December 15, 2008
Daren Kozevnikoff discovers the thrill of snowboarding thanks to a Diabetes Prevention Grant used to purchase outdoor winter recreation gear for Russian Mission School.
Preventing Diabetes with Snowboards and Sleds in Russian Mission
By Jason S. Moen, Instructional Leader, Russian Mission School
Thanks to a Diabetes Prevention Grant from YKHC, Russian Mission students are hitting the slopes to fight diabetes.
The long winters of the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta have long posed a problem for getting young adults out and exercising. While basketball and open gym have always drawn some students, the school was seeking ways to involve as many students as possible. Russian Mission's Winter Sports Grant included three components each geared towards different age groups and interests. The first goal was to put a sled in the hands of each and every student in grades K-6. Fifty-six Ski-Doo sleds were purchased at Costco-one for each student in grades K-6.
The next component was the purchase of snowboards. Rather than purchasing five brand new snowboards and bindings, teacher John Townsend visited several Cash Alaska pawn shops and purchased 15 lightly used snowboards with bindings for approximately $100 each. The sleds and snowboards were shipped out to Russian Mission with Frontier Flying Service and completely filled the Cessna 402. Upon arrival, students waited anxiously for the snow to fall.
As the snow fell one February afternoon, students stepped away from the TV, unplugged the video games, turned off of their snowmachines and hit the slopes. Every student with a sled was running up and sliding down the hill. Older students shared the snowboards and other students brought out their own boards. Jumps were built, tricks were attempted and by the end of the evening, there were plenty of wipeouts and plenty of smiles.
The biggest adventure of the year included an overnight snowboarding trip to the Kako Retreat Center 12 miles from Russian Mission. Students met up with college students on spring break for a week of fun on the Kako Hills. The third and final component includes adding to the school's cross-country ski equipment. Once all of the gear is purchased, the students and staff of Russian Mission School hope to spend a few days with the students and staff of Marshall Schools and share in the fun of sledding, snowboarding and skiing.
