, the event is the nation's largest health day for families, according to a press release.

For more information, call 508-696-7171 or visit www.ymcamv.org.