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New program, fit for seniors, kicks off Monday
Staff Writer Calling all seniors 55 years and older. It's time to get out this winter and have some fun.
Beginning Monday, a free program called Fun and Fitness will be conducted from 9-11 a.m. in the gymnasium at the Washington Educational Services Building. The program will run every Monday and Friday through May as a collaboration project between Brainerd Community Education, Brainerd Parks and Recreation and the Lakes Area Senior Activity Center.
All seniors are welcome and may choose from a variety of fitness games, including Norwegian golf, horseshoes, shuffleboard, ring toss, whiffle ball, horse (basketball shooting) and adaptive floor hockey.
"This is a fun thing for seniors to do and for them to get in some low-impact exercise," senior center director DeAnn Barry said. "All seniors are welcome. They don't have to be a member of the senior center to go.
"This is a chance for seniors to play games that they used to play and to be part of the community."
Tony Sailer of Brainerd Parks and Recreation is organizing the games that are designed for individual or team participation.
Sailer said that the department serves youths and young adults but doesn't have anything for senior citizens. Sailer said the Fun and Fitness program gives them the opportunity to offer seniors a chance to participate in activities during the winter to help them stay active.
"This is a nice fit for seniors," Sailer said. "We plan to keep it fun and unstructured and allow the seniors to pick out the games they're interested in. And if a little competition rises, so be it."
While the program runs through May, Sailer said organizers are looking at having seniors continue to come to the gym in the summer to intermingle with the youth.
Monday's program will be an open house with coffee and cookies. Participants may try out the equipment or share ideas and suggestions. The equipment for the program was funded by a grant from Crow Wing Power Community Trust.
JENNIFER STOCKINGER can be reached at jennifer.stockinger@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5851.
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