Mission Nutrition

I filmed more "Mission Nutrition" videos today at Hy-Vee. We'll be wrapping up filming for our Mission Fitness/Mission Nutrition DVDs late next week, and editing will begin so that the final product will be ready for Iowa schools yet this fall.

We filmed 1-2 minute segments on a ton of fruits and vegetables - from mangoes and tomatilloes to plums and zucchini, we focused on produce that will make mouths water!

Team Nutrition will be utilizing some of these videos for Pick a Better Snack toolkits, and they will be paired with our Mission Fitness videos to help kids on their mission to be more physically fit and nutritious! When the final products are ready, I will post some on here.

In the meantime, here are a couple of still shots from our shoots so far.



Finally, with the Iowa vs. Iowa State game tomorrow, I can't resist this. GO CYCLONES!!!


Jennifer

Happy Almost-Fall!

Can you believe it? Fall is almost here.

I apologize for not posting much throughout the summer, but I have been very busy. After Miss Iowa, I became a traveling woman! I took several trips to Michigan to visit my fiance's family and also went to my favorite event of the year - the Iowa State Fair.

My family and I have gone to the Iowa State Fair for ten years now, so needless to say, it is a family tradition. We go there each summer and look at the biggest boar and biggest bull, try to sneak a peek at the butter cow, ride on the sky glider, scope out the baby animals, and taste some of the infamous fair food. My favorite? Even though I am a nutrition nut - the cheese curds will always hold a special place in my tummy :)

In terms of my platform, I have also had some very exciting developments. First, I filmed an 8-week TV Series called Get Movin', which will air in October on WQPT in the Quad Cities. I had a blast filming the exercise segments and got to work with eight fabulous kids, as well as a wonderful crew.

In addition, I have been working with Pick a Better Snack and ACT (through the Iowa Department of Public Health) to promote healthy snacking among youth and adults in Des Moines by offering samples of yummy vegetable dishes at farmers markets throughout the Des Moines area. Talk about fun!

I've also been writing my Stories in Motion, which Team Nutrition will use in the upcoming year as physical activity breaks for schools across the state. Kids need brain breaks during the day, just like adults do, and I thought it would be fun to write them. Thankfully, they are thrilled about the idea and are helping me disseminate them to Iowa schools!

Finally, I am working on two DVDs. One is called Mission Fitness, and the other is Mission Nutrition. Essentially, I am taking kids on a mission to become more fit, and a mission to become more nutritious by working with local YMCAs and Hy-Vee stores to teach youth about activities that can be done with little or no equipment and fun fruits and veggies to try.

Needless to say, I've been busy! But, I'm loving every moment. I've got more to share, but there is no time to write a novel today. I'll post more (and pictures) soon.

Happy Tuesday!
Jen

An Overdue Post :)

Just about one month ago, I was competing for the title of Miss Iowa for the fourth time in my life.

When I first stepped foot on a pageant stage back in February of 2007, I remember not even being able to smile at the audience I was so scared, so timid, so unsure of myself. But, in the interview room, I was passionate about my cause. I knew I wanted to promote healthy lifestyles and be a force to be reckoned with in the wellness world. In or out of pageants - that was my mission.

Four years later, this June, in fact, a bigger, more purposeful version of Jennifer Neal stepped on stage. I smiled every second I was in front of the audience, had a blast performing my talent, and felt very confident in my interview. Did it turn out the way I hoped it would? No. But, that is okay.

I used to think that competing in the Miss America Organization was all about my dream of becoming Miss Iowa so that I could travel across the state making a difference with my platform. Wrong :)

I have gained so much more from this program than I could have ever asked for, and thinking about the way it has transformed me into a more purposeful, passionate version of myself makes me get a little emotional. Sure, I would have given anything to be Miss Iowa, but I'm realizing it was not in God's plan for me. I think it's safe to say being involved with MAO was in His plan for me, because I have developed lasting friendships and a desire to give back.

Fortunately, I still have a few months left as Miss Pearl City, so I plan to make the most of them. I have a parade coming up in late July, and will also be sharing my Snacking Smart message with more students before January arrives.

I will post pictures from Miss Iowa soon.

In my personal life, I'm excited to train for the Des Moines Half-Marathon, kickbox, go to spinning classes, apply for my Dietetic Internship, film fitness videos for kids, spend more time cooking/baking, and start preparing to write a book :) I'm sure I'll think of more things to add to the list. My mom has always said that I have no trouble filling my schedule, and she sure is right!

More soon,
Jennifer

Miss Iowa Week - Day 3

This week is flying by!

We began our morning with interviews at two local radio stations, the B100 and Star 93.5, which is always a blast.





Later, we headed to Neil Armstrong Elementary to assist our current Miss Iowa, Anne Michael, with an all-school assembly. She does such a fantastic job with the students and incorportated a few of the contestants into her presentation to demonstrate the importance of getting involved in activities from athletics to music and other extra-curriculars to learn valuable life skills.

Then, I visited with a third and fifth grade classroom to share the book "Oh the Places You'll Go" by Dr. Seuss and to deliver my Snacking Smart message with the students as well. I take full advantage of any opportunity to spread the word about my platform and the importance of healthy habits, and the students were very excited about the fresh fruit kabobs, banana freeze pops, and zucchini sticks, which are all included in the cookbook I wrote.


For lunch, we dined with the Bettendorf Rotary Club and had a chance to learn about what the organization does as well as hear more of the Miss Iowa contestants' talents and a presentation from Miss Iowa 2009.

This afternoon we transported all of our competition gear to the Adler Theater, where the Miss Iowa pageant will take place on Thursday and Saturday night. It felt so good to get settled in and see the stage; it looks beautiful!

We finished our day with dinner at Lancer's Grille in Eldridge and a dress rehearsal. Time for bed, though!

The part of competition I am most excited about - interview - is tomorrow. I absolutely cannot wait.

Hope to see you at the show tomorrow!
Jennifer

Miss Iowa Week - Day 2

Today was yet another great day of Miss Iowa week, and my birthday, to boot :) I am officially 23 years old, and have never felt better.

My facebook account was inundated with Happy Birthday messages, my cell phone exploded with text messages and phone calls, and my fellow contestants serenaded me this afternoon at the Golden Corral. I could not have asked for a better way to spend my special day.

This morning, we traveled to Iowa City for one of my favorite events of the week, visiting the University of Iowa Children's Hospital. I met a family from very near my hometown of Epworth who traveled from Manchester for their daughter Gabrielle's check up. Gabrielle was born with biliary atresia, something I learned about in my undergraduate career at Iowa State University, but have never witnessed in real life. Thankfully, the doctors at the University of Iowa detected it early enough that Gabrielle was able to avoid a liver transplant and has had normal labs for over a year now.


There were kids coming in and out of the pediatric unit all morning for check ups - from six months to 17 years. I even met a soon-to-be Iowa Stater, which is rare in Hawkeye country :)

This visit was so uplifting. It is not every day that you meet two year olds who have survived liver cancer, or 17-year-olds who are preparing for transplant surgery. The most amazing part of it all is that they literally radiate joy. If the kids I met today didn't walk in for check-ups and doctor visists, I would never know they were facing any health issues because of their attitudes and the way they carry themselves. Some of their parents even said they loved being at the hospital, which to me, speaks to the value of the Children's Miracle Network and the way that it changes lives. It was such a blessing to have experienced everything I did with those children this morning!

We had some time to relax this afternoon, and then traveled to the Golden Corral for dinner. The evening ended with a quick rehearsal, and I must say, I am thrilled about the production this year. We are singing! You will enjoy it - there is no doubt in my mind.

With that, I am in need of some rest.
More tomorrow,
Jennifer

Miss Iowa Week - Day 1

What a WONDERFUL day!

We started off with Jazzercise at 7 a.m., and I must say, what a fun way to workout! Then, we got ready for the day and left for yoga and massages at the Institute of Therapeutic Massage in Davenport. Bonita Howes so kindly donates the time of her staff to us, and I speak for all of the ladies when I say how appreciative we are! The massages are one of the highlights of the week before competition, without question. Thank you to everyone at the institute for being so gracious!

Later, we visited Senior Star Assisted Living Center for a wonderful, nutritious lunch and many of us were able to perform our talents. Anne Michael, our current Miss Iowa was there as well, and WOW, was her talent phenomenal! She is such a gifted young lady, and I had such a blast listening to her perform and chat throughout the day. She really is an inspiration.


We then went to the Ridgecrest Senior Center and heard even more of the contestant's talents. Talk about entertaining! The young ladies did a great job, and I had a blast performing Chopsticks again. I can't wait to do it in full costume on Thursday night ;) It is such a fun piece and really allows me to connect with the audience.

For dinner, Hy-Vee very generously donated an all-access pass to their buffet lines. I know the girls would agree with me when I say it was de-lic-ious! Thanks to all of the Hy-Vee staff for being so welcoming to us. It is one of our favorite places to dine during the week!

We finished the evening with a quick rehearsal and some down time in our hotel rooms. What a full day! There we so many laughs and memories already shared today, I can hardly wait for what's to come.

More tomorrow,
Jennifer

Sign In at Miss Iowa :)

It is finally here, and I could not be more excited.

Yesterday, I started off my day at the crack of dawn with a 5-mile run around Gray's Lake in Des Moines, and finished all of my packing for the week.

I then traveled to Iowa City to meet my family for a quick birthday lunch with my family at the Brown Bottle. What a great way to kick off the week; my youngest sister, Nicki, presented me with a homemade book of pictures of me with quotes about the type of person she thinks I am. In the back, my family each wrote me a good luck message filled with some of my favorite quotes from The Office, which inevitably make me laugh. I could not possibly feel more loved and supported by my family than I do right now. Love you guys!

By mid-afternoon, I arrived at the Clarion Hotel in Davenport, who so kindly sponsors the Miss Iowa contestants each year. My board of directors - or my army as I called them yesterday - was there to help me move in. They also had a giant cooler of fruit, a pageant week survival kit (you can only imagine what might be in that bag!), and several other bags filled with useful items for the week. They have been absolutely incredible to work with this year, and I would not be where I am without them. Thank you, ladies!

We had our first dinner as a group around 5 p.m. where we were able to reunite with our hostesses and introduce ourselves once again. It was great to see everyone. We finished the evening with a meeting in our head hostess's room to discuss plans for the week.

To say that I am prepared for this week is an understatement. I really left no stones unturned this year preparing not only for the Miss Iowa competition, but for the job of Miss Iowa. What a blessing it is to be here in the midst of such wonderful young ladies while interviewing and competing for the opportunity of a lifetime. There is nowhere I would rather be.

All my best,
Jennifer

Coffee Club Talk Show and St. Jude's Elementary

Today I was the special guest on the Coffee Club Talk show in Muscatine, Iowa. Gary at KWPC Radio allowed me to join him for an interview to talk about my platform, my personal background, and the upcoming Miss Iowa competition. I particularly enjoyed chatting with them about my Snacking Smart from A to Z cookbooks.


Jane from the Muscatine Chamber of Commerce was in on our interview as well, and kindly agreed to help me distribute even more of my recipe booklets to the Muscatine community through the Chamber office. What a gem!

Later, I traveled to Cedar Rapids to visit all of the kindergarten through second graders at St. Jude's Elementary and distribute my snack books. They loved them! I even had a chance to eat lunch with my princess, or "little sister," as I like to call her. What a treat it was to see Carmella again.


More soon,
Jennifer

A Day in the Davenport Community School District

Wow! This Tuesday was another wonderful day in the eastern side of the state. I had a chance to promote my platform and reach students with my Snacking Smart message.


Just before 8 a.m., I was greeted with my first ever welcome sign and just couldn't resist snapping a photo. After the first bell rang, I was the kick-off speaker for the Adams Elementary Fit Kids Day. I shared my story (in a beautiful outdoor assembly) about learning to eat healthier foods, and discussed how important it is not only to be active, but to eat well. All the students received one of my Snacking Smart from A to Z cookbooks.


Afterwards, I observed my colleague, Dr. Ed Thomas from the Department of Education film fitness videos with third and fourth graders. Topics ranged from posture and medicine balls to agility ladders. He and I are spear-heading the Stories in Motion project I created, and immediately following Miss Iowa, we have plans to launch it into after-school programs throughout Iowa. In the fall, we will bring it to K-5 schools throughout the state to get students more active in the classroom.

After the morning session, I was kindly escorted by Mr. Brad Oates, director of Physical Education and Athletic Programs for the Davenport Community School District, to Hayes Elementary where I presented on Snacking Smart from A to Z with first and third graders.


My last stap was Truman Elementary, where I presented my message in an assembly format with five grades. I was able to have 20 minutes with each age group so that I could tailor my presentation to their knowledge level. The kids had great questions and comments that made me realize the impact my visit had on their lives.


Though, the best part of the day came from the surprise group hugs, cute questions ("Are you a real princess?"), soft-spoken comments ("I want to be like her"), and off-the wall inquisitions ("Are you a kid or an adult?")


One kindergartener even said "Hey, what's your phone number?" You just never know what kids will say :)

At the end of the day, I felt so rewarded knowing I reached over 1,000 students in that short visit. Beyond that, I felt an incredible sense of content when I exited the parking lot at Truman Elementary and saw tons of elementary boys and girls proudly carrying my little yellow book of healthy recipes.

This message from Brad was an added bonus:

Thank you for taking the time to come to Davenport and speak to some of our elementary students. I was very impressed with your presentation to the students as well as your poise in front of the students. Students, especially elementary, can be among the toughest crowds. The message was spot on and reinforces what we have been doing in our curriculum. I look forward to more opportunities to work with you and getting out the message of fitness and nutrition. I have enclosed a picture from yesterday. I hope we will have some pictures on our website soon. Good luck in the Miss Iowa competition. I know there will be a lot of elementary students rooting for you. Take care.

Brad W. Oates
Program Director of Athletics, Physical Education, & Health
Davenport Community School District

I could not be more honored to be Miss Pearl City.

Yours,
Jennifer

A Grand Piano in My Backyard :)

On Friday, I was honored to be the special guest at Scottish Rite Park's monthly Ladies Luncheon in Des Moines.

We had a wonderful meal, which I was happy to see included fresh spinach salad with mandarin oranges, a meal of chicken with a side of parslied pineapple, and melon for dessert :)


After eating, I had a few minutes to share with all 75 guests a little about myself and my platform and then played two piano pieces and my talent selection for Miss Iowa, Liberace's version of Chopsticks.


They loved it!



The best part about the day was being able to perform on a baby grand piano. This was a rare opportunity for me, as I have become accustomed to playing on keyboards and upright pianos. The women at Scottish Rite Park said I am welcome to come back and play on their piano anytime. Since their residence is just couple of miles from my apartment in downtown Des Moines, there is no question I will be back to take advantage of that opportunity!

More to come soon,
Jennifer

Touching Lives in Iowa City

Thursday, I headed east for a jam-packed, but fun-filled afternoon.

First, I stopped at St. Jude's Elementary in Cedar Rapids to practice a piano/vocal duet with my princess, Carmella. We were scheduled to perform later in the afternoon, and wanted to make sure everything was just right :) During that time, I also set up a school visit to St. Jude's for next week. I will be presenting my Snacking Smart from A to Z cookbooks and eating lunch with Carmella. She has been my princess for the past three years, and what fun we have had!

Next up was Iowa City, where I volunteered for the fourth year in a row at the Star 102.5 Children's Miracle Network Radiothon. Miss Muscatine, Elizabeth Davidson and Miss Henry County, Abigail Carr were both answering phones as well. We were able to witness a couple of interviews with CMN miracle children.



I met a woman who lost her daughter to cancer, saw a boy whose dad saved his life with a kidney transplant, and witnessed in action the child life specialists who make patient stays at the hospital as enjoyable and stress-free as possible. It was great receiving calls from first-time donors. I speak from experience when I say they will be calling back next year. What a joy it was to be able to help.

From there, I visited the Oaknoll Reitrement Community in Iowa City, where I met my princess Carmella and her mom Kim. We performed We are One from the Lion King 2. Carmella has been taking voice lessons for three months now, and she has such a beautiful voice. It has been incredible seeing her blossom.

I performed one of my favorite Lorie Line pieces, Nevada Skies, and finished with Liberace's rendition of Chopsticks, which I will be performing this year at Miss Iowa. The residents loved it!



Afterward, one of the residents, Mary, shared her talent with us. She taught piano for 50 years, and though she does experience health challenges on a daily basis, her fingers can fly.

After our performance, Kim, Carmella and I headed to Applebees for a quick dinner. Carmella's mom is very health-conscious, and we mentioned how much we like Applebees for its tendency to offer more nutritious options than the typical dine-in restaurant. More and more eateries are doing this, which is exactly what we need in Iowa and across the country today.



I cannot wait until next week. I have several more fun appearances planned!

Hugs,
Jennifer

September is National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month

Mrs. Obama has started a movement! First, she initiated her "Let's Move" campaign, and we now have a month dedicated to National Childhood Obesity Awareness.

I was reading an article in the most recent American Dietetic Association Policy Initiatives and Advocacy Report: On the Pulse, which said "House Resolution 996 designating September as National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month was passed by the House last week. Reps. Marcia Fudge (D.-Ohio) and Kay Granger (R.-Texas) introduced the resolution as a way to help bring awareness to the health of children around the country at the beginning of the 2010-2011 school year. The month will promote healthy eating and physical activity."

What I love about this resolution is that it was introduced with bi-partisan support. Whether you are a Republican, Democrat, or Independent, you cannot argue that childhood obesity is an issue that deserves even more national attention and focus. As Rep. Fudge said on the House floor: "Dedicating at least one month out of each year to bring awareness to this issue of childhood obesity will help maximize the effect of programming, messaging and campaigns all aligned with the sole purpose of eradicating childhood obesity."

To raise awareness about the issue of childhood obesity prevention through my platform work and involvement of Miss Iowa, I have selected the color yellow for many of my publications and wardrobe, because it represents the color of the obesity awareness ribbon. My Snacking Smart from A to Z cookbooks are yellow, and I will wear lots of yellow during Miss Iowa, because it is a constant reminder to me of why I am running for the job of Iowa's Official Hostess.

What great news this is!

My First Time in Mt. Pleasant

Wow! Today I visited Van Allen Elementary in Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, and I have to say, the city of Mt. Pleasant is home to some of the most hospitable people and enthusiastic children I have ever met.

Classroom by classroom, I visited students in grades 2 through 5 to deliver more of my Snacking Smart from A to Z cookbooks and to talk with students about the importance of healthy snacking. Many of them were surprised to learn that I did not know much about nutritious eating when I was their age; in fact, I told them that I frequently ate fruit roll-ups, ice cream, and candy bars without thinking of how it would impact my performance in school, sports, and life, for that matter.


We discussed several of the snack ideas included in Snacking Smart from A to Z, but we also addressed unhealthy snacks and how they can hinder performance. I asked students to think of food as fuel, and their bodies as engines. I told them that if they filled their bodies with unhealthy foods, it was similar to filling their engines with fuel caked with dirt and junk that would not allow it to function as well.


We talked about their goals and dreams. I heard about students who wanted to be doctors, lawyers, police officers, football players, and actresses. In each case, the students helped each other identify ways that healthy eating and physical activity could help them achieve their dream, or be important to them in their future job.


I was thoroughly impressed with the great ideas all of the kids came up with when we talked about ways they could help their family members become healthier. Some even had suggestions for how to keep their pets healthy! There is never a dull moment :)


During lunch, I was fortunate to receive a tour from Valerie Unkrich, a professor at Iowa Wesleyan College in Mt. Pleasant. Iowa Wesleyan, along with the Iowa Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (IAHPERD), is a huge sponsor of my platform this year, which allows me to distribute so many cookbooks. I am so grateful for their support. Valerie attended many of my classroom sessions today and was so fun to spend time with throughout the morning.


I handed out several hundred of my books today, and was happy to hear many students say they were going to try some of the snacks, and even help their parents with the grocery shopping to make sure they got some healthier snacks in the house.


This was such a rewarding and impactful day; for both the students and me.


I can't wait for the next adventure!
Best,
Jennifer

Adventures in Eastern Iowa

On Friday, I had the wonderful honor of visiting Wilkins Elementary in Marion, Iowa, to distribute more of my Snacking Smart from A to Z cookbooks to all of the first graders in the school. I began each presentation with a discussion about the MyPyramid food groups and the impact of added fats and sugar on nutritional value. Then, we combed through several of the recipes in my cookbook, and sampled fresh fruit kabobs, which is the recipe under the letter "F" in Snacking Smart from A to Z. The kids loved it! Some of them even said they had ideas for how to make their own fruit kabobs at home, which is exactly what I like to hear.






Later in the morning, I visited Summit Pointe, a retirement community in Marion, and performed several pieces on the piano for about 30 of the residents. They were able to hear a special preview of my Miss Iowa talent, Chopsticks, and I also played two of my favorite Lorie Line pieces. What a great day!




Stay tuned for more updates next week!
Jennifer

A Wellness-Filled Day in Decorah

Today I was a special guest in the Decorah Community School District. Decorah High School’s Health Life Skills Management Class planned and organized a school-wide Health Fair, which was a day-long event that included over fifteen breakout sessions on health-related topics featuring a wide array of speakers. I kicked off the day at 8 a.m. this morning as their opening speaker, and delivered a presentation I call “Extreme Makeover: YOU Edition.” I shared with all 600 high schoolers the incident that led to my passion for wellness, discussed the importance of nutrition and exercise, and finished by sharing six steps every student can take to transform their lives and give themselves an “extreme makeover” of sorts.



After speaking at the high school, I headed over to the elementary and visited every K-2 classroom to make a quick presentation about healthy eating and activity and gave each student a copy of the healthy snack cookbook I created, “Snacking Smart from A to Z.” They loved the book and were very inquisitive about my crown. So cute!


Later in the morning, I visited the entire middle school to lead another assembly. The kids were very attentive and shared lots of great statistics with me on fast food and school lunches, in addition to asking some thoughtful questions. I was very impressed with this group!

Finally, I trekked over to the 3rd and 4th grade wing of school to deliver more cookbooks. The students ate them right up! I talked with a couple of fourth grade classes while they were eating in the cafeteria, and the students were cheering so loudly and with such excitement that I wondered if they would ever quiet down! Boy, wouldn’t it be nice to hear that every day :)


What an honor it was to visit so many students – and at all grade levels – in one day. I handed out nearly 1000 healthy snack books in this one visit, and it makes me so excited for the job opportunity of Miss Iowa. There is no doubt in my mind that I am ready, and this program is so greatly needed in our state today.

Thanks for reading!
XOXO,
Jennifer

A Quick Update

Happy May! They say time flies when you are having fun, and I have found the truth in that this spring. Miss Iowa is almost here, but I just wanted to update you on a few of my recent endeavors.

Miss Iowa Orientation
On Saturday, April 24th, all of the Miss Iowa contestants met in Bettendorf for the annual Miss Iowa Orientation. We started off the day hearing from Cathy Herd, Miss Iowa 1992, who was first runner-up to Miss America and a double preliminary winner – both swimsuit and talent. Not only was she a fantastic representative then, she is an unmatchable resource for young women wanting to prepare for the job of Miss Iowa. Here we are pictured with her.


We also were able to meet our hostesses. I am so thankful to have been paired with Margie this year. She was my hostess last year as well, and I would not trade her for anyone! We are going to have a great time together in just over a month :)

Miss Iowa Bridal Fashion Show
The day after orientation was the first-annual Miss Iowa Bridal Show, which ended with a fashion show highlighting the latest wedding styles from David’s Bridal in Davenport. Several of the contestants volunteered their time, and I am quite certain I speak for all of them when I say we thoroughly enjoyed having our hair and make-up done, being surrounded by wedding vendors, and modeling gorgeous gowns. What a fun way to raise scholarships for the Miss Iowa program! A special thanks goes to Tim Heim, who worked so tirelessly to make sure the day went off without a hitch.

Snacking Smart from A to Z
A new and improved cookbook will be hot off the press in just a few days! For the past year, I have used my own printing resources to distribute thousands of healthy snack cookbooks to elementary students throughout the state. Thanks to a partnership with IAHPERD, I will be able to distribute several thousand more before the summer. Numerous schools across the state have already signed up to participate. In some, I’ll be leading assemblies; in others, I’ll be in the classroom, and a few are letting me showcase my project in the cafeteria with students so that I can talk with them about their food choices. Each cookbook features 26 recipes – one for every letter of the alphabet – that can be used as a healthy snack. Nearly all kids age 6-19 snack – 98%, to be exact – and my mission is to provide them with an abundance of delicious and nutritious ideas for nibbling between meals. An enormous part of living a healthy lifestyle depends upon the choices we make as individuals, and equipping youth with the tools to improve those choices will directly impact their overall nutrition. Copy and paste this link to view a copy! http://missmuscatine.com/SnackingSmartBrochure.pdf

Afton Elementary
On Monday, May 3rd, I had the pleasure of joining Dr. Ed Thomas from Graceland University in Afton, Iowa. I served as a volunteer PE teacher for the day and worked with students from Kindergarten through 6th grade on medicine balls, agility ladders, and obstacle courses to demonstrate that fun that comes with physical activity. Below are a few pictures from the day.










More to come soon!
Love,
Jennifer