Little Falls, NY — With spring break underway and unpredictable April weather keeping many families indoors, Kelly Daukontas and her team at Live Well Fitness in Little Falls stepped up to offer local children a fun, active alternative.
Daukontas, owner of Live Well Fitness Health & Wellness Center (which operates locations in Little Falls at 299 Loomis Street and nearby in the Dolgeville/St Johnsville area), launched a series of free youth fitness and health activities this week as part of Live Well Connected, Inc’s new Healthy Futures 2026 initiative.
“So this week, we’re running part of our program called Healthy Futures 2026, which we started at the beginning of the year,” Daukontas said. “We were funded by two local nonprofits. One is a trust, actually — it’s the Samuel Dale Trust Grant — and the other one is the Community Foundation. So we collectively received close to $25,000 in grant funds back in December.”
The goal of the grant-funded program is straightforward: provide free fitness and health opportunities for kids throughout 2026, filling a noticeable gap in local offerings.
“There’s a lot of kids that don’t go away on vacation, that are here,” she explained. “Plus, with the weather being kind of crummy, it’s a nice thing to keep kids active and involved in activities. Plus, I haven’t seen anything being offered for kids in the area. So this is just a good way to keep kids in the gym, keep them active.”
Live Well Fitness has built a reputation in the Herkimer County area for community-minded programming. Daukontas started the business in 2019 from her garage in the St. Johnsville/Dolgeville area, then expanded into a dedicated facility and later opened the Little Falls location. The gym offers group fitness classes, personal training, and a welcoming environment for all ages and levels.
This week’s spring break activities are just the beginning. Daukontas outlined an ambitious lineup of upcoming free or low-cost programs for youth later in 2026, including:
- A mini wrestling camp this summer
- An obstacle course program
- A hands-on nutrition class focused on cooking
- Outdoor activities, including a local hike in partnership with a tour guide (possibly tied to the Salisbury Park program)
- Additional offerings such as Zumbini and other engaging fitness experiences
“And we’ll be running more programming throughout the year,” she added. “We have a ton of things… there’s a ton of different things that we’re doing for the rest of the year.”
The Healthy Futures 2026 effort reflects Daukontas’s long-standing commitment to youth wellness in the region. Past community events at Live Well Fitness have included back-to-school initiatives, support for kids in sports, and efforts to make fitness accessible regardless of family circumstances.
Parents interested in learning more about current or upcoming youth programs at Live Well Fitness can contact the gym directly at (315) 717-5637 or visit the Little Falls location at 299 Loomis Street.
More details about memberships and classes are also available at live-well-fitness.com.
The initiative has already drawn positive attention locally, with community members noting the value of keeping kids moving and engaged during school breaks and throughout the year.
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