VERTICAL WORLD: ROCK CLIMBING
By: Gabriella, 10, (aka Cocoflower)

I first went rock climbing when my friend Haley had her birthday at Vertical World rock climbing gym. I was kind of nervous, but they got me a harness, a pair of shoes, attached me to the rope and sent me up. I got tired and sweaty fast, but I made it to the top! It felt SO good the first time I made it up there! But then came the hard part: Getting down. You have to bend your knees like your sitting down, lean WAY back, and bounce. It was a little nerve racking. I kept on reminding myself I was attached to a rope. When I got down I was laughing. I went up three more times!

Some rock climbing words: Belaying (With a rope), Bouldering (without a rope). I’ve been back 2 more times since! I really encourage girls who want to try! IT’S FUN!!!!

THREE FUN WAYS TO EXERCISE!
By: Ashton, 11, (aka alpjrbpjcp)
 

Do want to get into shape but hate the boring exercise? I have three fun ways to keep healthy, keep fit, and most of all, have fun!

#1: If you have a handheld radio or an MP3 Player, crank up the music and dance to the songs you do like, march to the songs you don’t like and do sit ups to the commercials. It is also better if you have a friend on hand and march or dance together. Also, you can talk about why or why not you like the song but you have to keep moving. This is a fun and easy way to exercise and have fun.

#2: If you are on a long car trip and have a need to move or are on the way to a sleepover or to the grocery store, try these fun exercises. First, you tell mom or dad or whoever is driving to pop in your favorite CD and crank it up. As the CD is playing, try bending up and down and side to side to the beat of the song. IF you get tired of doing that just try lifting your knees up to about your chest height, to the beat. Once you are done with that, try putting your arms about a little longer than shoulder width apart above your head and bring your arms up and down to cheek bone height, to the beat. This is a great way to beat the boredom blues on a long drive, or get active instead of sitting down.

#3: Watching TV and feel horrible because it’s a beautiful day outside and instead you’re watching cartoons? Well, when the commercials come on, try these fun exercises. When the first commercial break comes on, make a clear space around the couch or living room and see how many laps you can run around the couch or room before the show comes back on. When the second commercial break comes on, see how many sit ups you can do before the show comes back on and try to beat your laps score. When the next commercial break comes on, see how many jumping jacks you can do before the show comes on and try to beat your sit ups score and so on and so on. This is a fun way to get active in short periods and it boosts your confidence.

These exercises are easy, quick and fun! You can do them all in one day or one each day. It doesn’t matter and they will make you feel better about yourself.