Loved spending the past 4 days at Nike World Headquarters in Beaverton OR with a fabulous group of professionals! The Let’s Move Active Schools initiative brought together trainers from all over the US for two objectives:
1. Re-connect seasoned trainers and provide updates on the Let’s Move Active Schools Physical Activity Leader (PAL) training
2. On-board a new group of national trainers for the PAL training
Two years ago, I was part of the first cohort of trainers brought on to facilitate the PAL training events. The training itself is meant for school level staff (usually a PE teacher or physical activity champion that works within schools) to feel confident in going back to their school community and implementing a Comprehensive School Physical Activity Program (CSPAP). The goal? 60 minutes a day! Getting kids moving 60 minutes throughout the school day. That includes before/after-school, during school/in class time, physical education, recess time.
Saturday kicked off with a family reunion of sorts. Those of us who were on-boarded in 2013 and 2014 came together for a 1.5 day check in/trainer update. As always, it was fabulous seeing colleagues, many of whom are close friends. And, how amazing that I was able to be back in Portland, my home for 18 years!
Sunday, a new cohort of trainers began arriving and the seasoned trainers welcomed them with skits, raps, songs and cheers practiced the day prior. As the seasoned trainers traveled home, a few of us stayed on to help with the training of trainers for the new group of eager, passionate educators! Monday and Tuesday included new learning, teach-backs, effective facilitating strategies and networking. For me, it was nice to reconnect with colleagues new to the national PAL cadre I haven’t seen in a long time (Meg Greiner, Cheryl Wardell and Holly Alperin- Independence OR, Beaverton OR and Boston MA rockstars!) and I met colleagues I’ve been following on Twitter like Susan Flynn, Brian Devore, Clay Ellis and Collin Brooks. As always, it was great to participate in a training facilitated by Deb Christopher of Bolder Learning. Thanks to Amy Shipp and Sarah Rodis at SHAPE America for organizing and helping facilitate the training. And- thanks to Sean Gustafson from the Alliance for a Healthier Generation for being there as well and sharing all the LMAS materials/resources!
It’s been 4 amazing days. I’m full of new learning, energized and feel connected with so many colleagues all over the US! Boom Boom!
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