St. Catherine’s Academy (SCA) in Anaheim has been open for full-time in-person instruction since last August. Boys in Kindergarten through 8th grade have thrived from being back on campus and have enjoyed the benefits of physical activity that comes from the academy’s infamous obstacle course.
SCA’s unique course has proven to create more than just a fun and exciting physical activity. Students enjoy racing, jumping, swinging, and crawling on the course. They do this while enhancing their motor skills, coordination, teamwork skills, problem solving abilities, sensory exploration, building strength and endurance.
“Now more than ever, students need to move their bodies,” said Sister Johnellen Turner, administrator/principal. “Physical activity offers mental health benefits for students and is an excellent outlet for them to deal with stressors. I really believe that exercise through this activity helps our students socially and in their academic performance.”
The obstacle course was made possible over a decade ago by sponsorships from Olympic Gold Medalist, Misty May-Treanor and former Major League baseball player, Matt Treanor. After 10 years, SCA received another generous sponsorship from SCA board members, Peter Ganahl and Mr. & Mrs. Levecke to upgrade the course. “We are so tremendously grateful to our donors who believed in our idea and helped us give our students something that they could enjoy and benefit from,” said Sister Johnellen.
“We are so proud of our cadets and their ability to prove they can handle the challenges place before them. Our objective is to push our cadets both mentally and physically, while expanding their faith and all they accomplish at Saint Catherine’s Academy,” said Captain Ramos. “When our cadets are out there running, jumping, climbing, swinging and crawling their way to the finish line, they find strength that they didn’t even know they had,” said Military Director SSgt. May.