Rec center program offers parents work out time

As a part of the Parent Camp program, Morris Recreation Center is offering to watch children for parents that want to work out in the facility. Parent Camp allows for local parents to get in a workout using MRC equipment while professional counselors watch their children.

The Parent Camp program started on Sept. 13 and is held on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays of every week. It is separated into two 90-minute sessions that are held from 5-6:30 p.m. and 6:30-8 p.m.

"It started this semester, but this is something that we've been trying to do probably four or five semesters prior," Associate Director of Intramural and Club Sports Jerome Osborne said. "We've been trying to figure out the staffing and the model that would enable faculty, staff, students and as well as community members to come onto campus to work out and to have a safe and productive environment for their children."

In regards to finding a productive model, the MRC has adopted one similar to that of the Parent Camp from the summer.

"We ended up mimicking the Parent Camp from our summer camp, and we took our camp counselors and they're the ones that oversee the children," Osborne said. "They get to read or get help with their homework while their parents go and work out for 90 minutes or take a group fitness class."

The service is open not only to students, but also university faculty and residents of Commerce, Sulphur Springs, Greenville and other neighboring areas. All children from ages 4-17 are eligible for the program.

The charge for the service is a $4 per session and per child for Commerce students and $8 for community members. The MRC also makes the punch pass an available option to those that register for the program.

"They're like our day punch passes for adults" Osborne said. "Rather than pay session by session, every 15th you only pay $20."

Counselor Makenzie Brooke Ellyson has been working with the program for about four weeks now and said the qualifications for counselors are very specific.

"Mainly you have to work well with kids" Ellyson said. "It helps if you've worked with kids in the past."

Osborne has been pleased with the success of the program thus far and hopes to continue to watch it succeed in the future.

"All of the kids that we've had have all come out just ecstatic and happy about our staff and the time that they've had with us" Osborne said. "This is probably the best program that I've been a part of and we greatly need participation to keep it afloat."

This opinion is also shared by student Haley Mull, who helped Osborne conceive the process by which the program would operate.

"I think it's a great opportunity," Mull said. "I know a lot of students on campus that are nontraditional students and parents, and the more word that gets out, the more popular it will become."