Fit for Life Program: Meet the Staff
Each year the Tioga County Partnership hires on a recreation staff for the purposes of implementing the Fit For Life program now in multiple sites in the county. The Elkland/Osceola site and Knoxville site are enjoying their fourth year, while the Westfield site is in its third year.
This program requires a special kind of energy as staffers are expected to organize and prep for each day's activities and act as mentors for the attending kids. The number and ages of children at the program can change from day to day, so staff need to be organized but flexible, and creative in their approach, all while keeping a marathon pace in order to teach the importance of physical fitness and nutrition to kids in this underserved part of our county. Those who bear the title "Fit For Life Recreation Staff" are a special breed and we are in awe of their talents!
Meet the Fit for Life Staff
In the photo back row, left to right: Shelby Young, Brooke Roys, Jenny Young, Front row, left to right: Alyssa Yungwirth, Lizzie Poirier, Emma Poirier. Not pictured here, the FFL Substitute Staffers: Lauren Singer and Kaeli Butters.
Shelby Young: Shelby is an elementary/ Special Education certified teacher who is currently teaching Pre-K. She is great at making children feel comfortable in their own skin and likes to encourage them to have fun and enjoy each others' company. She also has exciting news! She will be getting married at the end of this month! (Congrats, Shelby!)
Brooke Roys: Brooke is studying Nutrition: Dietetics and Sports Nutrition at Mansfield University and will graduate in May 2019. She enjoys challenging kids to explore new and fun ways to be physically active and learn about healthy living.
Jenny Young: Jenny is studying Nutrition and will be living in Mansfield next Fall. She enjoys teaching kids new skills and fun games. She loves to create smiles. She also has a special talent: touching her tongue to her nose!
Alyssa Yungwirth: Alyssa will be starting college at St. Bonaventure University in the Fall to study Health Sciences with a concentration in studies to become a Physician's Assistant. She is excited to report that she will also be playing softball!
Lizzie Poirier: Lizzie will be starting college at St. John Fisher University this Fall to study Nursing.
Emma Poirier: Emma is currently a high school student with plans to attend college and study Business. She is a member of her school's basketball and soccer teams.
Lauren Singer: Lauren loves to play sports and likes to spend time with kids. She likes to keep a good attitude, has a great sense of humor, and loves to make people laugh!
Kaeli Butters: Kaeli is currently attending Keuka College with future plans to begin studying nursing. She enjoys working with younger kids, helping them to have fun, and stay active.
A Special Thank You:
It is impossible to talk about Fit for Life Program without mentioning the Valley Youth Initiative group whose coordination efforts help make this program happen. Also, the success of Fit for Life is largely due in part to the Northern Tioga School District's Summer Feeding Program that runs alongside FFL and provides free lunch and snacks to children, ages 0-18.
