FUNN 2 Project: Families Understanding Nature and Nutrition

The Extended School Program of Murfreesboro City Schools (MCS) is developing a gardening program at 3 schools this sping. The program has 3 funding sources: a grant from Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU), Pillsbury, and the Soil Conservation Service. 

We work with several community partners: Murfreesboro Parks and Recreation, researcher Dr. Karen Hargrove, MCS certified teachers, and MTSU students to provide health coaches to work with our students at two of the schools, and have created the FUNN 2 (Families Understanding Nature and Nutrition) to work with our after school program. Murfreesboro Parks and Recreation administrator Deb Paschall wrote, submitted, and now administers the grant for the school system.

The program's emphasis is teaching children about healthy lifestyles, and exploring food from the ground to the table. There are 2-12 week blocks of programming: the first block began in March and will go through May, and the 2nd block with take the students who attend the summer program. The project is conducted by certified teachers.  Several college students provide assistance with coaching families outside of the after school program.