Environmental & Health Education Comes To Harlem’s Only Gymnastics Camp For NYC Youth

Wendy Hilliard Gymnastics Foundation (WHGF), a not-for-profit organization in Harlem that provides free and low-cost quality gymnastics programs for urban youth.

WHGF is teaming up with GrowNYC and Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) to provide Health and Environmental Programs to Harlem’s only Gymnastics Camp for NYC Youth.The camp will run for five weeks beginning Monday, July 9 for ages 7 to 17 at the historic Harlem Armory, which is managed by the Harlem Children’s Zone (HCZ). The HCZ partners with the WHGF to provide gymnastics programs to their students as well as the community throughout the year.

Wendy Hilliard was the first African-American and gymnast to become the President of the Women’s Sports Foundation, the leading organization for women’s sports issues. Wendy’s non–profit organization, the Wendy Hilliard Gymnastics Foundation (WHGF), has provided free and low-cost gymnastics programs for over 17,000 urban youth in NYC since 1996 and expanded to Detroit in 2016. Wendy Hilliard her team have established an incredible track record of providing quality programs for urban youth, and people of all ages and abilities in the sport of gymnastics. In addition to the health and fitness benefits of gymnastics participation, the WHGF supports all students who have the determination and ability to compete.

In addition to daily gymnastics instruction, the camp will allow for children to participate in three types of workshops: Hospital for Special Surgery will offer SNEAKER© and Sports Safety and GrowNYC will provide workshops dealing with the Environment, specifically Sustainability and Recycling. In combination with the physical activity of gymnastics, these three educational activities enhance and provide overall youth development, physical and emotional health:

Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS), the world’s leading academic medical center focused on musculoskeletal health, provides tools and resources needed to keep young athletes safe and healthy. Being physically active has many lifelong health benefits and participating in sports helps children develop good fitness habits early in life.

• The goal of the HSS Sports Safety Program is to empower those responsible for the safety of young athletes in order to reduce the risk of injury. The program has conducted over 70 events reaching over 6,200 coaches, parents and young athletes in communities throughout New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Pennsylvania since July 2016.
• Super Nutrition Education for All Kids to Eat Right (SNEAKER©) is a nutrition education program for New York City children that provides education about healthy eating and the importance of staying active. To date, HSS has conducted SNEAKER programs at elementary schools, high schools, community centers and non-profit organizations. These programs ranged from the full seven-week program to parent workshops and health fairs, reaching over 20,000 NYC children. During the camp workshops, HSS Clinical Nutritionists will teach students about the importance of food and nutrition specifically for athletes and lead fun interactive activities.

GrowNYC has a mission to improve New York City’s quality of life through environmental programs that transform communities block by block and empower all New Yorkers to secure a clean and healthy environment for future generations. Originally created in 1970 as the Council on the Environment of New York City, a policy-focused organization, GrowNYC has become a service organization known for operating the world-famous Union Square Greenmarket, building new community gardens, teaching young people about the environment, and improving recycling awareness. Through interactive demonstrations and games, kids will learn how and why to reduce waste, recycle, and compost to improve the health of our local environment.

For more information on the WHGF, please visit: www.wendyhilliard.org