Let's Go! Goes Ice Fishing

February 20 , 2009

The Windham Let’s Go! Community Team joined up with the Sebago Lakes Rotary “Hooked on Fishing” kids’ ice-fishing derby held on Thomas Pond in Raymond on Friday, February 20th 2009. The kids’ derby is a very popular event in which over 500 kids and their parents register and learn to ice fish on Thomas Pond, which is heavily stocked with fish for this event. The Let’s Go! team seized the opportunity to have some fun, promote their program and encourage kids to ‘Eat Right, Be Active, and Get Healthy!’

The Let’s Go! crew brought out 18 pairs of snowshoes, a bunch of healthy snacks and set up a Storywalk so kids could try out snow shoeing while reading a children’s picture book. In the Storywalk, pages of a book are transformed into signs that were then laid out on a trail across the snow, inviting kids and their parents to follow the path of pages.

It was a beautiful day with clear skies and warm sun – and the event was a huge success! The pond was packed with over 500 young fishermen, and nearly 100 kids of all ages strapped on the snowshoes and trekked around the trail to read the story! After finishing the loop, they were treated to some healthy snacks and water before returning to check their ice traps.

The Let’s Go! team included Amanda Beal from Healthy Maine Partnerships, Steve McFarland from Windham Adult Ed, and Brian Ross from Windham Parks & Rec. Many thanks to the Sebago Rotary for allowing Let’s Go! to participate and to Hannaford for providing the healthy snacks. Brian Ross was very pleased with the outcome…”it’s often difficult to get children outside in the winter, but these kids had a great opportunity to try ice fishing, snow shoeing and to really enjoy a beautiful winter day in Maine!”

On Wednesday, March 18th, from 6-7:30 PM, the Windham team is hosting an informational session for Windham parents and kids to encourage healthy choices and learn more about Let’s Go! and other great wellness opportunities in our community. The session will be held in the Windham Primary School cafeteria, and will involve games, speakers and lots of healthy food choices.

The Windham Let’s Go! Community Team is part of the larger Let’s Go! effort which promotes healthy lifestyle choices for children, youth, and families in 12 Greater Portland communities by focusing on physical activity and healthy eating. The multi-year project is funded by Let’s Go Founding Partners Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield Foundation, TD Bank, Hannaford, MaineHealth, Maine Medical Center, Unum, and United Way of Greater Portland. The program also receives significant support from the Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Foundation. Let’s Go! works collaboratively with all of the public health professionals, community based organizations and programs working to increase physical activity and improve nutrition among children and families in the Portland area. Let’s Go! was created in direct response to a doubling in the rate of obesity in Maine’s children over the past three decades. To learn more about Let’s Go! and check out other fun events see www.LetsGo.org.