At the end of 2014, the Let’s Go! Waldo 5-2-1-0 program had $4,000 in mini-grants available to fund projects that would meet the 5-2-1-0 goals (5 servings of fruits and vegetables a day; a maximum of 2 hours of recreational screen time; at least 1 hour of physical exercise; and 0 sugary drinks) put in place to fight childhood obesity.
The students at Monroe Elementary School are thrilled with their new greenhouse.
With the help of a $750 grant, the Monroe Elementary School added a permanent greenhouse, donated by Iris and Dennis Hooper and constructed by Ken Ryder and four new raised beds. The raised beds were built last spring just in time for the children to plant garlic and carrots.
School Principal Matthew Houghton says the new greenhouse will also be used as an outdoor classroom for nutrition education and will provide fresh vegetables for the school. Any excess food will be donated to the “Food for All,” food pantry.
Linda Hartkopt, Let’s Go! Waldo 5-2-1-0 coordinator, points out the new water bottle filling station at Searsport Middle/High School.
Another $250 grant went to Searsport Middle/High School. They used the grant to upgrade their drinking fountains to include water bottle filling stations. This change encourages students to drink more water; allows students and faculty to save money and the environment by eliminating the need to purchase disposable plastic water bottles.
• $250 to the Cornerspring Montessori School in Belfast to help their children get various forms of exercise every day. Their project was to offer yoga, Tae Kwon Do and swimming lessons taught by a certified instructor at the Waldo County YMCA.
• $250 to the Islesboro Central School to sustain the outdoor classroom project. The outdoor classroom has a large garden area, a natural obstacle course and a nature trail.
There are also two awards to out-of-school programs:
• $1,000 to the five 21st Century afterschool sites in Searsport,
Belfast, East Belfast, Searsmont and Morrill. Their project was to highlight the message of 5-2-1-0 and to create an active learning environment for children and
through “Family Fitness Night.” They also used the funds to purchase equipment for exercise stations.
• $250 went to The Game Loft in Belfast to help create “The Hobbit Live Action Adventure.” The goals of the Hobbit adventure were to help young people master healthy outdoor cooking and role playing skills while learning the value of physical activity and of inter-generational educational fantasy role playing.
The last two grants went to early childhood programs:
This bike taxi allows older children at the First Steps Daycare in Belfast to peddle around the younger children.
• $1,000 to First Steps Daycare in Belfast to implement “Active Play Outdoors.” The money was used to purchase quality tricycles, bike helmets and a “construction taxi” that allows older children to peddle around the younger children. There is also a bike and helmet lending program to expand access fun outdoor activities.
• $250 to the Belfast Area Children’s Center in Waldo and the Starrett Children’s Center in Belfast. They used the money to purchase outdoor winter equipment.