Scenes from the 2013 Healthy Kids Day

Remember when kids stayed healthy by riding bikes, climbing trees and jumping rope with friends?

University City YMCA and several partners are bringing back that wholesome fun at the Healthy Kids Day Block Party, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. April 26 on the YMCA grounds.

Kids can run an obstacle course, climb a wall, test bike-riding skills, shoot arrows and, yes, jump rope just like at summer camp!

The free Block Party will start right after the end of another great outdoor event: the inaugural Governors Village 5K Run.

Come at 10 for camp-style assembly and Zumbatomic!

Lori Crow, health and fitness director at the University City YMCA, says that Healthy Kids Day offers a taste of the Y’s popular summer camp program. Visitors are invited to drop by anytime and stay as long as they wish. The program will start at 10 with a camp-style assembly, followed by Zumbatomic, a dynamic cardio dance class for kids filled with Latin rhythms, easy to follow moves and lots of fun. After that, visitors can take part in the many activities, listen to a DJ and enjoy light refreshments, and watch performances of the J.U.M.P X-treme Jump Rope Team.

Presenting sponsor Starks Pediatrics at Mallard Creek will have Hula Hoops and jump ropes to keep the kids moving.

Healthy Kids Day is now part of BIKECharlotte!

Healthy Kids Day is an official event of BIKECharlotte! 2014, two weeks of bike-related activities across the city. Bike Line of Charlotte, located near UNC Charlotte at Town Center Plaza, will oversee the bike safety rodeo. Children can ride their own bikes or ones provided by Bike Line to test their skills on a short obstacle course.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police officers will be on hand for support and encouragement – and to drive home the importance of riding safely. Bike Line will also provide free bike safety inspections during the event.

A second BIKECharlotte! Event, the University City Duathlon, will take place nearby the following Saturday. The run-bike-run version of a triathlon will start at 8 a.m. at the David Taylor Corporate Center near the Mallard Creek Greenway. Bike Line and another University City business, Run For Your Life, are hosting that event with support from University City Partners and other area businesses.

Two past festivals contribute to Healthy Kids Day

If some of these activities sound familiar, that’s because they used to be connected to other springtime events in University Research Park. The YMCA for several years hosted the International Block Party in late April, and University City Partners hosted the Green Goats and Gardens Festival in concert with the University City Duathlon. The Y changed themes to the Healthy Kids Day last spring. University City Partners decided to end the GGG festival after four fun years to provide support for other groups’ events including the Duathlon, Governors Village 5K and Healthy Kids Day.

Healthy Kids Day directions and online links

• Location: University City YMCA is at 8100 Old Mallard Creek Road, near the corner of Mallard Creek Road and West W.T. Harris Boulevard. MAP
• Website: YMCAcharlotte.org/UC
• Facebook: Facebook.com/UniversityCityYMCA

Start the morning with Governors Village 5k and 1-mile run/walk

A new foot race, the Governors Village 5K and 1-Mile Run/Walk, will also take place the morning of April 26 on the four-school campus of nearby Governors Village.

University City YMCA and several other groups and businesses are helping the University Place Chick-fil-A sponsor the fund-raising event. The race is in honor of former Nathaniel Alexander Elementary School teacher Martha Nauman, who became seriously ill last year.  Proceeds will benefit the Limbs for Life Foundation.

• Cost to take part in either event is $25 in advance, $30 at the event.
• Learn more and register for either event: http://www.cfaraceseries.com/races/125/