Thanks to generous grants from the Roessner Family Foundation over the past few years, Healthy Lamoille Valley (HLV) has updated and created new resources for TimeWise: Taking Charge of Leisure Time (TW), an evidence-based curriculum originally funded through the National Institute on Drug Abuse to help middle school students get the most out of their leisure time by taking increased responsibility for managing what they do. Our initiative Live Your Why is based on the concepts of TimeWise and integrated into our curriculum offerings.
The TW curriculum was developed based on strong theoretical and research foundations that suggest that teaching youth how to use their free time in healthy ways contributes to healthy development, learning an important set of life skills, and reducing risk of self-harming behaviors including substance misuse.
Our TW Educator Cohort was formed through an application process from across our region. The goal and purpose is to complete a comprehensive scope and sequence for the TW curriculum across all school aged youth with Dr. Linda Caldwell, the curriculum author, and Dr. Alison Link, of Healthy Lamoille Valley and The Leisure Link. With the collaboration of our cohort members and with additional feedback from teachers who are currently implementing the curriculum, they will support collaborative curriculum development, including merging our Live Your Why initiative and developing parent/caregiver resources which build on our previous work. Read more about the Timewise (TW) curriculum.
We are thrilled to announce our TimeWise Cohort Educators who will support our expert consultants in grade appropriate sequencing from K-12, as well as full curriculum development with associated educator resources to be used throughout the Lamoille Valley. They will also receive a stipend and a mini grant for their school to assist in implementation of a TW initiative project. We are grateful for all of you and your interest, dedication and efforts as part of this project!
Cohort Members
We asked our cohort members “why do you think this topic/curriculum is important, what you are looking forward to being part of this cohort, and what is leisure for you?”
Anne Demars
Morristown Elementary School Math Interventionist, Enrichment Coordinator, After School Tutoring Facilitator
It is important for children to use their leisure time in a healthy way. One way to establish healthy leisure habits is to initiate opportunities for children after school and on weekends. We are lucky to have many community programs that children can access during their leisure time. Another important component for elementary children is to be reflective of what they are currently doing during their leisure time and think about what (if anything) they would change/add during their leisure time. Leisure time for me is being able to relax and do healthy things to help me “refuel” my tank. I love anything that has to do with nature such as hiking, kayaking, snowshoeing, long walks, watching sunsets, swimming, paddleboarding, cross country skiing, etc. I love escaping with a good book and have been part of a book club for 22 years! I enjoy doing puzzles, word games and math games.
Lisa Leopold
Morristown Elementary School and Peoples Academy Middle Level Music Teacher
As a music educator, I’ve always been interested in the complicated relationship between music as “fun” and music as “work”. I am excited to dive deeper into the topic of leisure, especially how it relates to how students find joy and meaning outside of their school day. In this phase of life, I find that my most meaningful leisure time is slow mornings with my 2 and 4 year old when we don’t have anywhere to be and we can create whatever we want.
Roger Murphy
Stowe High School Teacher, Community Based Learning Coordinator
This program is a fantastic opportunity to connect with students and families on such an important topic. I’m excited to bring another high school teacher’s perspective to the development of an age-appropriate, impactful curriculum that encourages students and families to be intentional about their use of leisure time, as it is so valuable and easily wasted! I spend my leisure time with my family and friends, often outside skiing or cycling, and otherwise playing board games, reading, playing guitar/mandolin and planning future adventures.
Amy O’Toole
Lamoille Union High School Special Educator, Lamoille Union Middle School X-country & Track Coach
I am excited to work in the community to increase participation in healthy activities. In my leisure time I like to be outside running, cycling, skiing, walking my 2 dogs and exploring Lake Champlain from the water.
Julie Rapoport
Bishop John A. Marshall School 5th Grade Teacher
Children today are very busy with extracurricular activities, however they need the opportunity to have leisure time. They need to figure out who they are and what they like, so when they have leisure time, it is filled with things they like. I am looking forward to being a part of this cohort, so we can give children resources to use to figure out their leisure. My leisure time is spent reading, mountain biking, and skiing.
Val Sullivan
Lamoille North Supervisory Union Director of Curriculum and Instruction
It is vitally important for children and young adults to make safe and healthy choices with how they use their time. I love working with colleagues to discuss, brainstorm, and plan support and opportunities for students to learn and grow.
Leisure to me is spending time with family, gardening, cooking (and eating!), and playing the piano.
Jenn Vargo
Peoples Academy Middle Level Health and Wellness Educator
I believe that many young people have become either accustomed to a highly structured, pre-scheduled and adult regulated lifestyle (school, music and sports lessons, summer camp, specialty camps, tutoring, etc) or have largely learned to use media-based ways to fill free time, thus seeking entertainment and community from electronic sources, such as social media, TV and video games. Helping today’s youth learn about, explore and come to love more active and self-directed healthy means of leisure – while reinforcing avoiding unhealthy choices and situations – is a great goal! My leisure is gardening, fencing, caring for my pets/animals (dog, chickens, duck and hopefully sheep this summer), working on my property, cleaning and organizing the house, going for walks and picking up litter…just being busy doing small things to make a better world. 🙂