Media Contact:
Melissa Thrasher, communications director (248) 963-5825 or melissa.thrasher@heart.org
Amy Hobley, (734) 812-4442 or amy.hobley@heart.org (on-site)
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Carpenter Elementary Students Cultivate Healthy Habits through the launch of an American Heart Association Teaching Garden—May 9
WHO: The students, staff and parents of Carpenter Elementary, American Heart Association staff and Saint Joseph Mercy Health System representatives
WHAT: The launch of an American Heart Association Teaching Garden at Carpenter Elementary.
WHY: To introduce healthy lifestyle habits through lessons that incorporate school subjects like science and nutrition. Research has indicated that children who participate in school gardening programs have a greater chance of trying fruits and vegetables.
WHEN: Thursday, May 9, 2013 from 6 p.m. - 8 p.m.
WHERE: Carpenter Elementary, located at 4250 Central Blvd., Ann Arbor, MI 48108
Background: Students at Carpenter Elementary will have the opportunity to build healthier minds and bodies as they participate in the launch of an American Heart Association Teaching Garden on May 9 from 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. Students will learn healthy eating habits through crafts and hands-on experiences. A brief ceremony will kick-off this celebratory event followed by a host of gardening activities.
According to the Association, American eating habits are leading to modern day “malnutrition” with diets full of foods. French fries are the most common source of vegetables consumed by children and they make up one-fourth of their vegetable intake. Today, one third of American children are overweight or obese placing them at high risk for heart disease and stroke.
During this educational day, the students will engage in fun, hands-on investigations of nutritious fruits and vegetables in and out of the garden. In this real-life laboratory, students will learn how to plant seeds, nurture growing plants, harvest produce and understand the value of developing healthy eating habits.
Carpenter Elementary Teaching Garden is locally sponsored by Saint Joseph Mercy Health System. For more information about the Teaching Gardens visit www.heart.org/TeachingGardens. Check out the school’s gardening blog at www.carpentersteachinggarden.blogspot.com.
About the AHA Teaching Garden Program
With childhood obesity rates threatening the future of millions of children, Teaching Garden co-founder Kelly Chapman Meyer and the American Heart Association have teamed up to launch an innovative national, school-based program to help kids become healthy. Aimed at elementary school students, the Association’s Teaching Gardens provide hands-on learning experiences. The gardens are just one of several strategies the Association is employing to reach its aggressive Health Impact Goal: to improve the cardiovascular health of all American by at least 20 percent while reducing deaths from cardiovascular diseases and stroke by 20 percent by the year 2020.
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