02/20/2026
❄️ Grant Spotlight: Expanding Outdoor Physical Wellness ❄️
Thanks to a grant from the West Ottawa Education Foundation, students at Lakeshore, Waukazoo, and Sheldon Woods Elementaries are stepping into winter in a whole new way — on snowshoes!
This initiative, led by Morgan Krause, provides 59 pairs of snowshoes for approximately 750 students in grades YK–5. The goal? To expand outdoor physical wellness opportunities and help students embrace Michigan winters through movement, exploration, and hands-on learning.
Through snowshoeing, students are:
🌲 Building coordination, balance, and endurance
🤝 Developing teamwork and communication skills
🏔 Exploring winter landscapes while connecting to environmental science
💙 Gaining confidence in outdoor adventure — regardless of prior access or experience
From learning basic movement skills in K–2 to mastering balance and agility challenges in grades 3–5, this program creates an inclusive and engaging experience for every student.
Research shows that outdoor physical activity reduces stress and anxiety, improves focus, strengthens peer relationships, and builds resilience. By fully funding this grant, WOEF is helping students not only stay active — but develop a lifelong appreciation for nature and wellness.
We are grateful to Morgan Krause and the supportive leadership teams who helped bring this vision to life. And to our donors — thank you for making innovative, student-centered opportunities like this possible!
