Decatur Head Start receives grant

DECATUR — Head Start Body Start National Center for Physical Development and Outdoor Play announced Northwest Arkansas Head Start as one of 351 recipients of a $5,000 grant to improve the outdoor play space at the Decatur Head Start Center.

The National Center was created through a federal grant to the National Association for Sport and Physical Education and the American Association for Physical Activity and Recreation from the Office of Head Start.

"We appreciate Head Start Body Start for helping us to evaluate our play spaces and educate our children and their families about the value of physical activity and playing outdoors, in particular," said Head Start Executive Director Ann Williams. "This grant will enable our Head Start Center to expand and enhance our playground in Decatur by adding challenging equipment such as balance beams, wheeled toys and a log structure. The addition of a balance beam, art easels and musical instruments will incorporate a variety of outdoor learning to our existing program."

In addition to the play space improvement, each awardwinning Head Start Center will have targeted training, technical assistance and the expertise of a physical activity consultant, as well as access to online courses, webinars and resource materials. One of their first initiatives will be cele-

the Take It Outside! Week Oct 19 23