School-age children had an opportunity this week at Working on Wellness (W.O.W.) Coalition’s “Longest Day of Play” to enjoy some of summer’s favorite outdoor activities.
The Working on Wellness (W.O.W.) Coalition encourages children to become more physically active, and school-age children got to do just that this week at a free community event to promote physical activity.
Approximately 430 children and adults spent time playing games and enjoying outdoor activities on Tuesday— the first day of summer—at the “Longest Day of Play,” held on the grounds surrounding SomerSplash Water Park in Somerset.
“It was very rewarding to see families participating together in physical activities and spending quality time with their children,” Dianna Winstead, coordinator of the W.O.W. initiative for The Center for Rural Development, said. “We wanted to get the children outdoors having fun and participating in physical activities that they can also do in their own back yards.”
The event was presented by the W.O.W Coalition, The Center, and more than 20 local community partners. W.O.W, funded by a grant from The Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky and administrated by The Center, strives to develop, foster, and maintain a community of health and wellness activists in the counties of Pulaski, Russell and Wayne.
Coalition members work with communities in the Lake Cumberland area to promote increased physical activity and improved nutrition for children, and opportunities for families to live healthier lifestyles.
The “Longest Day of Play” kicked off the first official day of the summer season, beginning the summer solstice, in what is considered the longest day of the year.
Around 40-50 people got their day off to an early start arriving at the event site around 8 a.m.— two hours before the scheduled start of the event —hoping to be among the participants to receive a free complimentary pass to Somerset’s water park, SomerSplash, at the conclusion of the program.
At Working on Wellness (W.O.W.) Coalition’s “Longest Day of Play,” children learned about nutrition and healthy eating habits.
Children also received free healthy lunches courtesy of the Pulaski County and Somerset Family Resource and Youth Service Centers. Along with the free lunch, each child also received a free book.
“Everyone who participated in the ‘Longest Day of Play’ received a free pass to the water park to continue their day of family fun and physical activity,” Winstead said, “and the free healthy lunches also aligned with our mission to promote improved nutrition along with that activity.
“We hope to make this an annual event and make more people aware of the opportunities W.O.W. provides to families and communities within our service area,” Winstead said.
For more information on the W.O.W. initiative, contact Dianna Winstead at 606-677-6000 or via email.
