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New London MWR Hosts Hawaiian-Style Luau

he day after Independence Day, following the fireworks “This is our first time coming to the luau,” said Electron-
Tand barbecues, families gathered at the pavilion next to ics Technician (Submarine Communications) 1st Class Mike
North Lake on NSB New London, Conn., for a Hawaiian-style Schassberger, assigned to Naval Submarine Support Force,
luau on July 5. who was there with his wife and daughter. “Our little girl here
The event was organized by the base Morale, Welfare, is having a pretty good time! It’s a great thing for the kids.”
and Recreation (MWR) department, which has been hold- Report by Mass Communications Specialist
ing a yearly summer luau since 2016. The event featured Tristan B. Lotz, NSB New London
Polynesian-style food, a crafts table, a bouncy
house, and traditional Hawaiian and Polynesian
music performed by a live band and dancers. MWR Expands Fort Campbell’s
The Disney-Pixar film “Moana” was also shown Aquatic Fitness Classes
after the sun went down.
“This is our third year in a row putting
on the summer luau,” said Melissa Forrester, he Morale, Welfare and Recre-
special events coordinator for MWR. “Previ- Tation (MWR) Recreation Divi-
ous years always had good weather for it, but sion at Fort Campbell, Ky., recently
this time it’s the best it’s ever been. The luau increased its aquatic fitness classes for
show is always the highlight, and this year the installation at its Joseph Baldonado
we’re showing ‘Moana.’ It’s a great thing to Outdoor Pool.
bring families together and have a good time.” Classes include Aqua Living Fitness PHOTO: JODI CAMP, FORT CAMPBELL PUBLIC AFFAIRS
The event began at 1830 (6:30 p.m.), and for beginner and intermediate — Aqua
the children began getting their faces painted Jump, Aqua Spin, Kick Your Booty Tuesday’s Aqua Jump class, taught by
Debbie Pressnell, aquatics assistant
by a professional artist, while other youngsters Boot Camp and Aqua Glide. All classes manager for MWR at Fort Campbell,
received a balloon animal and a show from a are conducted in the pool using props, Ky., works out at the Joseph Baldonado
professional balloon artist who inflated, folded, like trampolines and paddle boards, Outdoor Pool.
and sculpted the creations before their eager and are offered from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.
eyes. Mondays through Saturdays at the pool, at 2570 Screaming Eagle Boulevard.
“We came to a conclusion that we needed to expand our aquatic fitness
U.S. NAVY PHOTO BY MC3(SW) TRISTAN B. LOTZ The water takes weight off joints so participants can perform the exercise.
offerings so we decided to do six additional classes,” said Ryan Noble, Fort
Campbell’s MWR aquatics and fitness manager.
Aquatic exercise works muscle groups that may not be used otherwise.

This is why people can do some exercises in water they cannot do on land,
said Debbie Pressnell, aquatics assistant manager.
“You can work as hard or as easy as you would like to,” Noble said.
Aquatic fitness may be better than traditional workouts for participants
with arthritis, movement issues or injuries. “It’s honestly rather therapeutic
A dancer shows boys how to perform a traditional
to do aqua fitness,” Noble said.
Polynesian war dance at NSB New London’s annual
Lynne Marchal, spouse to a retiree, has been doing aqua fitness at Fort
summer luau on July 5.
Campbell off and on for the past couple of years. Marchal likes getting
Other children went for a more hands-on together with people and getting in the water during the Aqua Jump class.
experience at the craft table, painting small bird “Now that they have the new equipment, it makes it more interesting, more
houses which they could take home afterwards. challenging,” she said. Four instructors teach the classes, and each class
“We have a craft area for kids to make things has about 10 participants depending on the equipment available.
so they have something to take home,” said
Amy Teart, an MWR volunteer. “We set up EVENING CLASSES
something like this for most MWR events. For Night classes are 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays
our summer festival, we’re putting out little at the pool, and will reflect the morning classes on those days. The classes
birdhouses for them to paint.” are for individuals who want to join a class but cannot leave work during
On the opposite end of the pavilion, MWR the workday, Noble said. “We want to give them the opportunity to attend
staff prepared veggie fried rice, veggie rolls, them after they get off work,” Noble said.
and sweet-and-sour chicken on-site, while a bar- Noble hopes to move the aquatic fitness classes to the Lawrence Gardner
tender served water, soft drinks, and for adults, Indoor Pool once renovation of the pool is complete. The fitness classes
beer and a Hawaiian-style mixed drink. On a will be at the Baldonado site as long as the weather permits, though the
stage next to the pavilion, a band performed pool season is slated to end Labor Day weekend.
Hawaiian music while hula girls swayed and Last year, the pools were open into October, so Noble is hoping to
stepped, and young Hawaiian boys stomped continue holding classes until the end of September at Baldonado. “My
and roared to traditional war dances. The hula preference is that we will be doing year-round aqua fitness classes for our
girls then invited girls in the audience up to community,” he said.
show them some moves, after which the young Report by Jodi Camp, Fort Campbell Public Affairs
men did so with the boys in the audience.

6 MILITARY CLUB & HOSPITALITY | AUGUST 2018