Personal Fitness Merit Badge Initial Fitness Test
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Hi Troop, the Personal Fitness Badge is starting this weekend! This is a fun way to get out on the field and reach some personal fitness goals, while learning about how to stay sharp in the classroom and on the field through nutrition and exercise. Here is some info:

SUMMARY
The Personal Fitness Badge is an Eagle-required badge that is offered once every 2 years. It is a fun badge geared towards teaching each scout about how exercise and good nutrition will keep both his body and brain fit and healthy for life. Co-counsellors for this badge are Dr. Alexis Anvekar and Mr. Mark Spitzer.

OVERVIEW
Each scout will meet for an hour, once every 2 weeks, over a 12 week period at the Huntington Middle School track and field. He will track his progress in several categories such as body fat, muscle mass, strength, speed, and flexibility. In addition, one class session will teach him about good nutrition and exercise along with their effects on the brain and the body. Measurements will be taken at the beginning and end of the 12 week session, and personal fitness goals will be set throughout the session.

HOW TO SIGN UP
If you have not already signed up for this badge at our last Troop meeting, you can email me directly before our first session on Sunday to sign up.

SCHEDULE
Our first field session will be Sunday, February 24th from 4:00pm-5:00pm at the track of Huntington Middle School. If you cannot make that session, an alternate session will be from 1:00pm-2:00pm on the same day, at the same location. Huntington Middle School is located at 1700 Huntington Drive in San Marino. The track is located at the southeast area of the campus. The best place to park to enter the field directly is on Sherwood Drive between West Drive and Palmas Drive.

Six additional field sessions TBD

The medical/nutritional class session will be held Monday, March 11th from 6:30pm-7:30pm at the Scout House.

Final session to complete all badge requirements will be held Monday, May 20th from 6:30pm-7:30pm at the Scout House.

MUST DOS BEFORE ARRIVING SUNDAY FOR FIELD SESSIONS
1. Print Worksheet: http://www.usscouts.org/mb/mb010.asp
2. Obtain Personal Fitness book (highly recommended but not required)
3. Answer 1a. and1b. in the Worksheet which are questions related to your last medical examination and dental examination. If it has been more than 12 months since your last examinations, please schedule and answer these questions before our first class session on March 11th.
4. Take body measurements and record directly in the worksheet. See below to see where to record in the Worksheet. This is important to do to keep our field session ending on time! Please make sure you print and bring your worksheet with these measurements completed. In addition, any help from parents for these first sessions will be appreciated.
Body Composition Test Have your parent, counselor, or other adult take and
record the following measurements:

a. Right Arm Circumference Circumference of the right upper arm, midway between the shoulder and the elbow, with the arm hanging naturally and not flexed..

b. Shoulder Circumference Shoulders, with arms hanging by placing the tape measure 2 inches below the top of the shoulders around the arms, chest, and back after breath expiration..

c. Chest Circumference Chest, by placing the tape under the arms and around the chest and back at the nipple line after breath expiration..

d. Abdomen Circumference Abdomen circumference at the navel level (relaxed).

e. Right Thigh Circumference Circumference of the right thigh, midway between the hip and knee, and not flexed..

Looking forward to seeing you all on the field,

Alexis Anvekar and Mark Spitzer