By Tina Dirmann
BCBSLA Foundation Staff Writer
As we mentioned in a recent blog, our Challenge for a Healthier Louisiana partners at Healthy Green and Into the Outdoors (Shreveport) have a bold plan to whip nearly two dozen out-of-dshape teens into condition, prepping them for an action packed summer adventure in the great outdoors (exact place to be determined, but activities will include 10 days of hiking, biking and kayaking, to name a few). The weekly Health Trekker Training program began Saturday, and we received this wonderful update from our HGIO Project Director Tammie Harris. Sounds like they’re off to a great start!
Says Harris: 
“We had a wonderful day on Saturday! The weather was absolutely gorgeous. We started our morning with a one mile run/jog/walk around the YMCA Camp Forbing. Then we played a game called the Moose is Loose. This is a fun game to get the group laughing and having fun. After, we did three team building initiatives with the kids — carpet maze, gutter ball and raging river…
“We ended the day with a healthy lunch of turkey wraps or turkey on wheat bread with lettuce and tomato, and yogurt with fresh fruit (blueberries, strawberries and raspberries).
“The purpose of the day was to continue to get these kids to work together as a cohesive group!”
So, first day out, was it slow going? Difficult to get everyone motivated? Nope, so says Harris.
“They rocked,” she exclaimed.
Enough said! But this is just the beginning… Something tells us Mrs. Harris and her team’s regimen will get tougher and tougher as the weeks tick by. Hang in there, kids! You can do it!