Media Contact: Megan Penny
603-356-5461 ext. 2264
megan.lieberman@mainehealth.org
NORTH CONWAY, NH – February was a flurry of outdoor activity for our local schools who participated in the WinterGames sponsored by the Memorial Hospital Let’s Go! program. A partnership with WinterKids, based in Maine, the goal was to provide local schools with activities and challenges promoting outdoor physical activity, nutrition, and family engagement, aligning with the themes of resilience, inclusion, community, and service. Students and teachers were eligible to win prizes based on their participation.
“We know that many teachers dip into their own pockets for snacks and supplies to further enrich their classroom environments, because they love what they do,” explained Memorial Hospital Community Health Program Manager, Heather Phillips. “Let’s Go! is about promoting the overall wellness of the students. We were happy to bring a fun and engaging challenge to students and teachers that helped to offset their costs, but also promote healthy habits in classrooms.”
Students from SAU9 and SAU13 engaged in weekly challenges in and out of school, integrating science, art, math and nutrition into outdoor activities. Participants won a variety of prizes such as snow tubes, sleds, snow sculpting kits and Walmart gift cards. Prizes for teachers included LL Bean snowshoes and gift cards to Walmart, Hannaford and Oriental Trading. Each week, one student and one teacher from each grade category K-2, 3-5 and 6-8 won a prize.
This was the first year that Let’s Go offered the WinterGames challenges to the community. The response from both school staff and students was overwhelmingly positive across the system.
“We were impressed with the variety of weekly activities available for our students. The Winter Kids Guide to Outdoor Active Learning, provided as part of the program, is a resource our teachers can use year after year,” said Janine McLauchlan, Robert Frost Head of School. “Our students and teachers were blown away by the great prizes they won just for having fun and staying active.”
“The students had a great time participating in activities that they normally wouldn't at school.” said Heidi Belle Isle, teacher at Pine Tree Elementary School. “Instead of telling them they couldn't throw snowballs, they were encouraged to throw snowballs at a target. During COVID, it was great to see kids being kids and having good old fashioned fun.”
For more information, visit the 5210 Let’s Go! MWV Facebook page for details and to view some of the photos of participants.
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About Memorial Hospital
Memorial Hospital is a not-for-profit 25-bed Critical Access Hospital located in North Conway, NH, and is a member of the MaineHealth family. Its hospital services include a 24-hour emergency department, surgery center, clinical laboratory, heart health & wellness programs, imaging services, cardiopulmonary care, family birthing center, oncology, chemotherapy and infusion services. Practices include primary care and family medicine, diabetes care, behavioral health, women's health, podiatry, orthopedics and physical therapy. Memorial Hospital is also home to The Merriman House nursing home, which provides senior care services in a comfortable, home-like setting. For more information, www.memorialhospitalnh.org or call 603-356-5461.