Past Projects:

Active Communities:

Mileage Marker Signs Healthy Roots provided signs to seven local communities, marking the mileage of a safe walking route within their borders. This is a way to encourage people to be active while utilizing assets their community already has.

Run Like a Girl Healthy Roots member Angie Kramer organized this running club at a local school for girls in grades 3-5.  In 2017, the program expanded to include two elementary schools with 30 girls participating. The girls meet weekly for self-esteem building lessons, a healthy snack and a group run.  If you are interested in leading a Run Like a Girl program, contact Healthy Roots.

Wellness Training was offered as an in-service topic to help school staff commit to small changes that will have a big impact on student health. Three wellness goals were highlighted in this poster strategically placed throughout the school building.  On-going communication with schools helps strengthen these efforts.

• Recess Before Lunch.  Studies and pilot programs have shown that recess before lunch can have impressive benefits, such as less plate waste, better lunchroom behavior, fewer classroom discipline problems and higher consumption of fruits and vegetables.  Check out this website for supporting research and “How-To Guides” for schools. http://www.peacefulplaygrounds.com/recess-before-lunch/
• Summer Family Fun Challenge.  This challenge encouraged families and individuals to explore the parks and playgrounds in Crawford County.  We have many parks and playgrounds and are encouraging all residents to be physically active at these wonderful places located throughout the county. In 2016, family events were held at 5 parks  throughout the county. These events had fun active games for families to do together at the park.

• Crawford County Farm to School introduces students to local foods and producers and expands the use of school gardens.
• Healthy Lunchrooms   Healthy Roots offered schools an opportunity to participate in a mini-grant focused on creating a cafeteria that encourages students to select healthy menu options by changing the lunchroom environment.  Schools used Smarter Lunchroom tools, developed by WI Department of Public Instruction, to identify areas of their lunchroom they could change to create an environment to nudge students to make healthy choices.  Healthy Roots worked with food service directors and purchased supplies and/or equipment that helped them accomplish this goal.

• Healthy Concession Stands.  In our conversations with parents, we know that often busy schedules lead to family meals eaten at sporting event concession stands.  We are encouraging local concession stands to include healthy options in their stands and offering resources like this Healthy Concession Stand Model.

• Healthy Kids Menu’s.  This is a developing project for Healthy Roots.  We will be encouraging local restaurants to offer healthy kids meals, that may include smaller portions, fruits, vegetables, and milk.

• Ready Set Grow!  This 2015 project focused on making gardening with children happen at day care centers around the county as part of its on-going efforts to encourage children and their families to eat nutritiously.  Child care providers were invited to a workshop which not only showed easy ways to garden with kids, but also explored how gardening can be incorporated into a variety of learning activities.  Healthy Roots provided free bucket gardens and raised bed garden boxes.