ROCKLAND — The Penobscot Bay YMCA’s Kid’s Club Program is a participant of 5210 Let’s Go! childhood obesity prevention program. Over the past three years, the YMCA’s Child Care Program has achieved the Gold Status for implementing five strategies that promote healthy eating and active living among children ages 10 years and younger. This year, the Kids Club teachers added an exciting component to the Y’s after school program; providing children the opportunity to grow their vegetables.

Three raised beds were built on the Y’s grounds through a generous grant from Let’s Go 5-2-1-0 and donations from the Rockland Home Depot. Participants learned how vegetables are planted, grown and harvested. This experience gave the kids skills and the confidence to try their own gardens at home. Both the children and the teachers were excited to pick tomatoes and cucumbers out of the beds weekly after a long, hot summer of watering their crop and watching the small plants grow. This rewarding experience is one that the Penobscot Bay YMCA hopes to continue year after year.

The Penobscot Bay YMCA is for youth development, healthy living and social responsibility.

Let’s Go! is a nationally recognized childhood obesity prevention program implemented throughout Maine and in a few communities in neighboring states. We partner with schools, child care and out-of-school programs, healthcare practices and community organizations to change environments where children and families live, learn work and play. We developed 5-2-1-0 as the foundation for change. For more information visit letsgo.org/

5-2-1-0 stands for:

5 fruits and veggies, 2 hours or less of recreational screen time, 1 hour or more of physical activity, and 0 sugary drinks, more water.