Summer 2021 Morning Mile
Willits Kids Club hosts daily Morning Mile
Willits Kids Club summer camp runs the Morning Mile daily from 7:30-8:30 a.m. (Photo by Jaclyn Luna)
By JACLYN LUNA The Willits News July 5, 2021
Children at Willits Kids Club Summer Camp are starting the day off in a healthy way, running or walking the Morning Mile at the Blosser Lane Elementary School playground. Most children have energy to burn, and lots of it. Program Director Laura Paeyeneers and Assistant Director Charity Seminoff found a way for children to channel that energy and start the morning off active which, is especially useful after the global pandemic left many idle for the past year and a half.
Cole, Leah and Tessa pause from their morning mile lap for a photo. (Photo by Jaclyn Luna)
The morning mile started the first day of summer camp, June 21. Paeyeneers said students had done the morning mile at Blosser Lane Elementary School in the past. She recalled that students had done the mile prior to school and thought it might be something fun for the children to do at the beginning of their day at camp. Some children arrive at camp as early as 7:30 a.m. and Paeyeneers said, “We want to engage them all the time.”
Staff was surprised by the amount of energy the children have had for the morning mile. Paeyeneers explained that every six laps is equivalent to one mile. She said one child ran 29 laps (4.8 miles) on the first day. The goal was set at 20 miles over the course of four weeks, but a week and a half in some students were close to meeting the goal already. Paeyeneers said, “They are super into it, they love it.”
Willits Kids Club hosts the Morning Mile at the Blosser Lane Elementary School playground. (Photo by Jaclyn Luna)
Students receive prizes, such as water bottles, and shoe charms to add to a necklace for every five miles. The morning mile is open to the public and some parents are joining in the fun. Participation in the morning mile is voluntary, although Paeyeneers estimated that well over half of the 55 children enrolled in camp are participating.
To keep the mood festive, music that matches the weekly theme of camp is playing during the morning mile. The first week theme was tropical vacation, followed by garden, camp out and circus.
Morning mile isn’t the only opportunity for children to get active at summer camp. Paeyeneers explained that after the optional run, the first session of the day is an outside activity such as playing sports, a ninja course, an obstacle course, or scavenger hunt walks. The second session is crafts, arts and games. She said, “It seems to be a really nice rhythm.” Students also visit the City Pool daily to swim.
Students at the summer camp come from a variety of schools in Willits, Redwood Valley and Ukiah. There are currently 14 staff members. Paeyeneers spoke highly of the staff saying, “We have an amazing staff that is just so psyched to be here with the kids. They are just so happy; they are having so much fun. Every day they come with energy; they love the kids. I think it’s really special, we are really blessed to have staff that love kids so much.”
Paeyeneers said last summer, the Kids Club Summer Camp was virtual through Facebook Live and then Zoom. Students returned in person in smaller cohorts and after Winter Break, 40 students were back at Kids Club. So, there was some time to ease into the COVID safety precautions and there have been no issues following the guidelines for COVID safety.
The Kids Club recently received grant funding to install fencing around the entire property, including a gate that closes at night. Paeyeneers explained that prior to installing the fence, vandalism was an issue.