Students from the Chula Accelerated Elementary School in Chillcothe, Missouri, recently got a look at their new exercise and
fitness equipment as fitness professionals taught them how to use the new materials, The Constitution-Tribune reports.
The school was able to purchase the new equipment and learn the new techniques through a recent partnership with the Heartland Foundation of St. Joseph and
Project Fit America, a national program aimed at helping decrease childhood obesity while increasing kids' fitness levels.
The new $18,000 equipment was created by Landscape Structures, a
commercial playground equipment company. Now, students are able to spend their time in gym class and at recess playing on a climbing area, a vault, parallel bars, horizontal bars and a sit-up bench.
Students participating in the program had their physical pre-testing done last week, the news outlet reports. The tests - which include checking each child's stamina and body mass index - will be conducted again in the spring after they've gone through the course.
According to the U.S. Surgeon General, childhood obesity has tripled since 1980. Many parents and educators are working to find ways to increase mobility in children while teaching them the importance of staying fit.