Family fitness, fun

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Laura L. Valentine
  • 22nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
MCONNELL AIR FORCE BASE, Kan. --  As the weather warms and schools release for the summer, many families are gearing up for activities, sporting events and trips for family fun.

The Air Force FitFamily Program is providing motivation and incentive for families to be active together.

Launched in 2010 as part of the "Year of the Air Force Family," the web-based goal incentive program helps to stimulate interest and awareness of the importance of healthy lifestyle choices for Air Force families.

Online, at www.usaffitfamily.com, families can create an online profile and select activities and goals to be done either as a family or individually. The profile can then be updated when activities are completed, earning points to qualify for one of five service-wide FitFamily levels of recognition.

With FitFamily, members can earn points in the areas of family fun, family nutrition and family sports and fitness.

Activities range from completing household chores such as watering the plants, playing an interactive video game, eating healthy snacks, to playing baseball.

The program aims to increase participation and awareness of Air Force Child/Youth Programs, Fitness Center programs and services and to further improve the quality of life of our military community and families.

"The FitFamily incentive program promotes family togetherness," said Steve Atkins, Youth Services director at McConnell. "It promotes fitness and healthy lifestyle choices for families."

Air Mobility Command families can participate in the AMC FitFamily Promotion May through August 2011 to compete exclusively against other AMC families for monetary prizes.

Every AMC installation will have eight guaranteed prizes awarded to registered/eligible FitFamily participants.

The top three participants, with the highest FitFamily goal tracker point totals, at each AMC installation will receive $500, $300 and $200 gift cards respectively.

There will also be five $100 winners randomly selected from all registered/eligible FitFamily participants.

The AMC FitFamily promotion is open to all authorized ID card holders and their immediate families. Single Airmen are also encouraged to participate.

The McConnell Youth Center will host several activities throughout the upcoming months for families to participate in. Families do not need to have a FitFamily profile created, but it is recommended so that activities can be logged.

"It's everything good about being a family," said Mr. Atkins about the FitFamily program.

For upcoming events offered at McConnell, visit www.refuelmcconnell.com or contact the Youth Center at (316)759-4070.

For more information, official rules about the AMC FitFamily program and to register, visit www.usaffitfamily.com and click on the AMC FitFamily page link.