HealthWorks! plans to use the funding, in part, to modernize its Farmer’s Market with radio frequency identification (RFID) technology that will allow children to “scan” foods and learn even more about their respective nutritional values.
HealthWorks! Kids’ Museum St. Louis is pleased to announce that the Bayer Fund, formerly known as the Monsanto Fund, has awarded $10,000 in grant funding to support the museum’s Move It nutritional education program. The program educates children in pre-K through 5th grade about the importance of nutritional foods and the digestive system.
Since it was introduced in June 2018, the Move It program has been presented to over 1,400 children and caregivers in the St. Louis area. The program gives participants a chance to learn about the value of the five food groups, the special things each type of food does for the body and an explanation of the digestive process – all while they take part in plenty of hands-on fun and opportunities to burn some of the discussed energy sources.
With the allotted funds, HealthWorks! plans to update and modernize the program and its Farmer’s Market, an interactive play area that includes a variety of faux foods, such as fruits and vegetables, that can be “purchased.” The museum will invest in radio frequency identification (RFID) technology that will allow children to “scan” foods with RFID sensors to learn even more about each one’s respective nutritional values. Along with the new scanners, the grant will also allow for the purchase of new tools for the demonstration kitchen, as well as the training of new Health Educators.
“Nutrition is one of – if not the largest – aspect of health and wellness, especially for children,” said Shannon Woodcock, president and chief executive officer of HealthWorks! Kids’ Museum St. Louis. “The earlier we can develop healthy habits in our children, the more likely they are to stick with them throughout the rest of their lives. We are thankful the Bayer Fund is able to help us further modernize this fun, interactive program so that we may continue to educate the children, caregivers and teachers of St. Louis.”
HealthWorks! Kids’ Museum St. Louis is located at 1100 Macklind Ave., St. Louis, MO, 63110. To learn more, call 314-241-7391, visit www.hwstl.org, like the museum on Facebook or follow them on Instagram @healthworkskidsstl.
HealthWorks! Kids’ Museum St. Louis came into existence as a result of efforts to expand The Delta Dental Health Theatre to address broader, overall health issues after Delta Dental of Missouri became a major corporate sponsor in 2004. Those plans evolved and grew more ambitious over the next several years, ultimately leading to the closure of the original theatre on Laclede’s Landing in downtown St. Louis after 38 years so it could be housed in the new, dramatically expanded museum. The Delta Dental Health Theatre was originally organized as a program under the Foundation of the Greater St. Louis Dental Society in 1977. In 2002, it was incorporated as an independent 501(c) (3) not-for-profit organization.
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For more information, contact:
Kelly Harris
(314) 436-9090
kelly@hausergrouppr.com