Reiterating how the multisport community can work to support charitable initiatives – ACHIEVE Kids Tri Inc, the Washington, DC, based not-for-profit organisation that designs and implements youth-based triathlon training and fitness programs, has now launched its 2011 Summer program.
In partnership with the DC Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR), ACHIEVE takes kids through a six-week instruction and fitness training program, provided free of charge, and monitored by USA Triathlon-certified coaches. The ACHIEVE program helps kids master the fundamentals of swimming, cycling, running and triathlon racing, as well as the essentials of proper nutrition, stretching, strength-training and flexibility.
The ACHIEVE program concludes each season with a timed short-course triathlon race, certified and sanctioned by USA Triathlon (USAT).
Launched initially in Washington, DC, the program has since expanded to Houston, Texas, and Waterbury Connecticut; and this year, ACHIEVE launched a new program in Atlanta, Georgia, thanks to a grant from USAT, the US National Governing Body for the sport of triathlon.
Jesus Aguirre, Director of the DC Department of Parks and Recreation said “The District is committed to ensuring that kids have access to quality fitness and sports programs and opportunities to take advantage of the many parks and recreation facilities the city offers. These activities are a great way to give our young people a foundation in physical activity and healthy lifestyles that will help them achieve their goals.”
“We are grateful to the support of DPR and USA Triathlon, a public-private partnership that has helped make this program successful here in the District as well as making it available to other communities across the nation,” noted Molly Quinn, Executive Director of ACHIEVE.
“We believe this program is a great example of the types of partnerships that are proliferating across the nation in response to First Lady Michelle Obama’s ‘Let’s Move’ initiative and her vision to promote health, fitness and nutrition for the nation’s young people.”
“ACHIEVE Kids Tri is helping introduce the next generation to the multisport lifestyle, and USA Triathlon is proud to support ACHIEVE as one of our youth programs,” added new USA Triathlon CEO Rob Urbach.
The 2011 summer camp will take place during 27 June to 5 August at four sites in Washington DC: the Turkey Thicket Recreation Center, the Benning Park Community Center, the Deanwood Community Center and Ferebee Hope Recreation Center.
The program runs Monday through to Friday from 9 a.m-12:30 p.m. Under ACHIEVE’s motto of ‘Enriching Lives Through Sport’, the program will include specially trained counsellors and coaches teaching kids triathlon skills, and how leading a healthy fitness-oriented lifestyle can help them succeed in life. In addition to fitness and nutrition counselling, each camper also receives a free healthy breakfast and lunch through the federal lunch program.
At the final day of camp, on 5 August, kids will compete in The Fifth Annual DC Kids’ Triathlon. This race will be sanctioned by USA Triathlon and produced by Washington Sports & Event Management.
This kid-sized triathlon will include athletes from all four camps and will take place at Turkey Thicket Recreation Center. The race will feature a 100m swim, 5K bike and a 2K run. There will be professional timing, a finish line banner, finishers medals, finishers t-shirts, a finish line photo and more.
As USA Triathlon members racing in a USA Triathlon-sanctioned triathlon, the kids will officially record their first sanctioned triathlon finish time!
ACHIEVE is a free camp that relies on donations and grants to provide youth with all of the equipment and training that they will need during the program. Donations can be directed to a specific camp or region and go to support the purchase of swimsuits, bikes, helmets, and other training gear. Registration is free, but space is limited.
To register, make a donation, or inquire about volunteering or coaching for one of the ACHIEVE camps, go to www.achievekidstri.org.
