By Shayne Schroeder

Are you over 50 and want to work out? The LifeFit Center @ The Beach might just be the perfect place for you.

“We cater specifically to the age 50-plus population,” said Ayla Donlin, director of the CSULB’s LifeFit Center @ The Beach, who is also a lecturer in the Kinesiology Department. “Our vision and our mission is to be the premier health and fitness facility for the age 50-plus population on campus and the community.”

The center strives to do that by tailoring its programs, services, fitness classes, assessments, personal training and its fee-based programing for the age 50-plus adult, a population Donlin says has different priorities than its college-aged counterparts.

“I think priorities are very different from one individual to another in general, so you can’t necessarily make a huge blanket statement,” she said, “but overall the older adult population is looking more for health parameters and improving health indices and that can be either from a preventative standpoint or maybe they are already dealing with some health issues that they need to address by eating healthier and exercising, so that’s what we can help them with.”

To get to where it is today, it’s been an interesting journey for the LifeFit Center. Frog’s Fitness, which was located in the Pyramid for years, closed in December 2010. Just as Frog’s was closing, the College of Health and Human Services (CHHS) moved in, purchased a lot of its equipment and opened the Center for Active Aging in January 2011 in the same location. Many age 50-plus Frog’s members transitioned into the new center, which also housed the Kinesiotherapy clinic.

In June 2012, the Center for Active Aging closed down and renovations were done so student-athletes could move from the Department of Athletics’ workout facility in the Kinesiotherapy building into its new strength complex located in the Pyramid.

“A swap took place and the College of Health and Human Services renovated all of our space here, put in air conditioning and created some additional square footage by opening up some of the space that used to be part of the women’s locker room,” said Donlin.

The LifeFit Center has grown to encompass 17,000 square feet, which includes a 3,000-square-foot fitness studio, two group fitness studios of 1,700 square feet and the main fitness area of 7,000 square feet.

“It never feels crowded, but it does get busy at times,” said Donlin, who manages the facility along with intern coordinator Heather Mazzei and facilities coordinator Tim Trefts. “We have so many people who are delighted with the availability and opportunity to work out on the equipment. Going to a gym and not being able to get on a machine can be very frustrating, but we don’t have that problem here.”

Though the LifeFit Center indeed caters to the 50-plus age group, it also accommodates a number of Kinesiology classes and CHHS interns.

“We have a two-pronged mission that comes together,” said Donlin. “One side is to be the premier health and fitness facility for the age 50-plus community and the other is to serve as an educational laboratory for the College of Health and Human Services offering educational, research and service opportunities for students, faculty and staff. All of our spaces are shared for academic purposes as well.

“One thing that makes this a really great facility,” she added, “is that we have from 18-year-olds to 90-year-olds in the same space pursuing and making a lifelong commitment to health and fitness and serving as reciprocal inspiration to spur each other on. Part of our mission is to foster and generate intergenerational relationships, which is something I think is missing a little bit in society—the connection across all the generations.”

Donlin noted that in addition to the physical well-being that takes place at the LifeFit Center, there is a social component for members as well.

“I think the social aspect is huge for the population we serve,” she said. “A lot of our members enjoy coming here because it not only provides a health and fitness opportunity, but they come because it’s a social opportunity and that’s something we are really purposeful about.

“We also offer educational lectures, workshops and seminars and those are really well attended,” she added. “I think the older adults enjoy the cognitive piece of it, so learning about health and fitness and then being able to practically carry it out and implement it is a cool connection that we’re able to offer.”

Donlin says her staff prides itself on focusing on members, knowing their names, what they need and giving them the personal attention that they need.

“When people come here, they feel like they are part of a community because the staff knows them, the other members know them and we really try to focus on making them feel like this is their place, this is their community,” she said. “I think that’s just one thing that distinguishes us from other health and fitness facilities. We want people to be comfortable when they come here.”

And, maybe most importantly, Donlin noted it’s never too late to begin working out, believing age should never be a barrier to improving one’s health.

“We’re teaching a class right now here as part of the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute programming and it’s called ‘Discover the Exerciser Within You,’” she said. “It’s about shifting your mindset from an external motivation where you are motivated by external circumstances to be motivated from within. Thinking about how you feel and how exercise will make you feel from a subjective standpoint and what motivates you. I would encourage people not to be distracted with thoughts about what other people are going to think, but to come in and just address what are their goals, how they feel and what they want to accomplish. I think that’s a challenge initially, but I think once they get that activation energy to begin the process, it’s really contagious, addictive almost, but in a positive way.”

Individuals interested in learning more about the LifeFit Center may call 562/985-2015, contact it via e-mail or visit its website.

The Diverse Issues “Top 100” is the only national analysis to use the most recent data from the U.S. Department of Education. Using these statistics, rankings were created in the total number of baccalaureate degrees awarded at every university and college in the nation by ethnicity as well as specific figures in major fields of study or disciplines.

Among individual ethnicities, CSULB ranked 11th nationally in awarding bachelor’s degrees to Hispanic students, 13th to Native Americans and 14th to Asian Americans.

By discipline, CSULB ranked No. 1 in awarding undergraduate degrees to minority students in two different major areas—English language and literature, and family and consumer sciences. Additionally, the campus ranked first in awarding English degrees to both Hispanic and Native American students and family and consumer science degrees to Hispanics.

The campus also ranked No. 1 in awarding bachelor’s degrees in recreation and leisure studies to Hispanic students and visual and performing arts degrees to Asian American students. Overall, CSULB was listed second in the nation in awarding visual and performing arts degrees to minority students.

For a complete list of CSULB’s national rankings in awarding baccalaureate degrees to minority students, visit the Diverse Issues in Higher Education “Top 100″ webpage.

–Rick Gloady

The measure identified in this project by EnerNOC included temperature sensor calibrations, damper repairs, replacement of inlet guide vanes with variable frequency drives, valve replacement, programing of chilled water valves, and economizer dampers to operate in sequence.

Energy savings were determined by comparing pre- and post-implementation project baselines, which were normalized for weather differences and then extrapolated to predict a year of energy use.

“EnerNOC went through with our facilities people there with them because a lot of times we had to operate the machinery while they did the observation,” said Wingco. “It’s just more time efficient to do it that way.

“Afterwards, they go over the findings with us and the corrections that were done,” he added. “They train us so that the building is operated with the corrections that were done and to make sure they are maintained over time. One of the deliverables of the project is a full comprehensive building manual which EnerNOC put together. So instead of having multiple locations for manuals on equipment that we have to maintain, it’s all in a single binder, accessible on the computer along with a hard copy as well.”

“Energy efficiency initiatives have clear benefits to both the environment and the bottom line, and it’s heartening to see these California schools be recognized for their standout accomplishments in retrofits and MBCx,” said Tim Healy, chairman and CEO of EnerNOC. “We’re thrilled to be working with these campuses and others across the UC and CSU systems, and we congratulate them on this award.”

Though this was more of a pilot project, according to Wingco, it was considered very successful.

“We certainly learned things from here that can help us do additional projects in other buildings in the next fiscal year,” he said. “We’ll make some adjustments to make things more efficient and maybe make it more cost effective. We may shift a lot more of the scope of work for our in-house staff to do and then work with the provider and having them focus on the heavy duty analytics in analyzing energy data, performance data and things like that.”

–Shayne Schroeder

He was an adjunct professor in the Petroleum Engineering Program at USC from 2000-09. He has been a consultant with Chevron, the Gas Company, the Petroleum Technology Transfer Council, and the West Coast Resource Center since 2010. He is also active in numerous professional organizations like the American Society for Engineering Education, the Society of Petroleum Engineers, the Los Angeles Council of Engineers and Scientists and the Orange County Engineering Council. He is the recipient of many academic and professional honors including Distinguished Engineering Educator, TRW Excellence in Teaching, SPEI Fellow, SPEI Distinguished Member, SPEI Outstanding Service, PTS Outstanding Service, and CSULB CFA Outstanding Service awards.

Thibeault’s current large oil paintings reveal an in-depth involvement with extreme color vibration and oscillation, bodily memory and experience within the landscape. She has a long-standing interest in extending the tradition of American landscape painting to abstraction. She has been included in several important survey exhibitions on the subject including “Rediscovering the Landscape of the Americas.” She studied with notable Bay Area figurative painters Elmer Bischoff and Joan Brown. She received her BFA in painting from the Rhode Island School of Design, her M.A. in painting from San Francisco State University and her MFA in Painting from UC Berkeley.

“Disasters happen all the time” Thibeault said. “There are strings of tornados and ever more intense storms. When my interest was caught first, I looked at every single disaster. But as time passed, I became more discriminating. Now I’m looking for specific imagery. The imagery of Hurricane Sandy didn’t interest me any more than any other disaster until I saw Funtown. There was a principle of attraction at work here. This image matched my work. I was already searching for an abstract image so when I saw Funtown, it fit really well.”

Thibeault sees a continuing environmental commitment to her painting. “In all the time I have painted, and this goes back to the 1970s, I have tried to portray changes in the environment,” she said. “I began by dealing with pollution and clean water, moved on to nuclear testing and now I deal with climate change. My core motivation as a painter is as an environmentalist. I feel lucky to have been so prolific during the last five months while teaching and I am looking forward to developing the next stage of this series. This was just the beginning.”

Kindergarten through middle-school children from homeless families in Long Beach had the opportunity to learn about science for two weeks during the sixth annual summer science education camp hosted by CSULB’s Science Education Department.

Called “See Us Succeed” (Science Education Experience to help Underserved Students Succeed), this year’s event took place at Long Beach’s Mary McLeod Bethune Transitional Center at the Villages at Cabrillo, a community facility serving homeless populations. After the camp, afternoon activities were offered by the Long Beach Community Action Partnership.

This year’s major funder was the Earl and Loraine Miller Foundation, which has been among the program’s past supporters, said CSULB Science Education Department Chair Laura Henriques.

The children, who are recommended for the program by Long Beach Unified School District teachers and counselors, were taught grade-appropriate science topics by teams, which were led by a credentialed science teacher and CSULB students earning science teacher credentials.

“Kids in kindergarten did ‘Science of the Human Body,’” Henriques explained. “First- and second-graders did ‘Amazing Animals’ and ‘Creepy Crawlers,’ which included studying insects and how animals move and use camouflage. The third- and fourth-graders did ‘It’s Not Magic, It’s Science,’ which has been a fun topic. There were engineering classes for the fifth- and sixth-graders, and the middle school kids did ‘Crime Scene Investigation.’”

Additionally, children received free dental screenings provided by the Smile Bright Foundation, which took part in prior camps. New partners this year were the Lion’s Club along with St. Mary Medical Center’s Low Vision Center, which provided the children with free vision screenings and eyeglasses if needed, Henriques said.

Having an all-day program is essential, according to Henriques, since homeless families must vacate shelters during the day. Taking care of the children through the camp also provided time for parents to seek employment or other social services.

In addition to this program, the CSULB Science Education Department will host its annual Young Scientists’ Camp, a paid summer science camp for any child in second through eighth grade, plus high school girls in any grade. The high school girls’ portion is partially funded by the American Physical Society in an effort to get more young women interested in studying physics or physical sciences, Henriques said. Previous high school physics coursework is not required.

Young Scientists’ Camp takes place from 8:30 a.m. to noon Mondays through Fridays from Aug. 5-16 on the CSULB campus. For more information, visit the Young Scientists’ Camp website.

–Anne Ambrose

On Thursday, Aug. 8, Sherry Bard of USC’s Shoah Foundation will demonstrate how to use the Holocaust database Eyewitness to access survivor interviews for classroom assignments. On Friday, Aug. 9, the workshop will study legal responses to the Holocaust. “We will look at the Nuremberg trials and successor trials to examine efforts to de-Nazify Germany,” he said. Gerda Seifer will address her experience as a “hidden child.”

Jewish Studies tracks its workshop success through teacher feedback.

“We ask participants during and at the conclusion of the conference for their response,” he recalled. “Teachers spoke of how helpful the course was in their instruction and how it enabled them to assist colleagues. It was very heartening to hear how well they responded.”

Blutinger feels the workshop fits into the mission of Jewish Studies at CSULB by moving the program more and more into the field of teacher preparation and education.

“This workshop works well with one of CSULB’s core missions—to prepare teachers,” he said. “There are many Jewish Studies programs in the U.S. We don’t want to duplicate what already has been done elsewhere. We don’t have the budget to match what other people are doing so we specialize in teacher training. By bringing in these teachers, what we’re really doing is fulfilling the teacher training core mission of this university,” he said. “I want Jewish Studies to cover the whole variety of students at CSULB, from undergraduates to graduates to teachers in the field.”

Blutinger hopes to expand the workshop with one-day follow-ups beginning next spring. “The plan is to bring back workshop alumni to lead sessions about how to implement this material in a classroom,” he explained.

Blutinger believes the training workshop on the Holocaust bridges town and gown.

“We want to bring information into the community through our fall lecture series but we also want to bring the community to the campus,” he explained. “The idea is to bring people to campus so they can see what happens here. I want to bring to campus events that can enrich the student experience. We’re a bridge and that always will be an important part of our function.”

–Richard Manly

Track and Field
Sessions: Every Tuesday and Thursday from 4-5 p.m. and 5-6 p.m. at the Jack Rose Track
Ages: 8 and up
CSULB’s track and field staff along with its athletes conduct clinics in all event areas for all ages and abilities. Coaching is offered in distance, throws, jumps, and sprint hurdles and relays. The goal of the camp is to provide technical skill development in the area(s) of interest to each participant.
Cost: $20 per session
For more information, contact Andy Sythe at 562/618-1020.

Volleyball (girls)
Ages: 11 and up
Skills Camp I: July 20-23
Skills Camp II: July 26-29
Setters Camp: July 23-26
Kids Camp: July 23-26
Team Camp I: July 20-23
Team Camp II: July 26-29
Sand Camp (new): July 23-26
Cost: Overnight Camp $450, Day Camp $340, Kids’ Camp $175
For more information, contact Chelsea Cabrajac at 562/985-7352.

Young Artists’ Camp (boys and girls)
Participants will be trained in art fundamentals, with experiences in drawing/painting, printmaking, sculpture and ceramics.
For more information, e-mail YoungArtistCamp@gmail.com, visit its website or call 562/985-4387.

Young Adult Art Studio
Ages 15+, grades 9-12
July 29-Aug. 16, 1-5 p.m.
Cost: $400
For more information, e-mail Carlos Silveria, visit the Young Adult Art Studio website or call 562-985-5561.

Young Scientists’ Camp (boys and girls)
Participants will spend two weeks doing exciting hands-on physical science investigations as they learn how to think like a scientist.
Grades 2-8 (in the fall)
Session: Aug. 5-16, 8:30 a.m.-noon
Cost: $300 ($25 sibling discount; $25 discount for CSULB faculty and staff)
For more information, visit the Young Scientists website or call 562/985-4801.

Academic Enrichment (boys and girls)
Basic skills and activities in math, computers, public speaking and art are taught in a relaxed and exciting learning environment.
Sessions: June 17-July 12 and July 15-Aug. 9; Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.-noon
There will be lunch supervision from noon-12:30 p.m. for those attending 49er Camp.
Cost: $490 per session
For more information, visit the Academic Enrichment website or call 562/985-2570

Young Writers’ Camp
Participants are challenged to shape their ideas and experiences into meaningful written communication.
Sessions: June 24-July 12, 8:45 a.m.-noon and July 15-Aug. 2, 9 a.m.-noon
Cost: $350 ($25 sibling discount; $25 discount for CSULB faculty and staff)
For more information, visit the Young Writers’ Camp website, call 562/985-1696 or e-mail info@youngwriterscamp.com.

Math/Algebra Clinic
Aug. 5-16, 4-5 p.m. or 5-6 p.m.
Parent Conference on Aug. 22
Cost: $150
For more information, visit the Math/Algebra Clinic website, e-mail the clinic or call 562/985-4991.

Camp Nugget
A low-cost summer day camp program for children with special needs and disabilities. The camp provides activities in physical activity, swimming, sports and games, fitness, relaxation and socialization. The program fills up quickly.
Ages: 5-12
Session: June 17-July 12, 9 a.m.-noon
For more information, visit the Camp Nugget website.
To be placed on the mailing list, go to campnugget@ymail.com and give your information (name, address and e-mail).