Just two weeks ago, I attended an education conference in New York City on learning and brain activity in youth and children. The chief concern at this conference was the preponderance of screen time, primarily cell phone usage, teachers witness among their students. While studies have not made a direct correlation to the rise of anxiety and depression seen among children and youth to electronic device habits, bullying and obesity have been positively correlated to cell phone usage by these groups. Consistent with these findings is a greater sense of social alienation found among children and teens who are now logging long hours on their electronic devices and becoming sleep-deprived in the process.

Soon school will be out, and The Alaska Club’s Summer Fun camp will be in full swing. Have you registered your kids yet? You don’t have to be a member, Summer Fun Camp is open to the public! We offer 12 weeks of fun, and each week has a new theme: Alaska Zoo All About Sports & Fitness Water-Mania Outdoor Adventures Colossal Super Heroes Choose all 12 weeks or 1 week at a time. At The Alaska Club, it’s not only a great time for your kids, but it’s really easy to sign them up. Just go to http://www.thealaskaclub.com/camps or our The Alaska Club Kids Facebook Page and register. You can also call our reservations center at 907-356-7939.

If you're like many parents, your thinking about what activities your kids can participate in to keep them active and having fun during the holiday break. The Alaska Club's Winter Fun Camps offer safe and fun environments for kids during their holiday breaks. They'll participate in a variety of healthy activities including swimming, sports, games and other youth activities. Winter camps are available to members and non-members, and provide before and after day care for an additional cost. They're available at the Eagle River, East & South Club locations.