For the last three days, youth from across the KCII listening area have been putting in work at the Southeast Iowa Fitness Camp, hosted by the Iowa Army National Guard. The free event was held at the Armory in Fairfield.

Created by First Sergeant Jesse Howard of New London in 2014, participants of the camp meet for two hours a day for four days. With the help of National Guard members as well as volunteers, they are put through a variety of workouts, from standard push-ups and sit-ups to team-building competitions. It is open not just to prospective military members, but also local athletes preparing for next season. This year, attendance reached more than 80 young men and women.

One of them was incoming junior at Sigourney High School, Aidyn Parker. Parker shared with KCII what he has taken away from the experience. “I feel I’ve gained some self-discipline. [When I’m] thinking about stopping or slowing down I have people next to me who are putting in just as much effort as I am and that’s encouraging me to keep moving, to keep pushing and making myself better. I thank those people. They continue to drive me and make me a better person.”

You can hear more about the fitness camp in tomorrow’s edition of the In Touch With Southeast Iowa Program.