Firefighters from Midland, Texas, took a break from protecting the community in order to encourage youngsters to get fit. NewsWest 9 reports the Midland Fire Department recently held its first annual kids camp to teach local children the importance of eating right and being physically active.
The camp, held at the nearby Grande Communications Stadium, offered youngsters a chance to have fun exercising with the firemen, while also learning important life lessons, the news outlet reports. The campers were taught about portion control and why eating fruits and vegetables is important.
The team told kids eating right and exercising allows them to fight fires and help citizens more easily and efficiently. Fire captain Aaron Cox said the camp couldn't have happened without help from the community, adding he hopes they'll be able to run the program again next year.
"This wouldn't be possible without the community support. We'd like to make this a yearly event," Cox told the publication. "We've had a real great response. Everyone's having fun, the firemen, the kids and the parents. It's just really a great event."
According to the United States Department of Agriculture,
healthy kids' plates should consist of half fruits and vegetables, a quarter of lean meats and a quarter of whole grains.