SHIP Helps Area Schools Find Their "SPARK"

Fairmont Area Schools hosted the SPARK Middle School and High School Trainings on June 6^th and 7^th 2012. Dr. Kristy Hilton lead both fun and active filled training days! Schools that participated in the trainings included, Fairmont Area Schools, Blue Earth Area, Martin County West, Jackson County Central, St. James, St. Paul Lutheran, Windom Area Schools, Southwest Star Concept and St. Casimirs. The training provided the schools with activities and assessments to make their physical education classes a more active and fun environment. These schools were provided with a Middle School workshop and a High School workshop. Each day consisted of new and exciting activities that were specific to each age group. During the trainings the schools were able to come together and discuss how they were currently running their programs and how SPARK will fit into their own programs. SPARK’s mission is to improve the health of children and adolescents by disseminating evidence-based physical activity and nutrition programs that provide curriculum, staff development, follow-up support, and equipment to teachers of Pre-K through 12th grade students. SPARK also focuses on making activities fun so they don’t give off a competitive feel. This helps students all join in on the activities and not feel excluded if they are not the best athlete in the class. SHIP believes SPARK will be a great asset to our grantees and looks forward to seeing how each school will implement SPARK into their curriculums for the 2012-2013 school year.

Wellspring Faith in Action Senior Health Clinic

We are working with Wellspring Faith in Action in Watonwan County to screen, counsel and refer Senior Citizens to resources available to be physically active, eat nutritious foods and quit tobacco. Their first screening clinic included a free health risk assessment, nail care treatments, blood pressure & glucose readings, along with information on physical therapy and massage treatments.  This event also provided the community with information on how to receive other types of screenings at reduced costs such and mammogram screening and diabetes treatments.


For some low-income seniors, this is their only opportunity to seek these services. Wellspring will continue to work with seniors by offering more Senior Health Clinics and helping to refer and follow-up with seniors in need of additional resources. 


Here are a few photos of the Health Screening Clinic: 

Blue Earth Area Active Living Coalition/City of Blue Earth Receive Envision MN Technical Assistance Grant!

Congrats to Blue Earth Area Active Living Coalition for being one of six communities who received a technical assistance grant from Envision Minnesota!!


Envision Minnesota and the Building Sustainable Communities Consortium are pleased to announce that Blue Earth, MN is among six Minnesota communities that have been selected to receive free technical assistance this year, thanks to a grant to Forterra from the US EPA Office of Sustainable Communities under their Building Blocks for Sustainable Communities Program. These jurisdictions represent a diverse group of communities from across Minnesota, from metropolitan areas to rural small towns. All have a strong commitment to sustainability and sensible land use and are poised to implement positive change by making use of the assistance we are offering.

The city of Blue Earth will use Technical Assistance from Envision Minnesota to leverage a Statewide Health Improvement Program (SHIP) grant to work on community walkability principles. The goal of the Technical Assistance is to identify opportunities to increase the walkability of the community through Complete Streets and downtown revitalization projects.

To view the full press release- click here!

Childcare Providers Moving and Grooving their Kids to Better Health!

Over 50 childcare providers and center staff attended  day long training to learn how to incorporate more meaningful physical activity and nutritious foods into their childcare setting. Providers were trained in two evidence-based programs - I am Moving, I am Learning (IMIL) and Learning About Nutrition Through Activities (LANA). Participants of the training received curriculum and music for IMIL, a tote full of homemade play materials to use with children and information on how to access the LANA curriculum at their local library. 

SHIP Supervisor Chera Sevcik and staff Lia Lambert and Sandy Lorenz led the training which overviewed  concepts such as Moving with the Brain in Mind—utilizing movement to spark brain development and Child Assessment—identifying child maturation and development with movement. Childcare providers were up and moving as they learned how to incorporate fun music into their setting that helps children utilize brain development and meaningful movements—all the while, being physically active!

The IMIL Kit- which included soft balls for use indoors or out, netting, napkins and mechanics rags, Lummi Sticks, LANA recipe book, Yarn, Streamers and a jump drive of training materials and music. 

 Several of the songs included sign language :)

Lia and Chera demonstrate the "Build a Bridge" Song 

Nutrition was also overviewed as Lana the Iguana was featured as a way to engage children in eating eight fruits or vegetables featured in the program. LANA overviewed items such as how to encourage children to explore fruits and veggies using taste testing, cooking activities, menu changes and family engagement. Providers also learned about the importance of policy when looking at their practices for food and physical activity.

 LANA and her veggie pals on display at the training. These materials are available for check-out at libraries within the five counties. 

 Guests helped themselves to "traffic light" snacks, one of the many recipes found in the LANA cookbook!

Several providers commented on the impact the training provided for them. Valerie Zigich, a licensed home daycare provider, stated “This training is the best I've been to yet, and I’ve been doing daycare of 6 years! I am going to get cd’s for all of my daycare parents so they can move at home too!”

Carol Goeden, a long-time licensed home daycare providers in Wells, MN also commented on the value of the training stating, “This training was just awesome. In 36 years of child care this was the best training I've attended.  The presenters knew their material and were enthusiastic and the day was well worth attending, even on a Saturday at the end of a full week.  It's hard to find the right music and figure out movements and we left that day with a flash drive ready to use.  We were able to start using IMIL right away and the kids love it.  The nutrition information was also very valuable and the kids loved making and eating the Stoplight snack.   I plan to check out the LANA curriculum at the library and get more ideas for making nutritious snacks with the kids."   

SHIP Staff are looking at providing more training's in the Fall to catch those who were unable to attend the June 9 or June 23 training's. Staff are also available  to assist any provider, center or school-based center with  implementing the program, or with developing a policy for implementing healthy nutrition and physical activity practices into their setting. For more information, please contact Chera Sevcik at chera.sevcik@fmchs.com or by phone at 507-236-5376