MONROE — For the Jacobsen family, physical fitness is now a family affair.
On Saturday, Michele Jacobsen, 33, signed up herself, her husband and their four children for Get Movin,’ a free summertime program that encourages exercise and healthy lifestyles.
The Jacobsens were among more than 200 people who attended a kickoff party for Get Movin’ at the Monroe Family YMCA gymnasium.
“Even if we can’t do it together all the time, it’s still a great motivation to get moving,” said Jacobsen, who lives in Monroe.
With music from Disney movies blaring inside the Monroe gym, children tossed footballs, bounced on red exercise balls and played in a giant, inflatable castle.
This is the first year the program has been extended to east Snohomish County.
“It’s been great, because parents have been coming in and participating with their kids, too,” said Beth Jacobs, health and wellness director for the Monroe YMCA. “It’s great for the whole family.”
Now in its fifth year, the free summer program offered throughout the county began Saturday. It awards prizes for kids who are active for 30 minutes five times a week.
Weekly prizes for being active include free passes to use the climbing wall at the Alderwood REI store; entry to swimming pools in Lynnwood, Mountlake Terrace, Edmonds, Everett and Marysville; skating; bowling; and admission to Everett AquaSox games and the Evergreen State Fair.
A total of 1,866 people registered for Get Movin’ on Saturday at kickoff events in Everett, Marysville, Lynnwood and Monroe, said Caroline Brown, kickoff chair for Get Movin.’
That’s the most successful opening day for Get Movin’ since the program started in 2004, Brown said.
“We’re ecstatic,” she said. “Usually, that’s as many as we’ve registered for the whole event over the whole registration period.”
Since 2004, about 4,800 kids and their parents have participated in the program.
Tiffany Stringer, 30, of Monroe, signed up her 6-year-old daughter, Paige, for the program. Although Paige is already pretty active, Stringer hopes the program helps reinforce her daughter’s healthy habits.
“She’s getting exercise now, because she’s bouncing in the bouncy house,” said Stringer, watching her daughter play. “She doesn’t want to go home to have lunch.”
Jacobsen said her children are also active, although one of them is not as active as the others. Toward the end of the school year, Jacobsen started encouraging her kids to take their physical health more seriously.
Now, Get Movin’ can help teach that lesson throughout the summer.
“Hopefully this will inspire a lifetime of wanting to be active,” Jacobsen said.
Reporter Scott Pesznecker: 425-339-3436 or spesznecker@heraldnet.com.
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