Lewisville Leader > News
Kids' fitness camp celebrates fifth, biggest year
By Lena Price
Five years ago, 8-year-old Matthew Kibbey had a goal -- he wanted to learn how to run faster and jump higher.
His family signed him up for the first Power Agility Reaction Training (PART) camp, and Kibbey spent the week mastering drills and competing in relay races.
Today, Kibbey is an active athlete who plays basketball and football for his school. He credits the PART camp for teaching him healthy habits and basic exercises early in life. Kibbey returned to the camp for the fifth year last week, but this time he was the one teaching kids how to run and jump.
"I didn't know how to do any of these drills when I first started," Kibbey said. "Now I do, and I get to pass along what I learned and help out the younger kids."
Kibbey was one of almost 100 volunteers who signed on to help run fifth annual camp. About 350 kids spent the week at Toyota of Lewisville Railroad Park, learning basic athletic skills and other habits that promote a healthy and active lifestyle. Many of the kids have made the camp, which ran Monday through Friday, a regular part of their summers.
"I think the camp has really evolved," said Brian Grandison, a local coach and one of PART's founding members. "We're clearly bigger than ever before. But most importantly, we're getting so much support from the community. This absolutely would not be possible without all of the volunteers."
Tammi Lakey, a volunteer whose three kids participated in PART, said she loves the family-oriented environment it provides. Parents lined the sides of the park, watching their kids jumping rope, pulling each other on bungee cords and leaping over hurtles. At the end of the week, families are invited to compete in a relay race with their kids.
"It's a lot bigger this year than we ever thought it would be," Lakey said. "Word gets out as kids tell their friends, I think it's great. It gets my kids off the couch."
Volunteer coach Andrew Espitia said because the camp is free, it appeals to families regardless of their finances.
"When you really get down to it, there are a lot of families who might have economic situations that would normally make a camp like this impossible," Espitia said. "This is one time when parents don't have to worry about telling little Johnny or little Susie 'No, we don't have the money for that.'"
Most importantly, kids have fun at PART, said coach Pat Mahoney.
"We have kids that started when they were small, and they've been with us the whole time," Mahoney said. "I coach some of these kids in baseball, and none of them like drills. But when I look around I see everyone out there smiling."
Faith Mollenkoph, a 12-year-old middle school student, attended the camp for the second time this year. She said she always enjoys it because of the friendly atmosphere.
"It's different than just running drills over and over again, you're having fun," Mollenkoph said.
His family signed him up for the first Power Agility Reaction Training (PART) camp, and Kibbey spent the week mastering drills and competing in relay races.
Today, Kibbey is an active athlete who plays basketball and football for his school. He credits the PART camp for teaching him healthy habits and basic exercises early in life. Kibbey returned to the camp for the fifth year last week, but this time he was the one teaching kids how to run and jump.
"I didn't know how to do any of these drills when I first started," Kibbey said. "Now I do, and I get to pass along what I learned and help out the younger kids."
Kibbey was one of almost 100 volunteers who signed on to help run fifth annual camp. About 350 kids spent the week at Toyota of Lewisville Railroad Park, learning basic athletic skills and other habits that promote a healthy and active lifestyle. Many of the kids have made the camp, which ran Monday through Friday, a regular part of their summers.
"I think the camp has really evolved," said Brian Grandison, a local coach and one of PART's founding members. "We're clearly bigger than ever before. But most importantly, we're getting so much support from the community. This absolutely would not be possible without all of the volunteers."
Tammi Lakey, a volunteer whose three kids participated in PART, said she loves the family-oriented environment it provides. Parents lined the sides of the park, watching their kids jumping rope, pulling each other on bungee cords and leaping over hurtles. At the end of the week, families are invited to compete in a relay race with their kids.
"It's a lot bigger this year than we ever thought it would be," Lakey said. "Word gets out as kids tell their friends, I think it's great. It gets my kids off the couch."
Volunteer coach Andrew Espitia said because the camp is free, it appeals to families regardless of their finances.
"When you really get down to it, there are a lot of families who might have economic situations that would normally make a camp like this impossible," Espitia said. "This is one time when parents don't have to worry about telling little Johnny or little Susie 'No, we don't have the money for that.'"
Most importantly, kids have fun at PART, said coach Pat Mahoney.
"We have kids that started when they were small, and they've been with us the whole time," Mahoney said. "I coach some of these kids in baseball, and none of them like drills. But when I look around I see everyone out there smiling."
Faith Mollenkoph, a 12-year-old middle school student, attended the camp for the second time this year. She said she always enjoys it because of the friendly atmosphere.
"It's different than just running drills over and over again, you're having fun," Mollenkoph said.
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