By LINDA KELLETT

C-S-E News Staff

CANAJOHARIE — Youngsters stretched, walked like crabs, flipped balls out of a parachute, relaxed with yoga exercises, provided a percussive accompaniment to a story and shook things up during the Arkell Museum and Canajoharie Library’s “Shake Up the Library” program last Thursday.

That wasn’t all they did though. Remarkably, the children came together as a team - working together to score goals, keeping designated balls on the surface of a parachute, and guiding a humongous ball from person to person as if it were rolling, car-like, down a highway.

Were they able to keep the ball under control? Did they work together?

“Pat yourself on the shoulders. Say good job to me. Shake your hand. Shake your neighbor’s hand. Pat yourself on the head. Pat your neighbor’s head,” said Kim Hayes, the manager of the fitness center at the Canajoharie High School.

Hayes lead the fitness portion of the first-of-its-kind, interactive program at the Arkell Museum and Canajoharie Library along with library Director Leah LaFera, who engaged in a story activity with the children.

LaFera said, “Today the kids are out of school. I wanted to do some sort of activity for them. Kim has been a volunteer for a while. I've wanted her to come and do some sort of fitness program.”

LaFera was thrilled with the outcome, she said.

“I think everyone had a good time, and we used the library in a way we've never used it before. I also had a chance to share a new story with them and to get them to take out stories on fitness and cooking,”she said.

Hayes used the program as a way to gauge potential interest in a series of similar activities that will be offered at the Canajoharie Youth Center for six Wednesdays starting the first week in March.

She said each family-oriented program will run from 6 to 7 p.m., ending the second week of April.

“It’s $3 for a family,” she said. “All proceeds go to the youth center.”

All children must be accompanied by an adult. There is no age limit.

Each weekly session will consist of activities with a large ball, parachute, running, and exercise circuits. “We’ll use BOSU balls. They’re rubber half balls that we use for stability and balance,”she said.

Registration is open to people of all ages. Call (518) 673-5117 to enroll.