This past June, Sunshine Fitness Management, owned by Eric Dore and Shane McGuiness, provided a series of coding classes for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Florida (BGCCF). This unique, four-week course engaged youth and taught the fundamentals of coding through fun, interactive classes with Mad Science, a leading science enrichment provider.

“We are thrilled for our members to attend these classes that hopefully sparked an interest and curiosity for subjects that will be crucial to their success in life,” said Nic Freeman, volunteer resources manager for BGCCF. “We place an emphasis on encouraging our youth to be productive, responsible and caring citizens, and we are grateful that our partnership with Planet Fitness^® continues to foster those same values.”

The coding program offered middle school- and high school-aged youth the opportunity to discover the wonder and excitement of coding through problem-solving, creativity and robotics activities. It also provided participants the chance to work with some of the latest technology, including Ozobots, award-winning coding robots that use game applications and creative curriculums to inspire children and get them actively involved in creating technology.

“It’s important to get children interested in science and math at a young age, and these hands-on coding and robotics classes are designed to show them these core subjects can be fun and exciting,” said Anthony Roberts Jr., marketing manager for Sunshine Fitness Management. “We value our partnership with the Boys & Girls Clubs as a way to reach out to the youth of our country and instill positive values in them that will help them throughout their lives.”

The Boys & Girls Club and Sunshine Fitness Management support the Triple Play initiative – a game plan for the mind, body and soul – to develop healthy habits, daily challenges and social recreation within youth. “Someone asked me why Planet Fitness would introduce coding to Boys & Girls Clubs,” said Roberts Jr. “It’s due to us primarily wanting to focus on anti-bullying and pro-kindness, but if we are to be true partners of the Boys & Girls Clubs, we must also uphold their existing beliefs. We want to also focus on whole child development, and we support their Triple Play initiative.”