Applications are now being accepted for 2017-2018 AmeriCorps members serving with the Luther College Center for Sustainable Communities and the Northeast Iowa Food and Fitness Initiative. Join a team of passionate folks serving area schools in order to integrate healthy living into school culture through modeling and education. They are seeking a position to serve the New Hampton Community School District. Continue reading
This year, I took on the challenge of starting a 4th grade cooking club at New Hampton Elementary. I thought I might be a little crazy allowing 9-10 year olds use very sharp knives, but I am proud to say after 7 successful cooking clubs, not one kid cut themselves using a knife!! Continue reading
Spring has always been one of my favorite seasons. Everything smells fresh and new and it is finally warm enough to get outside for some nice, long walks. I do cooking clubs once a month, but I was itching to do something to get the kids outside and moving. At New Hampton Middle School, I started a walking club for 6th grade students, and at St. Joe’s for 3rd-4th graders. Each club will go for six weeks, meeting once a week. I will be keeping track of how many miles we walk as a club, and at the end of six weeks, we will have a party to celebrate our success! Continue reading
With the nice weather and school coming to an end in May, kids have definitely started to get spring fever. Many teachers are noticing their students are having trouble focusing during the day. This month, I wanted to do an activity with the kids that would help them re-focus their thoughts. I found a story online that incorporated Star Wars and Yoga. As a fan of the movies, I was excited to try this with the kids. Continue reading
This month in cooking club, we focused on making healthy snacks. Previously, I had asked the kids what they wanted to make at the next cooking club. I presented them with a few options, one of my favorites being kale chips. To my surprise, a majority of the kids wanted to make kale chips. Some of the 4th graders at New Hampton remembered when I did a taste test in the beginning of the school and remembered enjoying them. Continue reading
For the month of January and February, students from New Hampton and St. Joe’s have been learning out the parts of plants and how they can eat all the parts of a plant by eating a variety of vegetables. Continue reading
This month, the New Hampton Elementary and St.Joe’s cooking clubs both had the opportunity to try a trendy new food: smoothie bowls! Continue reading
…They might say, “I don’t like it” or “ew.”
They might make a face or scrunch up their nose
They may refuse to even try a small bite Continue reading
This month opened up new and exciting opportunities to 4th graders at New Hampton Elementary. Once a month, we will get together to cook and share in our creations. For our first club, I decided on making something I knew all the kids would like: pizza! Continue reading
The Wellmark Foundation awarded 30 Community Kickstarter grants totaling $277,654 for initiatives intended to make Iowa communities more active or improve access to healthy foods. Continue reading
