A Wrangell resident and AmeriCorps member has teamed up with the parks and recreation department to offer a number of fitness programs to residents this year.
Holly Hammer is a member of the Building Initiatives in Rural Community Health (BIRCH) AmeriCorps Program, which supports health education and wellness activities in rural communities throughout Alaska.
This is Hammer’s second year as an AmeriCorps member in Wrangell. Last year, Hammer worked with the Wrangell Medical Center, but this year will be working mostly out of the Wrangell pool and gym offering exercise classes including water aerobics and personal training sessions.
Hammer will also be offering triathlon-training classes every Thursday night beginning April 5 for those signed up for the summer triathlon in Wrangell.
The July 1 triathlon is geared towards getting people motivated to exercise or get in shape, said Wrangell Recreation Coordinator Victoria Martin.
“The essence of this particular triathlon is to get people who never have considered the possibility of doing it, are looking at it,” she said. “It’s about participation, and about setting some goals.”
Martin has played an integral role developing the triathlon training and other classes offered through Hammer and AmeriCorps. This year, Martin is serving as the AmeriCorps site supervisor in Wrangell. Previously, Martin was a member of the AmeriCorps BIRCH program herself for two years in California.
Martin and Hammer started planning for this year’s wellness programs in Wrangell last December. The two worked together on applying to be a “host site” for AmeriCorps. And, after being accepted, Hammer began her second year as an AmeriCorps BIRCH member in January.
Martin said, now with the help of Hammer and AmeriCorps, the parks and recreation department is able to offer a wider-variety of services to Wrangell residents.
In the past, Hammer worked as the Recreation Coordinator for the department — what is now Martin’s job. That knowledge of the parks and recreation department, her ties to AmeriCorps, as well as her passion for health and wellness, make Hammer a great attribute for the community, Martin said.
“Holly loves fitness, cares about her community, and is interested in helping our community become healthy,” Martin said.
Hammer was also recently certified online as an Arthritis Foundation “Walk with Ease” instructor, and will be offering classes geared for those with arthritis this spring. She will also be offering a water safety instructor course.
Hammer and Martin encourage people to ask them questions about the programs and fitness courses, and will be at the Wrangell Health Fair April 7 at the Nolan Center.
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