the gift of growing up active

owner and Ceo of Hampshire Hills Athletic Club

Judy Shenk grew up in a small town in Pennsylvania dutch Country. For Judy, while growing up back in the ’40s and ’50s, playgrounds were any outdoor space outside her front door. organized play consisted of Mom opening the front door and saying, “oK, time to go outside.”

From that time on (until mealtime), it was up to the imagination of Judy and her friends to come up with fun things to do. But play was instinctive, and neighborhoods and roadsides were far safer way back then.

As Judy grew up, most exercise in addition to yard play came from taking hikes with mom and dad, riding her bike, helping with the garden and later on learning to play tennis. Back then in Judy’s town there were organized school sports for boys’ teams to play against teams from other towns — but not for girls. It would be well into 1972 before Title IX would help diminish that inequity. Still, Judy recalls her childhood as being physically active due to her parents’ guidance.

After graduating from high school Judy went off to Boston university to specialize in physical education. It was there where Judy fell in love with sports like lacrosse and field hockey. In the summers she would travel to Boston university’s Sargent Camp in Hancock to study and participate in very high-level play of those sports specifically.

After graduating from college, Judy married Chris Shenk, her college sweetheart, and work took them to Columbia, Maryland. There in Columbia they found a city full of public sports activities, hiking and biking trails and athletic opportunities just perfect for raising their children. Later on Judy moved to Amherst, New Hampshire, and continued her love of outdoor recreation. Yet with her children’s need to pursue gymnastics Judy decided to open a Gymnastics Academy and it (Gymnastics village) became so successful she had to give up her tennis time to run the business. Now grown, Judy’s children are running the business and Judy is back to the activities she loves including hiking, biking and tennis.

Still very physically active in her late 70s, Judy is forever grateful for her parents’ dedication to garden-to-table nutrition and to their mentoring the pur-

Judy Shenk. Courtsey photo.

suit of a physically active lifestyle as a marvelous way to live.

Have questions, comments, or want more information? Please email McKinley Shordone at mcurro@hampshirehills.com or call 603-673-7123.