Head Start/Early Head Start of Fayette County's
Perry Center Receives Grant to Enhance Outdoor Play

The Private Industry Council of Westmoreland/Fayette, Inc. (PIC), is pleased to announce that it is the recipient of a $5,000 grant by the Head Start Body Start (HSBS) National Center for Physical Development and Outdoor Play. The purpose of HSBS is to increase physical activity, outdoor play and healthy eating among Head Start and Early Head Start children, families, and staff. PIC will utilize the funds to improve the outdoor play space at the Head Start/Early Head Start of Fayette County's Perry Center in Washington Township.

Head Start/Early Head Start of Fayette County (HS/EHS Fay Co) currently operates 11 centers throughout Fayette County. Many currently have outstanding play spaces. Last September HS/EHS Fay Co was awarded a HSBS grant to improve the outdoor play space at its Windy Hill Center in Fairchance, PA. Pictures of the improved space are posted on HS/EHS Fay Co's Facebook page at www.facebook.com/headstartfayco

When a second opportunity to pursue HSBS funding became available another application was submitted to improve the Perry Center play space. The funding will be used to improve the current space to provide more opportunities to engage the children in meaningful physical activities. In addition to the play space improvement, HS/EHS Fay Co will again receive targeted training, technical assistance and the expertise of a physical activity consultant from the HSBS National Center, as well as access to online courses, webinars and resource materials.

Head Start Body Start National Center for Physical Development and Outdoor Play (HSBS) is a project of the National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE) and the American Association for Physical Activity and Recreation (AAPAR), which are associations of the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (AAHPERD). Funding for HSBS is provided by the Office of Head Start (OHS), Administration for Children and Families, US Department of Health and Human Services. "Outdoor play is associated with greater amounts of physical activity in children, and research has shown that opportunities for whole body exercise has a long lasting influence as preschool physical activity tracks throughout childhood," said HSBS National Center director, Karin H. Spencer, EdD. "Unfortunately children today spend less time playing outdoors than any previous generation," added Spencer. "We want to help the Head Start staff discover the benefits of outdoor play across developmental domains and learn about the features of high quality outdoor play spaces that promote movement opportunities for children of all ability levels."