Project Fit America teams up with the Chelsea Area Wellness Foundation, Chelsea Community Hospital, and the Dexter Community schools to help families get healthy.

Friday, May 11, Creekside Intermediate school and Wylie Elementary school will host a Project Fit America Kickoff Event to celebrate the new outdoor playground equipment, and show families how they can take advantage of this great new resource.

The Project Fit America playground equipment was installed in 2011 as part of the Move Forward program in Dexter. Funded by the Chelsea-area Wellness Foundation through Chelsea Community Hospital, Move Forward is a collaborative effort between school staff and parents to improve the school environment in ways that make it easier for kids to make healthy choices. As part of Move Forward, both Creekside and Wylie received state-of-the-art indoor and outdoor fitness equipment specifically designed to improve children’s strength, flexibility and endurance.

The Move Forward Advisory Council, the Creekside Intermediate and Wylie Elementary staff and students, district officials, and representatives from the Chelsea-area Wellness Foundation and Chelsea Community Hospital will be on hand to dedicate the project launch. Even the Detroit Tigers’ mascot, Paws, will be there to celebrate! The event will include fitness demonstrations, guest appearances, speakers, and a group activity to create a healthy family cookbook. Please join us and support a solution that works to get families fit and healthy!

Along with the outdoor equipment, Project Fit America also provided a dynamic curriculum with fitness games and challenges. School staff will be on hand during the Kickoff Event to show parents and kids how to safely use the equipment when they visit the playgrounds after school hours.  

The Chelsea-area Wellness Foundation has a passion to improve the health of our community. The Move Forward Program is a result of that passion. Move Forward is coordinated by Cheri McLean, with support from Chelsea Community Hospital’s Community Health Improvement Council.  McLean works closely with the Move Forward Advisory Council, which includes representatives from the school and community: Aileen Kernohan, school nurse; Sara Simmerman, Director of Food and Nutrition; Marsha Meyerhoff, Creekside Intermediate school P.E.; Scott Bartz, Wylie Elementary teacher; Heather Green, Bates Elementary teacher; and parent representatives Regina Bell, Dr. Brad Judge, Rachel Miller, Julie Simons and Alex Young. The council meets monthly to improve wellness in the schools.