Fitness Program Targets Area Youths

On the fields of Oxnard’s Colonia Park, a dozen kids were proving their newfound fitness skills Wednesday night. As an instructor looked on, the children jogged around a soccer field eight times to test their endurance.

“I’m in better shape than in the beginning,” said Armando Rivera, 12. “I like running now. It’s fun.”

As Armando and the other children finished the laps, they were also finishing a six-week fitness course given by El Concilio Del Condado de Ventura, a nonprofit Latino advocacy group based in Oxnard.

Thanks to a $50,000 state grant, the youths--ages 10 to 12--spent several hours a week learning about exercise, nutrition, self-esteem and goal-setting.

“We taught them about the four food groups and how to reduce their cholesterol and sugar intake,” said Christine Ruvalcaba, an instructor from El Concilio. “We even taught them a little about resume writing and how to fill out a job application. It’s never too early to learn.”

El Concilio is running a similar after-school fitness program beginning in September, and invites children who are willing to commit to attending all 12 workshops to soon apply.

The children who attended the summer sessions said they learned a lot about healthy living. “I learned to eat more fruits and vegetables and not so much fast-food and oily foods,” said Kathy Carrillo, 12. “And I’m going to try to walk every day.”

For more information about the program, call 983-2336, ext. 222.