Image provided by: Oregon Historical Society; Portland, OR
About Spilyay tymoo. (Warm Springs, Or.) 1976-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 20, 2008)
Spilyay Tytnoo, Warm Springs, Oregon November 20, 2 0 0 8 Page 3 Fitness club helps keep girls active Council hears update from 4-H youth group B y L e s lie M itts Spilyay Tymoo B y L e slie M itts Spilyay Tymoo For some Warm Springs students, running in the halls at Jefferson County Middle School is part of their after noon activity. A fitness club at JCMS is giving girls a chance to stay in shape—and that includes w arm ing up by ru n n in g through the hallways. Many fem ale W arm Springs students are partici pating in the fitness club that meets four days a week. Shannon Alley, a health teacher at JCMS, teaches the after school club. While 45 girls are signed up with the club, Alley said, attendance usually fluctuates. About one-third of the stu dents involved are from Leslie Mitts/Spilyay Warm Springs, she added. Because the girl’s basket Jessica Mendoza, Kirsten Holliday, Leticia Palacios and Kari Wahnetah stay busy and ball season doesn’t begin un active this winter with the fitness club at JCMS. til the boy’s basketball season ends, Alley said, the girls are tivities depending on what areas becom ing overw eight. She stay in shape in preparation. left without an athletic activ of the building are available that plays, basketball, Suppah said, “I did it last year and it was because “That’s what my mom really fun,” Smith said. ity after school for that time day. Margarett Tapia, 12, said period. “We just try to be really flex and dad did.” Smith agreed, and said she the club helps keep her busy. Plus, the fitness club has ible and use what resources are wanted to participate in the club “I t ’s too boring to sit at other benefits as well, Alley available,” Alley said. ■ home,” Tapia explained. said. Theyliah Suppah, 12, and “So I stay healthy.” The seventh grade students are Kari Wahnetah, 13, said Besides helping to keep Illante Smith, 12, are among the girls in shape, she said, it many W arm Springs girls at joined by friend Shinningstar Tail, the club gives her a chance helps keep them occupied Jefferson County Middle School 12, who participates in the club, to spend time with friends after school. who use the Fitness Club to stay “So I can run faster in basket balL” while also staying in shape Basketball is her sport o f for basketball season. She “It’s non-competitive,” Al in shape before basketball sea choice, she added, because “It’s also enjoys running and said ley added. “It introduces son begins. she’s participated in the sport them to new activities that Both o f the girls also partici fun to shoot hoops.” Jessica Hatlestad, 12, uses for years. “Ever since I was they might not try otherwise.” pated in the club last year and O n Thursdays 25 o f the had excellent attendance, Alley the club to stay fit for track sea young, I always raced,” son, and explained, “It’s fun be Wahnetah said. girls go to the M adras said. The club will continue to Aquatic Center, and during Suppah said she chose to par ing active.” Sydney Smith, 11, plans to meet four days a week until the other days all of the girls ticipate in the club both to stay do activities like jump rope, active before basketball season wrestle during winter sports sea the students begin their win running or other fitness ac- and also to stay healthy and avoid son and said the club helps her ter break. Tribal Council heard a opin ions from local youth recendy as part o f a presentation from the Youth Advisory Kouncil re cently. The Youth Advisory Kouncil, or Y.A.K., is a youth organiza tion through the local 4-H pro gram that gives youth an oppor tunity to gain leadership experi ence while also giving advice and their opinions to adults. Shawn Morford advises the group through her work at OSU Extension and presented several photo projects that the group has com pleted to Tribal Council members. Shania Tom, 11, as sisted Morford in presenting to Tribal Council. Photo project One project included photos of what students like about liv ing in Warm Springs, another featured photos of what they did not like, and a third included photos o f things they believe could be changed. Tom is a sixth-grader who is involved in Y.A.K. as well as the 4-H Geoteam. “It gives me something to do,” Tom said. “When I have free time it’s fun to do.” According to Morford, Tom is one o f the most active mem bers. “She’s got real leadership potential, so we’re really happy she’s involved,” Morford said. Currently about nine mem bers are regularly active in the club, while some participate more sporadically. Looking for more members The group started last spring and took a hiatus during the sum m er, and they geared up ’■ again this- fall,. Morford, said. While the current group is relatively small, Morford said, they would like to get more members involved. “I hope that over time the group can build,” Morford said. There is no cost to partici pate, and any middle school or high school youth can get in ’tell Us ^VaAYou Want S h o e S to re volved, Morford said. Y.A.K. meets bi-monthly. The only thing tequired from youth to participate are their time and commitment to the program. Ropes course In addition to meeting locally, Y.A.K. members have opportu nities to take field trips as part o f their participation with the group. Recently Y.A.K. mem bers travelled to Redmond to complete a ropes course. “It was fun, but it was scary,” Tom said o f the course. The course was 30 feet off the ground and featured ropes, webbing and cables. “It gave the kids an opportunity to push themselves out of their comfort zones,” Morford said. According to Morford, by the end of the course the youth were cheering each other on and encouraging one another. M o rfo rd added, “We’re thankful that we have the re sources to do these kinds o f trips.” In M orford’s opinion, one thing that the recent presiden tial election shows is that youth want change in the world. “Young people care, and they want to have a voice,” Morford said. “They have good ideas that the adults don’t and they have energy to do them.” Y.A.K. empowers the youth and shows them ways that they can be involved, M orford added. “They have a lot to say about what they want and what they envision,” Morford explained. Tom agreed and said it’s im portant for kids to be heard. “There’s other opinions be sides adults,” Tom said. fn( pjom£&..©puft0n? “ O ther kids should join because its fun and lets your voice be heard.” For more information, or to become involved, call OSU Ex tension at 553-3238. Next up Y.A.K. participants will be travelling to the High D esert Leadership Retreat in January. 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