Photographers are invited to witness this mid-summer accomplishment at a photo opportunity at Country Club of Miami South, 6881 NW 179 Street at 9 a.m., as the determined camper achieves his 75-mile sneaker charm signifying a new Miami-Dade Parks camp morning fitness record.

The new milestones are made possible through the support of AvMed Health Plans which has expanded the Morning Mile program to 28 parks in Miami-Dade.  With the Morning Mile program, campers begin their summer camp day with a morning run, jog or walk.  More than 950 campers are running an average of five miles per week.

For every five miles logged, they receive necklace charms to mark their progress and incentivize physical fitness.  The program is designed to get kids active, fit and poised to carry good exercise habits into adulthood, a perfect addition to Miami-Dade Parks' Fit-to-Play summer camps program which teaches kids how to live a healthy lifestyle and provides evidence-based physical fitness activities. 

Developed by Fitzness International in Gainesville, FL, the Morning Mile program provides participating schools or parks with a program guidebook and everything they need to bring the exercise program to their students.  The program has been so successful with 84 programs in Florida and Texas that venues around the United States and beyond have applied to participate so they can implement the program as well.  A grant from AvMed provided the funding for the Morning Mile starter kits, which give parks the instructions and materials to start the program. To learn more about the program, visit Morning Mile.

About AvMed Health Plans
AvMed has been providing health care coverage to Florida citizens and businesses for over 40 years, serving large and small employers in most major markets around the state. AvMed provides Medicare Advantage products in Broward and Miami-Dade counties, and Individual coverage in Broward, Miami-Dade and Palm Beach counties. For more information visit AvMed.

About The Parks Foundation of Miami-Dade
The Parks Foundation of Miami-Dade is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization that supports the Miami-Dade Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces Department's effort to further develop Miami-Dade County's world-class parks system for residents and visitors.  Its mission is to create a healthier, more livable and sustainable Miami community by ensuring the implementation of the Parks Open Space Master Plan and the development of year-round park and recreation programs for local children, adults
and people with disabilities.  For more information, visit The Parks Foundation.

About the Miami-Dade Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces Department:
Nationally accredited, a three-time winner of the NRPA National Gold Medal Award and winner of the 2009 Florida Governor's Sterling Award for excellence in management and operations, Miami-Dade Parks is the third largest county park system in the United States, consisting of 260 parks and 12,825 acres of land.  It is one of the most unique park and recreation systems in the world.  Made up of more than just playgrounds and athletic fields, it also comprises out-of-school, sports-development, and summer-camp programs; programs for seniors and people with disabilities; educational nature centers and nature preserves; environmental restoration efforts; arts and culture programs and events; the renowned Zoo Miami and the Deering Estate at Cutler; the Crandon Tennis Center, home of the Sony Ericsson Open; golf courses; beaches; marinas; campgrounds; pools; and more.  For information about Miami-Dade Parks call 3-1-1, or visit Miami-Dade Parks.

To request material in accessible format, information on access for persons with disabilities, or sign language interpreter services (7 days in advance), call 305-755-7848.