SIX NATIONS — A Six Nations father, inspired by a love for a healthy community, is launching an exciting new fitness program aimed at empowering youth.
Michael Hill is turning a part of his property into a ninja warrior-style outdoor gym. This summer Hill, along with a team of high skilled personal trainers and nutrition counsellors are planning a unique program for youth ages 4-17 years old on Six Nations — giving them a summer filled with fitness programming aiming to grow self-confidence and empowerment.
Ninja warrior style gyms are the newest fitness trend in North America. Born from the reality TV show American Ninja Warrior – competitors race through a complex obstacle course of scaling walls, climbing ropes and racing across unstable surfaces to complete one circuit in record time.
Former athletes who competed through American Ninja Warrior then went on to collectively start specialty gyms aimed at Ninja-style and parkour training — eventually founding the National Ninja League.
Warrior Park Athletics at Six Nations is Hill’s journey into the world of ninja warrior training — and his goal is to open the project to youth on Six Nations for a fun and empowering way to get fit.
Together with a list of noted trainers, volunteers and community sponsors, Hill says the kick-off month of programming will be free for youth. “We will be taking up to 280 kids for this first program,” said Hill.
A total of 280 youth will run through the program twice a week for the month. According to the program outline youth will have free play through an inflatable 85 foot inflatable obstacle course. Then they will be led through 30 minutes of team style fitness training followed by another 30 minutes of the ninja warrior obstacle training.
Registrants will be given at home workout plans and information for a healthy diet plan families can follow to support their kids at home.
Children will also be given team swag for participating in the program. Two Row Times has partnered as a program sponsor for the event.
Registration dates are set for Six Nations throughout the month of May. Information and registration booths will be at the Iroquois Lacrosse Arena May 1-4 from 4:30 to 8pm. Again at the Six Nations Community Hall on May 6 from 1:30 to 7pm. A third registration date will be held at the Iroquois Plaza near Erlind’s Restaurant May 11th from 11am to 6pm — and Community Awareness Week will see two registrations available at the Jukasa Studios on May 18 from 3 to 6pm, and at the Gaylord Powless Arena on May 24 from 11am to 7pm.
The park is currently under construction and will be ready for programming starting in June 2018.
Hill says he wants to have the program be as free as possible for community youth and says there is still opportunity for local businesses and organizations to partner as sponsors for the program.
Sponsorship is still needed for remaining equipment, registration, team swag and session costs. Sponsors will have the unique opportunity to be promoted as supporters of the project on the programs’ social media, on billboards at the park and on team swag.
For more information on the program or to become a sponsor you can send questions to warriorpark@outlook.com.
