Lessons from the barbell is a free after school program for underserved youth. The program serves students ages 13 to 20, offering Olympic weightlifting, bodybuilding, stretching, meditation, mindfulness, alcohol, tobacco and other drug (ATOD) prevention. The program offers a safe space for students and mentorship. Many of these youth come from low-income households in underserved neighborhoods. The goals of the program are to (1) Improve the physical health and fitness of underserved youth; (2) Enhance mental well-being and provide coping strategies for stress and adversity; (3) Foster a sense of community and mentorship among students; and (4) Educate and empower youth to make informed choices regarding drug and alcohol use.
Arena Adaptive provides adaptive group fitness classes for individuals with physical and intellectual disabilities, ages 9 to 99. Two classes are offered per week. Over 50% of Arena Adaptive athletes participate for free or at a highly discounted rate, ensuring accessibility for all. Arena Adaptive is run by two Doctors of Physical Therapy and numerous UD PT student volunteers and serves individuals in New Castle County and the surrounding areas. The goals of Arena Adaptive are to (1) Offer a sense of community and belonging; and (2) Improve the physical health and fitness of individuals with disabilities, as well as helping to improve self-esteem and mental wellness.
The pool program is a wheelchair accessible pool offering a range of activities, including unstructured pool time, swim lesson clinics, evidence-based alcohol, tobacco, and drug prevention curriculum, and community cookouts featuring nutritious meals. The Pool Program rents pool time to local summer camps (New Castle County camps, Bellevue Community Center Camps, and some smaller camps). Free memberships are offered for MTF program participants. The Pool Program aims to serve youth (ages 10-18) and is offered upon completion of a ATOD prevention lesson hosted by MTF. The goals of the Pool Program are to (1) Provide access to a free pool for a disadvantaged, high-needs neighborhood; (2) Provide a safe haven for a community that is frequently exposed to gun violence, (3) Provide a place to cool down on hot summer days when violence can increase in the neighborhood,(4) Provide opportunities for ATOD-free family activities,(5) Teach evidence-based alcohol, tobacco, and drug prevention curriculum, (6) Teach at-risk youth how to swim, (7) Feed the community healthy food, (8) Disseminate information on prevention and cessation of the use of tobacco, alcohol, and other drugs, and (9) Provide structured and unstructured aquatic physical activity to improve fitness and wellness for all.
In addition to serving youth, adult programming is offered. The Community Program is for anyone interested in improving their Physical, Mental, Spiritual Fitness. The Community Program is modeled after the Students Program. Open to any who is interested.
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