ABS Fit Kids 
May 18th 2017 

Yesterday was a wonderful day for Fit Kids. At first we had some concerns that we might have to work around a thunder storm, but as we neared the dismissal of school all radar showed that any storm wouldn't hit until later on that evening. 

With that information we felt comfortable heading into the woods and attempting to see if we could find a short cut to the famous Falls location. 

We started out by cutting through the Mountains Edge Condo parking lot and trudging up Ski Tow road towards where the road ends. Before we came to the end of the road we took a side trail that our wonderful parent volunteer Natalie told me about. 

Staggering the groups as we headed out to the into woods I heard via the radio the request from the group before us if it would be alright to get their feet wet in the water. Now I knew that a slight stream rans through the Last Mile trail. So I just assumed it was a slight break in the trail and they just wanted to get their feet wet. When I came around the bend I saw that I was extremely and that this slight detour was in fact a fun destination. 

All of the members feeling hot and over tired just jumped right into the water. Some members a bit more then others, but no matter who they all loved the refreshing cool water. Even Emmett took a slight break in the stream. Lying right down in one of the small wadding pools. 

With everyone enjoying the water and a majority of them soaked it seemed to be fruitless to have them gear back up to trudge further on the trail. So instead we remained in the water until 4:30. At that time they got their socks and shoes back on. Picked up any water bottles, backpacks and anything else that had be disposed by our group. 

All of the members seemed to be extremely happy with our journey and even though it wasn't the so called Falls that everyone has wanted to go to. I think it didn't matter in the long run, because everyone had a great time enjoying nature! 

This coming Tuesday we will be getting large rocks and bring them back to the Warming Hut to paint. We will be using them for decorations to show our appreciation for using the Warming Hut. If anyone has an paint brushes or acrylic paint they wish to donate to the decorating of the rocks please drop them off at ABS Main Office before Tuesday at 2. 

Have a wonderful weekend! 

Taking a slight breather on the trail

Making a game plan.. or just chatting? 

The Bridge heading into the Mile Long Field

ABS FIT KIDS

May 16th 2017

Today was a wonderful day for an adventure in nature. The sun was shining, the temperature was perfect and everyone was super excited to get outside and hike. Many of the ABS Fit Kids members wanted to go to The Falls but we have to work on timing so that each member gets some quality time in that magical place. Between myself and Mrs. Aldrich we have a plan that should help us out with this, but we will need some more additional adult support. So if you want to volunteer with us and go to The Falls please feel free to come and join us!! 

Now for what we did today. We ventured towards the same trail that would take us to The Falls. We went down the Snowbridge and got onto the bike trails that wind through the side hill that was at one time the beginner ski slope. Staying on that trail we came onto Skyhawk Lane. Typically, in the past we would go directly into the Quiet Zone that is kind of a short cut towards the Mile Long Field . Right now the Quiet Zone is closed due to the trail being so muddy. That meant we went down to the Mile Long Field via Skyhawk Lane. 

We walked in pairs on the left hand side of the road onto Mountain Side Drive and over the bridge to the Mile Long Field!! Then we went about half way up Mile Long Field and then went to the side of the field and dipped onto a trail in the woods. 

The trail brought us over a wonderful little wooden bridge and then we trekked up the trail that leads us to the intersection of either Last Mile or Raina's Run. Original I had wanted to take Last Mile that would take us across the mountain back towards the Warming Hut. Time just wasn't on our side so we went down Raina's Run and back the way we came. 

It's always crazy how quickly we can travel when a majority of the terrain is going downhill!! Our total millage was 3.2 miles. A fun 3.2 miles!! 

Thank you to Mandy, who was our parent volunteer today and of course to Ms. Meghan who has been faithfully coming with her two wonder dogs Mia and Cookie Monster. You ladies ROCK! 

Looking forward for our next adventure on Thursday! Please make sure you communicate any changes with your child's Fit Kids plans with the main office or send me an email. Also still looking for paperwork for some of our members. I need the paperwork back ASAP or else your child might not be able to participate after this week. (until the paperwork has been turned in) 

May 11th, Fit Kids Day 2

ABS Fit Kids 

Day 2 

Sprits were high as the sun shined brightly on us this afternoon and the temperature neared the low 60's. Members came off the bus with great excitement and we quickly broke them all into their Fit Kids Club groups. 

The groups are an important key in keeping us all together while we are on the trails. We can get a quick indication using these buddy groups wither we are missing anyone and if on the off chance someone is missing we can locate the area in which they might have been dislodged from the group quickly so we can all be reunited very quickly.

How it works is the members of the group can walk with their friends that might be outside of their safety group. However, they need to keep members of the groups with in sight of each other. So when a whistle blows they can quickly gather together and await instructions. We practice this on several occasions before we actual ventured onto the trails and could see already how quickly we can give information to each other by passing messages backwards and forwards amongst the groups. 

It also gave myself and the other adults involved the ability to see the students that are the older ones with in their group taking on leadership roles. Already we are seeing some students doing some great team work. 

One group was great on having their leader checking in within her group on several occasions while walking on the trail and another member of the same group being a great sport in lugging all of her teammates water bottles. 

For me I learned that I should have gotten in a bit of better shape before taking the lead! hahaha.. I started to get my second wind as we started to get towards the end of the hike, but I was so impressed with how wonderful the members of our Fit Kids Club were in being patient with all of the different abilities of physical fitness we all brought to the group. 

What I find especially wonderful when hiking on the trails with our Fit Kids Club members is the conversations that develop amongst myself and the other members of the club. The freedom of being outdoors seems to allow a sense of comfortableness over come each of the members as they discuss with myself, the other adults and with in their peers. About different aspects of their lives and things they are generally interested in. They also give their thoughts about stuff that takes place at school and their general perspective of life. 

Thank you parents/guardians in signing out each of your child/children. Since the location of the Warming Hut can be reached by different routes it's so important to make sure we see each member leave with their ride. For students that live on the mountain, I don't mind releasing them with out a parent/guardian present so long as I have prior knowledge before hand. So please shoot me an email just stating your child has permission to leave the Warming Hut at 5pm and to walk home either to the Mountain Edge Condos or the Windsor Building. 

Another important reminder, we do not have the ability to return students to the school for FLC. If you encounter transportation issues that arise after dismissal at ABS. Please send me an email or you can text me the change in plans to my cellphone at 802-291-2370. I am NOT good about picking up the phone to talk, so texting is generally the best thing to do, or if you do happen to call please leave a message and I will give you a  call back. 

Email address again is annalise.ennis@wsesu.net . Other adults on the mountain during Fit Kids Club is Andrea Powell andrea.powell@wsesu.net. Jenifer Aldrich is also on the mountain during Fit Kids Club, however she doesn't get cellphone reception. 

*We are still looking for Parent, Guardian, Young Adult volunteer help! To join us at 3pm Tuesday and Thursday (for the month of May) and just Tuesdays (starting in June) at the Warming Hut to join us in our Fit Kids Adventures. We welcome community members, older siblings and former ABS alumni. Even if you can't join us for many sessions, thats no big deal. It would just be great for all of us, members and adults. To extended friendships beyond just ABS staff. 

Also, young adults, who are currently in Middle School and High School, volunteering at ABS Fit Kids Club can be used towards your community service hours that a majority our area high schools require you complete before you can graduate from high school. 

JUNE 20th- that is the last day of school for the 2016/2017 school year. It's a half day, students will be bused up to the mountain and we will hike from 12:30-till 3pm. Perhaps we might even make it up to the top of the mountain? Following our hike we will be back at the Warming Hut around 3pm. At 3pm I welcome families to join us for a celebration. We will have snacks, like watermelons and possibly ice cream sandwiches. If parents want to join us for the hike that would be wonderful. If you have a child that hasn't been a part of Fit Kids they are more then welcome to join us. They just need to come with either a parent/guardian or older sibling to watch them. 

Also we are always looking for donations, like healthy snacks (i.e granola bars etc), bottled water or snacks to go towards the June 20th celebration. Also if anyone is able, finical donations would be gladly welcome to go towards prizes and possibly Fit Kids Club t-shirts or hats. 

ABS FIT KIDS 2017 Season

Emmett snuggling with an overgrown Peep. Emmett is one of the pups that likes to join us for Fit Kids

ABS FIT KIDS CLUB

2017 Season 

KICKS OFF!!!

Today, May 9th marked the first ABS Fit Kids Club for this school year! 

It was great to get everyone outside for the first FKC session. We had many returning students, but also a lot of new faces joining the club this year. Which is wonderful!! 

We are station out of the Warming Hut brought to us by Ascutney Trails. Deb Shearer was wonderful in meeting us there and we went over general housekeeping. 

One of the most important thing was for the members of the club to come up with RULES for the club. Rules that the club members agreed on were as follows:

ABS Fit Kids Club 

rules 2017

* Respect

-Each other

-The Environment

-Ascutney Trails Community

-Be Kind of each other

*Dogs

-Listen to the owner

-Don't yell at the dogs

-Don't pick up the dogs

-Don't feed the dogs, unless you have owners permission

*Safety

-Wear correct clothing, shoes etc 

-Stay TOGETHER on the trails

-Listen to the adult leaders 

-Don't throw anything, at anybody

-Stay on the trails

After we worked on the rules, we then broke up into small groups. Those small groups worked on getting up to the top of the rope tow with their group all together.  

Then going down the hill they worked on doing a form of leap frog, instead of jumping over their teammates. They instead gave each other High Fives. This worked on getting them down the hill safely. Cause of course a majority of them wanted to just run down the hill. 

We did more team building exercises, then took another break before we went up another trail. We didn't go too far up the trail, because soon parents/guardians began to show up for 5pm dismissal. 

All in all it was great to be back on the mountain again and to start another session of Fit Kids Club! 

Thursday May 11th starting at 3pm is our next session. With dismissal being the same at 5pm. We will be located once again out of the Warming Hut. The Warming Hut location will be the location we will use for the whole duration of Fit Kids Club. 

*New on Thursday is a parent/guardian sign out sheet! It will be located on bench of the Warming Hut on a clip board. PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE remember to sign out your child/children before you leave the Warming Hut area. With so many members this year and so many access points to retrieve children from. It's very important for us to make sure we can account for how each child left the Warming Hut area!! 

*PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU HAVE SENT IN ALL REQUIRED PAPERWORK FOR YOUR CHILD*** All paperwork that was sent home needs to be back to me by Thursday, Monday at the latest. If the paperwork isn't turned in by Monday then your child will have to sit out of Fit Kids until the paperwork is received. If you have any questions/concerns about any of this please email me at annalise.ennis@wsesu.net 

*We are looking for young adult volunteers to help us out with our hikes. If you have a middle school student or up that wishes to volunteer with Fit Kids Club we would love to have them. Also volunteering with Fit Kids Club can go towards a higher schoolers community service hours a majority of them need in order to graduate from high school. It's also a great way to meet families with in the Brownsville Community that could be in the need of babysitters. 

Thank you all who donated $30 towards ABS Fit Kids Club. Finical donations made to the club goes towards purchasing snacks, extra water bottles, sunscreen, bug spray and other needed items to make the club successful. I'm also hopefully that with additional donations we might be able to throw a wonderful end of the year celebration on June 20th, our last day of school and our last day of ABS Fit Kids Club for the school year.