USAFE drops Extreme Summer program due to low interest

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USAFE drops Extreme Summer program due to low interest
By Kevin Dougherty, Stars and Stripes
European edition, Sunday, March 15, 2009

U.S. Air Forces in Europe is dropping its Extreme Summer program due to lagging interest and a desire to update its approach to supporting community outdoor activities, an official said Friday.

In its place, USAFE Services is creating or revising three programs to fill the void, said Mandy Smith-Nethercott, the agency’s chief of marketing, sponsorship and entertainment. One new initiative is a health and wellness expo set for May and June at main operating bases in the command.

"It’s run its course," Smith-Nethercott said of Extreme Summer. As with a lot of programs, she said, over time "you see less and less participation."

Launched a decade ago, Extreme Summer was created for youths and grew in subsequent years to include adults. But over the past several years participation has dropped by about 8 percent annually.

To make such activities more relevant to today, USAFE Services is focused on making opportunities more fun and trendy. She mentioned as an example last summer’s clinic by Billy Blanks, creator of Tae Bo.


Rest of article at: http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=61352