As Active SWV Bike/Walk’s Coordinator, I was recently invited to join some fellow West Virginians to visit and tour Damascus, Virginia, which has embraced its identity as a “Trail Town”. Damascus is in the Mount Rogers District of Southwest Virginia, about 10 miles off of Interstate Highway 81. Some very popular trails converge in Damascus including the Iron Mountain Trail, U.S. Bicycle Route 76, the ...
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This month we are highlighting two all-star Community Captains! Meet Jennifer Bledsoe and Amber Fuller, two Active SWV Community Captains and REFIT® instructors. They have the passion and drive to help others lead healthier and happier lives. Take some time to learn about these leaders and how you can take steps to leading a healthier and happier lifestyle.
Catch Jennifer and Amber’s REFIT® classes every Monday and Tuesday at 6pm in Beckley.
REFIT® Monday at 6pm ...
Continue Reading →Active Southern West Virginia is very pleased to announce the start of our new AmeriCorps VISTA (Volunteer In Service To America) member, Emily Wilkinson, this week. Emily will be serving with Active SWV for the next year to sustain and grow the Active SWV Kids Run Clubs, devote time to broadening the Active SWV Workplace Wellness program, and contribute her passion and public health skills to all ...
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Meet our June Community Captain of the month Suleka Deevi. Suleka is a new Get Active in the Park Community Captain, she leads monthly hikes and also started a weekly dog walk in Beckley. She grew up in Richmond, Virginia next to the James River. Growing up along the river and hiking the trails, helped Suleka cultivate a passion for ...
The Mount Hope Elementary Run Club takes place every morning before the start of school. As kids arrive at school and finish their breakfast, they are allowed into the gym for morning walking or running laps. Whenever they’re ready to join, they follow short warmup instructions provided by P.E. Teacher, Fred Burton. When time is up, all students sit together for some cool down stretches.
Mount Hope Elementary teacher, Clifford Sullivan, explained how the morning laps helps the kids get their ...
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The Mabscott Elementary Run Club, powered by Active SWV, got an early start to their first ever season, allowing for 9 weeks of run club during Spring 2017. The club was led by teachers, Jami Bond and Cali Evans, along with Mabscott Elementary parent, Nikki White. 
“When I saw the Active SWV was starting running clubs at local schools I ...
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The Daniels Elementary Run Club, powered by Active SWV, completed its first run club season during the Spring of 2017. With pre-K through 5th graders, this run club was quick to fill with over 80 participants. The run club was made possible by the hard work of the head coach and Daniels Elementary Counselor, Melani Hylton, along with 7 additional teacher volunteers. 
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The Mount Nebo Elementary Run Club, Powered by Active SWV, finished its first season in Spring of 2017. The club consisted of 40 3rd-5th graders and was led by P.E. teacher, Michele Anderson alone with 5 additional teacher volunteers.
Practices would start with a warm-up and a game and finish with an interval training run and cool-down.
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The Birch River Elementary Run Club, powered by Active SWV, completed its first season in Spring of 2017. The club was lead by head coach Leigh Ashby and eleven other wonderful volunteer coaches.
Charlie Rose, left, is both a teacher at Birch River Elementary and an avid runner himself. The participants that sought a more serious training program got to train ...
Maxwell Hill Elementary Run Club, powered by Active SWV, completed its first season during the Spring of 2017. The club is led by Principal Amanda Richmond along with 8 other parent and teacher volunteers. The club meets twice and week and utilized the schools running path. 
“We were able to get this great new running path around the playground ...
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