Every Wednesday Columbia County hosts their free Wellness Wednesday program for home school children at Evans Towne Center Park.
The Wellness Wednesday program is for homeschool children ages 5-12 and consists of 30-minute exercise, followed by a healthy snack for the kids.
According to Columbia County’s Program and Events Manager Janet Wheatley, exercises can change each week to keep the kids engaged. Exercises and activities can consist of dance, karate, jujitsu, yoga, a boot camp type workout and more.
“We try and give them different activities to keep them interested and let them try different things and different exercises,” Wheatley said. “It is just something to keep them healthy and active throughout the day.”
Wheatley says the program began three years ago and now occurs throughout the school year besides during the cold months of winter and during the summer when the kids are out of school. They have seen as many as 50 kids in one session this year.
“It is really good because it gets them out and around new people, and they have a chance to be active,” Wheatley said. “One thing I really like about is when they leave here, they will meet new people and play with each other at the playground, see each other on other days at the park, so they make new friends while there here and I don’t think you always get the opportunity to do that when your home schooled.”
Wellness Wednesday is a part of the MOVE Columbia County Program, which is a free county-run program that offers workout classes for anyone.
Returners as well as new parents brought their kids to this past Wellness Wednesday. Zadora Willis, a mother from Grovetown, brought her son for the first time on Wednesday.
“We are just recently getting into homeschool, and I wanted him to have some socialization, plus exercise instead of being at the house all the time,” Willis said.
“It is awesome we have something like this. It is the only county I have heard of that is doing it. It’s good to be amongst other people who live in the same community as well and it is a good way to socialize.”
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Danielle Kaulfuss started bringing her kid to the program in early this August.
“We have experienced a lot of different kinds of classes my kids have not been exposed to previously,” she said. “They have really appreciated it and we have also made a lot of good friends while we are here.”
“We love the park in general, but this class especially that they host the class for free for the kids and offer a snack, it is something I tell any homeschool family in the area about.”
The program’s next class will be next Wednesday, Nov. 16. Columbia County ask you register ahead of time at bit.ly/kidswellnesswed.
Chris Rickerson is a staff reporter covering Columbia County government and general assignment topics for The Augusta Press. Reach him at chris@theaugustapress.com.
