BANGOR – The 12th annual YMCA Healthy Kids initiatives, designed to promote healthy activities and sports for kids, is planning Family Fun Night 6:30-9 p.m. Saturday, April 5. More than 700 children and adults attended last year’s event.

Activities will include family swim time, open game room, arts and crafts, organized games in the gym, karaoke, snacks and prizes.

Family Fun Night is free for Bangor YMCA members and $5 per family for others. Armed forces personnel and their families are invited to attend Family Fun Night at no cost.

“Television and the Internet are here to stay and bring tremendous benefits to our kids and their education,” said Sean Haggerty, Bangor YMCA fitness director. “But watching too much TV or sitting at the computer for hours while playing in the virtual world has created a youth fitness crisis.”

According to a report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Health Statistics, nearly 16 percent of 12- to 19-year-olds are overweight.

“One of the goals of YMCA Healthy Kids events is to show kids that it’s fun to get healthy,” said Haggerty. “We also want to introduce them to cool activities like tae kwon do and kayaking, which they can find at the YMCA.”

YMCA Healthy Kids initiatives at Family Fun Night provide opportunities for kids and families to get off the couch and have fun together in a playful environment. Bangor YMCA Healthy Kids initiatives include tobacco and smoking prevention education in after-school clubs during the week.

“Bangor YMCA is dedicated year-round to helping children develop into healthy, strong, moral adults,” said Mike Dunn, Bangor YMCA membership director.

“But the YMCA Healthy Kids promotion is a singular opportunity to shine a spotlight on how important and fun physical activity is for the whole family.

“Exercise can be viewed as drudgery,” he said. “But when kids and parents exercise together, it becomes a way for families to spend quality time together, work toward a common goal and reconnect with each other. And kids tend to pattern their behavior after their parents. So if a parent runs or works out, it’s likely his or her kids will, too.”

Program materials for a variety of youth activities will be available during Family Fun Night, including resident camp, adventure camp, day camps, tae kwon do, kayaking, swim lessons, cheerleading and dance.

YMCA Healthy Kids events are nationally sponsored by Tropicana. The Bangor YMCA is located at 127 Hammond St. in Bangor. To learn more about Healthy Kids events and Family Fun Night, call the Bangor YMCA at 941-2815.

In 2002, the Bangor YMCA also provided after-school and preschool enrichment programs for 445 children, and youth sports programs for 1,095 children.