Families and fun converge

The Otay Ranch Town Center was green and clean Saturday as part of the fourth annual Go Green and Clean Family Day. Thousands of people showed up to the event to explore how they can live an environmentally clean lifestyle.

Kicking off the event was the South Bay YMCA Family Boot Camp where families competed against each other by putting their agility, balance and endurance to the test.

Parents and  children jumped, squatted and spun their way through a series of obstacles designed to encourage living an active life.

“It’s just about getting out there and moving and trying to stay healthy,” South Bay YMCA’S Program Director Wendi Messina said about the boot camp. “It’s something fun for family and parents to do together.”

Fred Salvador participated in the obstacles with his wife and three children. He said the activities were much harder than what they had looked.

“From the beginning the obstacles got harder and harder,” he said with sweat dripping down his face while trying to catch his breath.

Among other activities that were at the event were the Eastlake Educational Foundation’s Cycle Eastlake and half marathon, a city of Chula Vista composting display, and musical performances by Chula Vista elementary and middle schools.

More than 30 environmentally friendly booths were on hand promoting their company’s green products and services.

Rachel Wells of Eastlake brought her daughter to the event, so that her daughter could learn the benefits of living a green and clean lifestyle.

“I am all about living a healthy lifestyle,” Wells said.  “Today I am trying to show my daughter how she can incorporate that lifestyle.”

City of Chula Vista employees conducted a data gathering survey to see if residents would like the city to adopt an ordinance that would promote the use of reusable grocery bags.

David DiDonato, a city of Chula Vista environmental services recycling specialist and a about 20 volunteers showed spectators how to properly compost food scraps into soil to grow healthy plants.

“We want to reduce the amount of material that is going to the landfill,” DiDonato said.

Those in attendance were able to donate used computers to the Computers 2 SD Kids organization, which helps provide computers to low-income families.