FREE Healthy Kids Challenge workshop in Lawrence Sept. 22

Library workers across the state will have an opportunity to participate in the Healthy Kids Challenge, a day of training to support library programs targeting preschool to third graders and their families. The workshop provides fun, interactive activities centered on reading, healthy eating and physical activity. You can pick from a host of ideas that will work best for your library and your community.

This free workshop, funded by a grant from the United Methodist Ministry Health Fund, will be held in different locations across the state. It’s an ideal lead-up to the Sixth Annual Kansas Reads to Preschoolers Week, Nov. 14-20, 2010, which will focus on food and nutrition. Up, Down and Around by Katherine Ayres is this year’s selection. Libraries across the state will plan special displays of food and nutrition-related books, schedule activities, organize pre-school story hours and invite participation by various food and nutrition professionals.

Healthy Kids Challenge (HKC) is a Kansas-based nonprofit organization helping kids eat better and exercise more. Toolkits, resources and training from HKC will show how to effectively integrate these healthy practices with children’s library programs and make it simple to extend Kansas Reads to Preschoolers’ healthy eating and activity messages throughout the year.

Your workshop presenter is Vickie L. James, a Registered and Licensed Dietitian, and the Director of Healthy Kids Challenge. Vickie is an American Dietetic Association National Award Recipient for Excellence in Community Dietetics, and a dynamic and creative speaker. She makes learning about nutrition and physical activity fun.

This is a great opportunity for part-time staff and volunteers who work with children to get some valuable training. For more program information contact Mickey Coalwell, Library Development Consultant, e-mail mcoalwell@nekls.org. For registration contact Teri Nelson at 785-838-4090, or email tnelson@nekls.org

There is no cost for this workshop, but please register by phone, e-mail, or on the NEKLS web site.