Spotlight On: Town of Leesburg
Located on the western edge of the Washington, D.C. area, the Town of Leesburg, Virginia is a picturesque community of just under 40,000 people. The Town of Leesburg Parks and Recreation Department has been a partner of the Säjai® Foundation since 2007. During the summers of 2008 and 2009 it successfully implemented two different Wise Kids programs within R.O.C.K. (Recreation Outreach to Community Kids), its mobile, go-where-the-kids-are community outreach program in lower economic areas. Among many unique elements, t he R.O.C.K. program focuses on engaging kids, many of which come from immigrant families, near their homes.
In 2008, the Town of Leesburg Parks and Recreation served as a beta site for the Wise Kids® Outdoors program. During 2009, they were able to offer the Wise Kids program to area children as result of receiving a NRPA Youth Wellness Program Resource Grant.
Wise Kids program kits are delivered as turnkey resources, yet are easily customized to meet local needs. Program leaders are encouraged to personalize the Wise Kids programs so that children learn about local opportunities or ideas for foods, physical activity, or nature exploration. This may mean supplementing the lessons/missions with field trips to local nature areas with Wise Kids Outdoors or just adding new ideas into the lessons. Leesburg stepped up to the plate and did just that with both of the Wise Kids programs. Tony Conway, Recreation Program Supervisor in Leesburg, explained how they brought in local chefs during the Wise Kids program. “The chefs taught the participants how to make smoothies, something that is healthy to eat and that can be made with minimal ingredients. In the process, the kids also learned a valuable lesson. You don’t necessarily need to spend a lot of money to eat healthy.”
With the help of the Wise Kids programs, the leaders in Leesburg were able to help the children in their program learn about and appreciate nature as well as form healthy nutrition and activity habits that will last far beyond the programs’ durations. They truly are taking active steps to create Healthier Kids, Healthier Communities and a Healthier World!
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