This spring, Active SWV expanded the Kids Run Club program with the Kids Run Club grant – an opportunity for new schools throughout West Virginia to implement the program at their school with virtual technical support from Active SWV. Six new schools and two returning school applied for the Kids Run Club grant and received funds to kickstart their spring 2021 Kids Run Club season.
And with that, Active SWV is excited to welcome six new schools to the Kids Run Club community – Anna Jarvis Elementary, Union Educational Complex, Hacker Valley School, Kenna Elementary, Richmond Elementary, and Rupert Elementary!
In addition to the six new schools, Active SWV is also excited to have Fairdale Elementary, Zela Elementary, Oak Hill Middle School, and Fayetteville pk-8 holding Kids Run Clubs this spring as well. All groups have begun their seasons, and they will all finish mid-may with a Fun Run, Kids Run Club shirts, and participation medals.
Welcome to our new Kids Run Clubs!
Active SWV was able to expand the Kids Run Club program to schools in Kanawha, Webster, Taylor, Grant, and Greenbriar counties thought offering the grant opportunity. We wanted to take a moment to introduce each school and program leader as we welcome them to the Active SWV community!
Teacher Cindy Rubenstien saw a Facebook post by Active SWV about the grant, and wanted to start a Kids Run Club as a way of helping kids get physically fit. Their club will run around a small track at the school to get their miles in.
School Councilor Abbi Kifer at Union Educational Complex knows how valuable physical activity can be from personal experience, and she wanted to be able to offer the kids a free physical activity option. The school is in a small community, and there aren’t many other options for structured activity in the community.
Principal Kennetha Parker-Howes at Hacker Valley wanted to give students an opportunity to be active for stress relief as well as physical well-being. Hacker Valley school is also in a small and rural community bordering Holly River State Park, so they will have lots of space to get outside and be active.
PE Teacher Courtney Fergason at Kenna Elementary wanted to introduce kids to an accessible activity that doesn’t involve a lot of equipment. She saw the Kids Run Club program as a great way to do just that, and has over 50 kids registered to participate this season.
Principal Jenny Harden at Rupert Elementary knew about the Kids Run Club program because her son participated in one at a different school and she saw how much he loved it. Now that she is able to do the program at Rupert, Jenny and the youth participants are excited to have a color run as their season ender Fun Run.
PE teacher Beth Sankoff and Principal Jennifer Cochran at Richmond Elementary saw the grant opportunity and wanted to be able to offer the Kids Run Club program since there are no other sports offered through the school. They purchased pedometers for the kids with the Kids Run Club grant money so the club can keep track of their mileage this season.
Looking Ahead
This coming fall, Active SWV plans to offer another round of Kids Run Club mini grants to new schools as well as schools that have had the program before. We are excited to continue providing opportunities for youth in West Virginia to be active!
For more information on the Kids Run Club program, please visit our website.
To keep up to date on youth activity offerings from Active SWV and more, join our Active SWV Kids Facebook group and Active SWV Bulletin Board group.
