BattleFrog LLC, the obstacle course race company founded by former Navy SEALs and known for its world-class OCR events, has announced that it has appointed Shawn Ramirez as the organization’s new national youth program director.
Ramirez, an expert in developing youth fitness programs, was recognized recently as the “Fittest on Earth” in the Masters Men 40-44 age division of an international CrossFit competition.
According to BattleFrog, Ramirez, who most recently served as a wellness and fitness coordinator for the Miami-Dade County Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces Department, will use the knowledge he has gained during his 25 years in the fitness and wellness industry to develop BattleFrog-themed, OCR exercise programs geared towards young people. The programs will be designed to appeal to children in grades K-12 and will incorporate the BattleFrog ideals of making fitness a positive and personally fulfilling experience.
“BattleFrog was created as a tribute to our nation’s military and to help people learn about the work Navy SEALs do,” said Don Mann, BattleFrog CEO and retired U.S. Navy SEAL member of Team Six. “People of all ages enjoy our events but some of the ones who have enjoyed them the most are the young children. They have found them to be both exciting and memorable. Children experience a tremendous sense of accomplishment when they complete a BattleFrog race.
“BattleFrog has brought Shawn Ramirez aboard because of his work with youth programs and his understanding of the importance of creating physical fitness programs designed specifically for young people,” Mann continued. “We hope by bringing our programs directly to children and their parents we can encourage more young people to become physically fit. We hope to make it possible for them all to learn how to incorporate exercise into their daily lives, enjoy events like BattleFrog and live a healthy and productive life.”
The public will be able to meet Ramirez at an open house on Friday, Oct. 16, and Saturday, Oct. 17, at Lummus Park near the Art Deco Welcome Center on Ocean Drive. The next BattleFrog obstacle course race event will be on Saturday, Nov. 15, at Historic Virginia Key Beach Park, 4020 Virginia Beach Dr.
“In the past four decades, childhood obesity rates in the United States have soared and experts consider the rise in these rates to be an epidemic,” Ramirez said. “Funding for physical education programs in our schools has been cut dramatically and my career has taught me that it is up to all of us to shape the future of fitness and the health of our nation’s young people.
“I am excited about the opportunity to bring my knowledge to and share my career insights with the BattleFrog team,” Ramirez continued. “Right now there is a gap in the OCR industry for programs geared towards younger people. BattleFrog’s goal to develop programs that challenge young people, help them increase their functional fitness capacity but are fun and inspiring is exactly what is needed by young people today.”
In his role as national youth program director, Ramirez will be responsible for bringing the BattleFrog message to the nation’s schools and K-12 programs. He will work to ensure that BattleFrog becomes firstin- mind and the largest youth OCR event organizer in the nation with programs that support the health of the whole family.
Currently ranked No. 1 in the world (Masters 40 +), Ramirez earned the title “Fittest on Earth” in the Masters Men 40-44 age division at the 2014 Reebok CrossFit Games in Carson, CA. While with the Miami-Dade County Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces Department, he played a lead role in the nationally recognized Fit2Play program that provided children with access to fun, fully supervised and programmed afterschool activities focused on fitness, nutrition and wellness, that developed their appreciation of nature, science and the cultural arts.
Ramirez, his wife and their three sons are residents of Miami.
Founded and designed by Navy SEALs, BattleFrog presents world-class obstacle course racing events at which participants can choose between BattleFrog 15K, 5K, BullFrog Mile and TadPole Dash courses, each of which is inspired by BUD/S (Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL) Training, the six-month long qualification course that all SEALs must undergo.
BattleFrog founders have announced that eight percent of the profits generated from the series will be shared evenly with the Navy SEAL Foundation and the Navy SEAL Museum & Memorial. This direct support honors the fallen, promotes the SEAL legacy and supports the families of those who served.
For more information visit www.BattleFrogSeries.com.
