P16 Creating Healthier Communities: Takethe Wellness ChallengePatricia E. Case, MS, RD, Oregon State UniversityExtension Service, 3328 Vandenberg Road, KlamathFalls, OR 97603, patty.case@oregonstate.edu

Inactivity and poor food choices contribute to rising obesityrates. National health advisors are calling for communitiesto take action by creating healthier environments. Thepurpose of this project was to first determine priority needsand actions as identified by the community duringExtension-led forums in Klamath County, Oregon. Next,one idea was chosen to move forward—a community widewellness challenge. The intent of the challenge was tomotivate behavior change and create supportive social net-works at work, home, church, etc. Teams of 5-10 peoplesigned up to track their physical activity and fruit/vegetableintake for 6 weeks. Participants received incentives such asswim passes and pedometers; they were also eligible toattend weekly activities that included exercise classes, bikerides, etc. Each week, points were tallied and team awardsgiven. Over 1000 people completed the wellness challengewith teams from businesses, schools and families. Based onself reports (n � 175), participants were more likely toexercise and eat fruits/vegetables as a result of the challenge(P � .001). Seventy-five percent rated their social networkas being helpful in making lifestyle changes; many com-mented they didn’t feel alone in their efforts. The top threebenefits of participation were: having more energy, feelingmore motivated and feeling better about self. Forty-ninepercent of participants reported losing weight with an av-erage weight loss of 7.3 pounds. Wellness events such asthis can change behavior and serve as a catalyst for envi-ronmental change. Funding was provided by a grant fromO.S.U. Extension Service.

P17 Reading across My Pyramid: A NutritionEducation Curriculum Increases the NutritionKnowledge of First GradersKarrie Heneman, PhD, Department of Nutrition,University of California, Davis, CA 95616-8669,kmheneman@ucdavis.edu; Sharon Junge, MA,Department of Nutrition, University of California, Davis,CA 95616-8669, skjunge@ucdavis.edu; Sheri Zidenberg-Cherr, PhD, Department of Nutrition, University ofCalifornia, Davis, CA 95616-8669,sazidenbergcherr@ucdavis.edu

Reading Across My Pyramid (RAMP) is a literacy promot-ing nutrition education curriculum targeting lower elemen-tary students. Through the use of nutrition related books,RAMP aims to increase the nutrition knowledge of stu-dents while fostering the development of reading skills.Although this curriculum is widely used throughout Cali-fornia by both the Food Stamps Nutrition Education Pro-gram (FSNEP) and the Expanded Food and Nutrition Ed-

ucation Program (EFNEP), a formal evaluation of theefficacy of the curriculum to increase nutrition knowledgehas not been completed. To meet this need, a short surveybased on topics covered in RAMP lessons was developedand tested for clarity in a group of FSNEP eligible first gradechildren in Placer County (N � 20). Revisions were madeaccordingly and the survey was used in Contra Costa,Fresno and San Diego Youth FSNEP (N � 62) to evaluateRAMP. A parent survey was also used to determine corre-lations between the responses of children and their parents.Data showed RAMP to be effective at increasing the im-portance of exercise in the minds of children (P � .001),knowledge that the heart pumps blood through the body(P � .000), and knowledge that computer use and televi-sion watching are not exercise (P � .024). A correlationwas also observed between parent reported hours of televi-sion watching by their child and the child’s knowledge thatcomputer use and television watching are not exercise (P �.032) This project was funded in part by the United StatesDepartment of Agriculture.

P18 Kids a-Cookin’ & Movin’ All AroundKathy Walsten, BS, Family Nutrition Program, KansasState University, 255 Justin Hall, Manhattan, KS 66506,walsten@humec.ksu.edu; Deb Pryor, MS, Kansas StateUniversity, 119 Dole Hall, Manhattan, KS 66506,dpryor@oznet.ksu.edu; Karen Hudson, Family NutritionProgram, MEd, RD, LD, hudson@humec.ksu.edu

Childhood obesity is a global issue and THIS “screen-time”is making a positive difference! Kids a-Cookin’ and Movin’is helping kids make healthy food and physical activitychoices. This multicultural, participatory, skill-buildingcurriculum is implemented through Kansas after-schoolprograms, libraries, classrooms, and 4-H clubs for kids 8 to11 years old. The in-depth, interactive DVD includes fourlessons with a total of eight kid-friendly recipes, prepared bykids, demonstrating food safety and cooking skills. Fouron-site video tours are showcased including Meet Me . . . atthe Cheese Plant, . . . at the Flour Mill, . . . for a Fast FoodMeal, and . . . at the Food Market. USDA’s Power Pantherjoins the kids for fun physical activities on location. EachDVD contains both English and Spanish soundtracks, andis closed captioned. Curriculum materials, including parentletters and recipes, can be printed directly from the DVD bysimply clicking on a selected title. The accompanying com-prehensive website has interactive kid-oriented quizzes,supplementary information for clients, and resource mate-rials for professionals working with limited resource fami-lies. A pre/post evaluation tool is available to measureknowledge gained and behavior change. USDA’s FoodStamp Program, through a contract awarded by the KansasDepartment of Social and Rehabilitation Services, fundsthis program.

S22 Abstracts