Summer Camp Music Festival Helps Summer Camp Kids Program

Pearce Executive Director Maggie Butterfield talks about the impact of Summer Camp on the Chillicothe community in this recent Journal Star article http://www.pjstar.com/news/20170527/summer-camp-has-given-back-to-chillicothe-area-to-tune-of-quarter-million?utm_content=buffer427ba&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer

Summer Swim Lessons

Pearce Community Center will offer group swim lessons this summer to children ages 3 and older.

Lessons are available for two age groups. Lessons for pre-schoolers ages three and four years meet on Wednesdays from 9:30 to 10:00 a.m. for 8 weeks from June 7 to July 26.  Lessons for children five years and older meet on Tuesday and Thursdays from 10:00 to 10:45 a.m., 10:50 to 11:35 a.m., 4:30 to 5:15 p.m. and 5:20 to 6:05 p.m. Choose the first 4-week session that meets June 6 to 29 or the second 4-week session that meets July 11 to August 3.   

The cost of the class is $33.75 for Foundation members; $45 for members; and $70 for non-members. Register for swim lessons at Pearce.

Pearce Swim Club

Pearce Swim Club will be offered during the summer months to help swimmers ages 5 and older develop and improve competitive swimming abilities including a variety of strokes, strength, and speed. Participants must be able to swim the length of the pool unassisted.


The Club will meet each Monday and Wednesday from 4:00 to 5:00 p.m. June 5 through August 2.  The cost is $45 for Foundation members; $60 members; and $75 non-members. 

Kids Fitness Program Registration Now Open

Pearce will offer four different fitness classes for kids as part of their six-week Kids Fitness Program.

The classes are designed for boys and girls ages 6 to 12 and will be held on the stage from 5:45 to 6:30 p.m. with a 15 child maximum enrollment.

Kids Cardio with Karen will begin on Monday, June 5 and features high energy aerobic exercise designed to get the heart pumping. Tumbling with Priscilla begins on Tuesday, June 6 and includes cartwheels, head and hand stands, bridges, round offs, front and back walk overs. On Wednesday, June 7, Kids Strong with Rob will begin. This class allows kids to safely participate in cross-training. Finally, Yoga with Ruth will meet on Thursdays beginning June 8. The class includes flexibility and balance, essential to overall health and physical fitness.

Pearce Foundation members pay only $18.75 per class; Pearce members $25; and non-members $31.25.

Exergame Room Summer Hours

From May 30 to August 10, the Exergame Room will be open from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. and 4:00 to 7:30 p.m. Exergaming is a combination of video games and physical movement that will challenge your body and improve hand-eye coordination. Exergaming lets kids be physically active while playing video games like Dance Dance Revolution, Wii Fit, and Exer-cycle.

The Exergame Room is open to children ages 7 to 15 and admission is free to members.

Closed for Memorial Day

Pearce will be closed Monday, May 29 for Memorial Day.

Summer Running Club

Pearce Community Center Running Club will kick off its 10-week summer session on Tuesday, June 13 at 5:30 p.m. The Club is open to all ages and skill levels; however, children under the age of 10 must run with an adult. Weekly runs are led by Illinois Valley Striders from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The club runs on the track at Chillicothe Elementary Center in Chillicothe. In inclement weather, the Club runs on Pearce’s indoor track. 

Pearce Foundation members pay only $60 for club membership; Pearce members $80; non-members $100.

Life Line Screening at Pearce

Life Line Screening will offer health screens at Pearce Community Center on Tuesday, June 20, from 8:30 to 5:30 p.m. to adults 18 and older.

The screening includes carotid artery/plaque screening, heart rhythm screening (atrial fibrillation), abdominal aortic aneurysm screening, peripheral arterial disease screening, and osteoporosis risk assessment. The cost of these five tests is $139.


Register by calling 1-866-229-0469, texting the word circle to 797979, or go online at www.lifelinescreening.com/communitycircle.

Tennis Lessons Registration Now Open

In conjunction with the Chillicothe Park District, Pearce will offer tennis lessons for children ages 6 to 13 years.

The lessons will develop movement, balance, coordination and motor skills for proper serving motion and good positioning and balance for each shot. They will be offered at Shore Acres tennis courts. Students must bring their own tennis racket and water. The four-week session will meet each Tuesday and Thursday June 13 through July 11 with no class on July 4.

Children six to nine years of age will meet from 9:00 a.m. to 9:45 a.m. Ages 10 to 13 will meet from 10:00 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. on the tennis courts at Shore Acres Park.

Pearce Foundation members pay $33.75; Pearce members $45; and non-members $56.25.

PEARCE SUMMER CAMP OFFERS DAILY RATES!

If your in-home child care provider needs a day off or if you want your child to enjoy a wide variety of activities, daily rates allow you to enroll occasionally.

A day in summer camp will include swimming; organized and free play; enrichment classes in physical fitness, yoga, science, art, and Nature Explorers; and reading, handwriting, creative writing, and math at education stations.

Summer Camp takes the kiddos on a field trip almost every Friday, and daily rates allow you to include these fun outings in your child's summer activities. Choose your favorite and come along!

Our daily fee schedule is $31.50 for Foundation members; Members $35; Non-members $55.

May Senior Potluck

Pearce will host the monthly senior potluck at noon on Tuesday, May 23. All seniors are invited to bring a side dish and their own table service and join in the fun. Fried chicken and drinks are provided. This month, musical entertainment will be provided by Nut 'N Honey.

Refer a Friend!

Pearce members can earn one month free when they refer a friend to Pearce!

Before and After School Care Kiddos Enjoy the Playground

With the weather getting warmer, the Before and After School Care kiddos ventured outside more and more. There's always nothing but fun on the Pearce playground! One day we even took our snack outside and had a little picnic. The kids all enjoyed eating their goldfish under the shady tree. With the school year being almost over, there's less and less homework, and soon summer will begin! Looking forward to seeing all the new faces and old friends. For now, here are a few pictures of our fun on the jungle gyms.

Summer Lifeguard Hours

Summer lifeguard hours begin Wednesday, May 24. A lifeguard will be on guard daily from noon to 4:00 p.m. in our pool.

PEARCE SUMMER CAMP OFFERS DAILY RATES!

If your in-home child care provider needs a day off or if you want your child to enjoy a wide variety of activities, daily rates allow you to enroll occasionally.

A day in summer camp will include swimming; organized and free play; enrichment classes in physical fitness, yoga, science, art, and Nature Explorers; and reading, handwriting, creative writing, and math at education stations.

Summer Camp takes the kiddos on a field trip almost every Friday, and daily rates allow you to include these fun outings in your child's summer activities. Choose your favorite and come along!

Our daily fee schedule is $31.50 for Foundation members; Members $35; Non-members $55.

New Indoor Cycling Bikes at Pearce

Exercise is Not Enough

By Raquel "Rocky" Herron, Fitness Manager

	Raquel "Rocky" Herron, Fitness Manager

What do I mean when I say that exercise is not enough?  I'm simply saying that there's more to the "fit equation" than just hitting the gym several times per week.  I wish that all we had to do was show up and get a workout in, but that's just not the case.  There are several components that aid in achieving optimal health.  While the definition of "optimal health" differs from person to person, there are some key factors associated with leading a healthy lifestyle.

 

Even though I said exercise is not enough, I do want to start with this concept, as it is vital in our quest for health.  Exercise is definitely an essential component in the health matrix.  We were born to move.  I put exercise into two categories: structured exercise (i.e. gym sessions) and daily physical activity (walking the dog, casual bike rides, yard work).  How many times per week should you engage in structured sessions?  According to an article written in the New York Times from a study in the journal Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, four structured exercise sessions per week seem to be the key for optimal results.  This study included strength training and cardiovascular work.  On "off" days, staying active from a leisure perspective is ideal.

Sleep!  Please, get your zzzzz's.  It's so important for maintaining a healthy, active life.  When we are low on sleep, our bodies cannot repair properly.  We can't wake up and give 100% when we're sleep deprived.  According to the National Sleep Foundation, adults need 7 to 9 hours of sleep per night.  If you're waking up after five hours and wondering why you can't function properly, you may be low on sleep.  Plus, sleep provides a time for our brains to turn off and not worry about the stressors of the day.

Stress you say?  Stress plays a HUGE role in our overall health.  In an ideal world, we wouldn't have stress, but the reality is that our lives seem to be full of it!  Every day, there are stressors upsetting our hormonal balance that in turn directly affect our health.  Whether it's job related, kids, or other issues, stress is everywhere.  There are many ways to help deal with stress.  See above and below, as these recommendations all help manage stress.

Now, on to what constitutes one of the biggest pieces of the health puzzle, and that's nutrition.  As a side note, I am NOT a nutritionist or a dietician.  This is merely my opinion on how nutrition plays an integral part in our overall health.  However, I do now a nutritionist and she's great, but more on that later.

There's a saying in the fitness industry, "you can't out exercise a bad diet."  There's a great deal of truth in that statement.  Exercise does not give us a green light to eat whatever we want, whenever we want.  Believe me, I wish ice cream everyday was a good idea, but it's probably not.  There are exceptions to that rule, can we say Michael Phelps?  Most of us are not Olympic athletes, so we are not going to train and or eat like one.  Most of us are just trying to keep off unwanted pounds and stay fit for ourselves, our families, and to have an great quality of life.  Good nutrition is essential for overall health and well-being.  Quality fuel provides the necessary nutrition our bodies need to run optimally.  

Remember the nutritionist I mentioned earlier?  Her name is Megan O'Reilly and it just so happens that she's on staff here at Pearce and her nutrition course, Food Choices Matter, is starting May 11!  Megan will provide you with the necessary tools to navigate the world of food!  Megan will help guide you down the right nutrition path for your lifestyle.  She'll separate fact from fiction and help you learn to decipher food labels and eat right for YOU.

 

While we'll never achieve perfect health, as perfection is an allusion, we can take steps to reach optimal health, or at least, our own individual definition of health.  Staying active by engaging in structured exercise and everyday physical activity, getting adequate sleep, managing stress, and aiming for good quality nutrition are just some of the ways that we can improve our health.  We don't live life in a vacuum, so don't worry when a week goes by and you haven't seen the gym or a vegetable, with the latter being a bit extreme!  Just try to get back on track and be as consistent as possible.  Stay strong, stay focused, and love life!

Overcoming Your Nutrition Challenges One Choice at a Time

	Megan O'Reilly AFPA Certified Nutritionist Wellness Consultant

A couple of years ago when my children were very young, there seemed to be a daily echo in my house, or perhaps a broken record playing four simple words: MAKE A GOOD CHOICE. There were also variations to the theme, such as, "was that a good choice?" or "what would have been a better choice?" Of course, these seemingly simple questions were often followed by short "mom talks" aimed at my two children.

I wonder, what if, as adults, we had a similar internal dialog when it comes to our food choices? What if every time we sat down to eat a snack or a meal, we asked ourselves to "make a good choice?" Would it work? Would we naturally become the most healthy, energetic, and lean versions of ourselves?

The answer, as I see it, depends on three things. First, do we know what the right choice is? Who really knows how many calories their body needs? Who really knows how many servings of fruits, vegetables, grains, or proteins are recommended for their individual age, height, weight, and activity level?

Second, how motivated are we to make a healthy eating choice? For example, do we understand why it is important to choose a high fiber veggie snack over a bag of chips? Do we have enough driving force to change our "I want to eat healthy" into "I will eat healthy?" 

Finally, are we equipped to make a healthy choice? Have we surrounded ourselves with nutritious options? Or, are our current habits and lifestyle setting us up for unhealthy food choices?

The answers to these three questions are the foundation of Pearce's upcoming nutrition class. The class, titled Nutrition: Food Choices Matter, will meet each Thursday, 6:30-7:30 p.m., May 11 through June 15. We will first learn the facts regarding your individual dietary needs, using the USDA Nutritional Guidelines as our road map. Topics such as personal calorie goals, fruits, vegetables, protein, grains, dairy, fats, and even alcohol will be covered in depth.

However, we won't stop there. We can't stop with just the facts because we know knowledge alone is usually not sufficient enough to motivate change. We will discuss practical real life applications, such as how to make good choices when meal planning, meal prepping, shopping, cooking, eating out and more. 

Additionally, and equally important, we will recognize emotional eating and negative self-talk, and their role in our food choices, and methods to overcome them.

What sets this six week nutrition class apart from others you may have attended is its emphasis on engaging your internal motivation and self-accountability. In other words, a main goal of the class is to empower you to ACT on making some lasting changes, to see some lasting results. To do this, I will borrow methods from the widely-accepted technique of motivational interviewing. For example, each week, class members will ask some comparative and thought-provoking questions, such as how do my current choices compare to the recommended choices? If a change is recommended, how motivated am I to make different choices? Am I ready for a small change or a big change? Members will have the option to create weekly SMART goals, keeping their individual circumstances, preferences, and habits in
consideration.

My teaching background and experience as both a personal trainer and nutritional counselor have helped me create an engaging and effective class structure. I have selected a variety of learning experiences outside of your typical lecture style class, such as active demonstrations, visuals, pod-casts, audio-clips, brain-storming sessions, clear tip-sheets, and more.

I would encourage anyone who has been thinking about eating healthier to take this class. Even if you have tried countless times before, this might be the time you are ready to turn your excuses into challenges, and turn your challenges into victories. You will be welcomed sincerely in this class, wherever you are at in your nutrition journey.

Class size is limited, so call Pearce today to ask about pricing and to reserve your spot. Both the Pearce Kids Club (ages 6 months to 7) and Exergame room (ages 7-15) are open during class hours, if childcare is needed. As a special incentive, we are offering the first three who sign up for the class and mention this article a free initial nutrition assessment/interview via phone or email. If you have any questions about the class or would like more information, please email me at moreilly@pearcecc.com.

New FEWL Class Coming to Pearce

Pearce Community Center will offer FEWL, Females Embracing Weight Lifting, a new class specifically designed to teach women the essential foundation of strength training and proper lifting technique.  FEWL instructor Audrina Kingen gears the class to help women overcome fears often associated with free weights. FEWL will provide more curve, more capability, and more confidence.

The class will be offered each Monday and Wednesday 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. for five weeks from May 22 to June 26 with no class on Monday, May 29.

The cost of the program is $112.50 for Pearce Foundation members; $150 Pearce members; and $187.50 non-members.

Food Choices Matter, a new nutrition class, is available to add on to FEWL. To get the best results, this add on class allows participants to pair their class with a solid nutrition plan that will help them customize the diet plan that is right for them, provide accountability, and develop specific eating habits that will help them break through to their goals. The nutrition add on class will be taught by Megan O’Reilly, AFPA certified nutritionist and wellness consultant. Megan will bring her advanced education, multiple certifications, and years of experience to the class.

As an add-on class to FEWL, Food Choices Matter will meet on May 22 for one hour from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., and then again for 30 minutes on May 31, June 7, 14, and 21 from 6:30 to 7:00 p.m.

The cost to add on Food Choices Matter is $56.25 for Foundation members; $75 for Pearce members; and $93.75 for non-members. 

Kids Club Extends Saturday Hours

Effective this Saturday, May 13, we are extending the hours of our Kids Club to 11:15 a.m. to give parents who participate in our 10:10 to 11:10 a.m. Les Mills BODYATTACK class time to finish class and pick up their children before the class ends.

Kids Club invites parents of children ages 6 months to 7 years to drop off their child while they participate in activities at Pearce.

The cost is $1.25 per 1/2 hour per child.

CPR Training and Certification at Pearce

Pearce Community Center is offering a CPR training and certification course on Tuesday, May 16, from 9:00 a.m. to noon and again on Thursday, May 18 from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. for people 11 and older.  Training includes chest compressions, breathing, and using an AED.

The cost is $5. Register in advance at Pearce.

Healthy Cereal Exchange

Pearce nutrition class instructor Megan O'Reilly led a cereal exchange during TRX class today. Students were invited to bring a box of recommended healthy cereals. Megan filled plastic food bags with a sample of each cereal so that TRX participants could take home multiple samples to try.

TRX class is offered each Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday morning from 9:00 to 9:45 a.m. The class is 45 minutes of training on suspension equipment that includes cross training techniques utilizing kettlebells, dumbells, bands, etc.

Nutrition Class Instructor Visits Preschool

Pearce nutrition class instructor Megan O'Reilly blended her teaching degree and background with her AFPA nutrition certification to lead a nutrition lesson at First Friends Preschool this week. The topic was "trying new foods is healthy for your body. Don't be a picky eater!"

After a general discussion, Megan read a book about a picky eater. The main event was a taste test of healthy cereals, and a sample of her homemade oat and flax breakfast balls.

The class also discussed adding fruit to your cereal, and taste tested dried cranberries. Megan demonstrated how to mix healthy cereals in with not-so healthy cereals, using mostly Bran Flakes and a small amount of Frosted Flakes. The children enjoyed trying all the healthy cereals. The little paddles in the picture were what the children used to demonstrate how they rated their foods: happy face for "like," and sad face for "not my favorite."

If you're ready to learn more about nutrition to improve your overall health and fitness, join her during Food Choices Matter, a class that meets each Thursday evening from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. May 11 through June 13.

Nutrition Class Coming to Pearce

Pearce Community Center is offering a new nutrition class: Food ChoicesMatter. The class will meet each Thursday evening from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. May 11 through June 13.

This class allows participants to develop a solid nutrition plan that will help them customize the diet plan that is right for them, provide accountability, and develop specific eating habits that will help them break through to their goals. The class will be taught by Megan O’Reilly, AFPA certified nutritionist and wellness consultant. Megan will bring her advanced education, multiple certifications, and years of experience to the class.

The cost is $93.75 for Foundation members; $125 for members; and $156.25 for non-members. 

Wellmobile Coming to Pearce

The UnityPoint Health Wellmobile will visit Pearce Community Center Tuesday, May 9, from 7:00 to 10:00 a.m. The public is welcome to stop in for free blood pressure and blood sugar monitoring and cholesterol and spirometry screening. An eight to 12 hour fast is required for the cholesterol/blood glucose tests. 

FREE Swim Lesson Preview

Tuesday, May 16, 4:30 and 5:30 p.m.

Join Emily Points, Aquatics Coordinator, and Pearce swim instructors for our FREE youth swim lesson preview. Meet the instructors and see how we teach children to swim and be safe in and around water. Children must be age four and over and should come prepared to get in the water.

The preview is free; however, advance registration is required. Register at the front desk. The free preview can only accommodate 20 children per time slot so don't delay. Reserve your spot today.

Summer Camp Registration in Full Swing

As the 2016-2017 school years winds down, Pearce gears up for another great Summer Camp. No, not the music festival. This is PEARCE Summer Camp for children who will enter first through seventh grade in the fall.

Summer Camp will immerse your child in a collaborative and supportive environment that allows them to participate in fun activities, learn to make appropriate decisions, and cultivate friendships. Your child will be treated with consideration and respect and, in turn, will be encouraged to treat peers and adults in the same manner.

While summer camp serves a utilitarian purpose, it is also designed to enrich the life of each child. Through a strategic activity plan that integrates education with fun and delivered by exceptional counselors, children grow educationally, physically, emotionally, and psychologically.

Participating in Summer Camp means your child will enjoy a wide variety of activities including swimming; organized and free play; enrichment classes in physical fitness, yoga, science, art, and Nature Explorers; and reading, handwriting, creative writing, and math at education stations. Field trips to area attractions are always a big hit with our campers. This year, we will visit Children's Discovery Museum, Challenger Learning Center, Mt. Hawley Bowling & Miniature Golf, Shore Acres Pool, and Peoria Chiefs.

We also offer campers the opportunity to enroll in other kids programs at Pearce to make their summer experience even fuller. Swim lessons, Extra Fun Specialty Camps, tutoring, and Kids Fitness programs are all available to help your child utilize the summer months to enhance learning and prepare for a successful school year.

Summer Camp offers an impressive 7:1 camper to counselor ratio to ensure campers get the personalized attention they need to be safe and receive guidance and help. Intelligent and motivated, summer camp counselors represent some of the brightest young adults in our community. Many come back from college each summer to work with the campers. Common college majors for this group include education, nursing, social work, and business administration. All counselors are trained in basic first aid and have earned CPR certification.

Thank you to the families who have trusted and supported Pearce Summer Camp. Here's what a few of them had to say.