Childhood Obesity Prevention
Waterloo was awarded $100,000 to support childhood obesity prevention programs from the United States Conference of Mayors (USCM) during the organization’s 85th Winter Meeting in Washington, DC in January of 2017. The awards went to cities with outstanding programs that encourage healthy weight through balanced diet choices and regular physical activity.
Here are some of the ways the award money was put to use:
- Eight School Gardens
- Seven Schools 'Pick A Better Snack' program
Highland Elementary Gardens
A special partnership was established with the Cedar Valley Makers to build raised beds and compost boxes.
Students finished filling compost into raised beds, measured and marked areas in the beds, added signs that were made at the maker space, planted the grade level beds, and planted the tilled areas by the front fence!
They planted a Salsa garden, pizza garden, salad garden, chemistry garden, pumpkins, sunflowers, and corn.