They’ll keep moving for another year in McDowell County as McDowell CHOICES, an initiative of the West Virginia University College of Physical Activity and Sports Sciences, has received a one-year continuation grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

McDowell CHOICES – coordinated health opportunities involving communities, environments and schools – was created with a $204,000 grant from the Highmark Foundation to establish a comprehensive plan to increase physical activity in each of the 11 schools in the area.

The USDA continuation grant will allow McDowell CHOICES to continue offering expanded access to physical activity to McDowell County students and their families, primarily by offering more after school physical activity programs.

“We’ve observed a number of exciting modifications to the school environment that have increased student and family access to quality physical activity opportunities before, during and after school,” said CPASS Associate Professor Sean Bulger. “Our overarching goal is to facilitate the accumulation of at least 60 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity in and around the regular school day.”

In its first grant cycle, McDowell CHOICES’ key successes include establishing a network of local physical activity instructors and investing in educators to receive physical activity certifications, providing significant physical activity equipment enhancements at all McDowell County schools, and assisting schools in developing comprehensive school physical activity plans.

The community celebrated these successes at Let’s Move McDowell, an Oct. 23 event at the Welch National Guard Armory, at which more than 500 students from all McDowell County Schools demonstrated physical activities. The event was live-streamed and accessed by more than 300 devices. It can still be viewed at McDowell CHOICES YouTube Channel.

“Decisions on equipment enhancements were made as much as possible at the individual school level,” said Eloise Elliott, WVU Ware Distinguished Professor. “The archery programs at four McDowell County schools are a great example of how McDowell CHOICES has responded to the demand for archery skills in an area that is populated with bow hunters.

“We’ve also introduced totally new and fun physical activities, such as tchoukball, a sport from Sweden. Many schools are using active gaming systems. This winter we are enhancing McDowell schools with new FitnessGram software, which enables schools, students and parents to track fitness levels over time,” Elliott added.

Elliott will join other national leaders in the field to speak at the National Physical Activity Plan Congress in Washington D.C. this month.

McDowell County schools are also becoming a leader in the state for physical activity promotion by having full participation in Let’s Move! Active Schools, a national initiative and part of First Lady Michelle Obama’s “Let’s Move” initiative. West Virginia is the first state in the nation to have at least one school in every school district participating in Let’s Move! Active Schools.

The organization hopes to keep the momentum moving forward. McDowell CHOICES continues through September 2015, and will focus on positive outcomes related to healthy lifestyles through improved physical activity opportunities for McDowell County youth.

For more information about the program visit http://mcdowellchoices.org or contact Elliott, eloise.elliott@mail.wvu.edu or 304-293-0869.

-WVU-

kc/02/18/15

CONTACT: Kimberly Cameon, College of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences
304.293.0827, Kimberly.Cameon@mail.wvu.edu

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