As a way to participate in Newton Fest, the Newton Wellness Coalition is rolling out Community Wellness Games. The games will be held during the lunch hour from noon to 1 p.m. on June 9 in downtown Newton as a way to promote wellness and have a little fun.
“It is good for people to come out before the Metallica concert,” organization Brenda Steenhoek said. “A traveling trophy will be given to the winning team and awards will be given for best costume.”
The games will consist of four member teams from the Jasper County area who will take part in four different challenges. The cost is $20 per team with prizes awarded for the best costume.
The challenges focus on all areas of wellness and consist of a muscle corner, nutrition corner, heart corner and brain corner. At the muscle corner, teams will compete in a tug of war contest with the winners advancing in the bracket. The winner gets 15 points to add to their total score with second place receiving 10 points and third place getting five points.
The nutrition corner will have teams working together to put a variety of food in the correct order of calories from highest to lowest. The first team to correctly align the items in under a minute will receive 15 points. If the teams can do it correctly a second and third time they get 10 and five points with everyone participating receiving one point.
At the heart corner, teams will be split into pair with each pair walking with a resistance band in a type of three-legged race. The best time of all teams participating receives 15 points with second getting 10 points and third getting five points.
Finally, at the brain corner, each team member will spin a wheel to answer a health question. If the team member gets it correct they get a puzzle piece. After all of the team members are done spinning the wheel, they need to try to put the puzzle together and answer the question on the puzzle. The event will be timed with the winner getting 15 points, the second best time getting 10 points and third receiving five points. Everyone gets one point for trying at this event, as well.
Proceeds from the event will go toward the Newton Wellness Coalition activities including the Newton Community School District Snack Closet, an outdoor gym project at Sunset Park and community wellness activities. For more information, contact Steenhoek or Kristina Winfield at 641-787-9224.
The committee is still waiting on approval to use the downtown area for the event.
Contact Jamee A. Pierson at 641-792-3121 ext. 6534 or jpierson@newtondailynews.com