Choconut Valley Elementary Gets Grant from Wellness Fund

March 3, 2010: Students in Fourth through Sixth grade will get a chance to try snowshoeing this winter, thanks in part to The Choconut Valley Elementary Wellness Fund administered by The Community Foundation of Susquehanna & Wyoming Counties.

Katy Rosenkrans, Physical Education Teacher at Choconut , organized the program, scheduled for March 3, which will bring two professionals from Northeast Wilderness Experience, safety equipment, and 70 pairs of snowshoes to the school. Each grade will have an hour and a half lesson and experimentation with the snowshoes around the grounds of the school. Other school district members can also take the opportunity to experience snowshoeing, as the program will continue after school hours until 5:30.

Rosenkrans said the funding for the program comes from the Wellness Fund, administered by the Community Foundation, as well as the school box tops rewards money that the school has been collecting. She's excited about offering the students this new experience, as well as looking forward to next year when she would like to offer kayaking.

"We hope to continue programs like this, through the Northeast Wilderness Experience, to encourage lifetime outdoor activities for students and their families," she said.

The Choconut Valley Elementary Wellness Fund was established at the Foundation by Mike and Charm Giangrieco in 2007 to support student health and wellness initiatives at Choconut Elementary. Donations to the fund are tax deductible and can increase the size of the annual grant. Donations to this fund can be mailed to The Community Foundation, 36 Lake Ave. Montrose, PA 18801.

For more information on The Choconut Valley Elementary School Wellness Fund and other programs at The Community Foundation, please visit www.community-foundation.org.