Educators getting mind and body workout at summit

Teachers, early childhood educators and recreation providers will be getting a workout at the Active Body, Active Mind Physical Literacy Summit. 
Nipissing University is hosting the summit, taking place on Wednesday, August 30, from 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. 

The 109 conference delegates are coming prepared to be active, ready with running shoes and active wear, to learn first-hand about methods and lessons aimed at engaging youth in physical literacy.  Sessions focus on topics such as Supporting Mental Health with Physical Literacy; Integrating Physical Literacy Across the Curriculum; Fun, Fitness, and Fundamentals; and Outdoor Environmental Inquiry. 

"With the increased screen time and inactivity that we are seeing in children today, understanding physical literacy and ways to engage children in building physical literacy is vital to community health,” said Dr. Barbi Law, associate professor in the School of Physical and Health Education at Nipissing University. “The goal is to provide educators, recreation providers, and other professionals working with children information and tools to help them learn about physical literacy and incorporate activities that build physical literacy into their programming.”

Keynote speakers include Dr. Mark Tremblay, at 8:45 a.m. in room B200 and Sarah Gallsworthy, at 2:55 p.m. in room B200. 

Dr. Mark Tremblay is the Director of Healthy Active Living and Obesity Research (HALO) at the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute and Professor of Pediatrics in the Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa. He is a Fellow of the American College of Sports Medicine, Chair of the Active Healthy Kids Global Alliance, Chair of the Canadian Physical Activity Guidelines Committee, Founder of the Sedentary Behaviour Research Network, and former Dean of Kinesiology at the University of Saskatchewan. Dr. Tremblay has published more than 330 scientific papers and book chapters in the areas of childhood obesity, physical activity measurement, exercise physiology, sedentary physiology and health surveillance. Dr. Tremblay has received an honorary doctorate from Nipissing University, the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal, the Lawson Foundation 60th Anniversary Award and the Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology Honour Award for his leadership contributions to healthy active living in Canada.

Sarah Gallsworthy has been involved with sport and recreation for more than 20 years. She began her career in Recreation for the City of Victoria, BC, then moved East to develop a grass roots program for a Provincial Sports Organization and then injury prevention at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre. Sarah is a learning facilitator for National Coaching Certification Program Fundamental Movement Skills, a Physical Literacy facilitator for Sport for Life, is a master trainer with High Five and volunteers with KidSport. She is a true champion for children’s physical literacy.

For more information,please visit the website, here.

The Active Body, Active Mind Physical Literacy Summit is organized provided in partnership by YMCA North Bay, Nipissing University, Canadore College, Near North District School Board, Nipissing-Parry Sound Catholic District School Board, Conseil Scolaire Catholique Franco-Nord, Conseil Scolaire Public du Nord-Est de I'Ontario, Community Living North Bay, and the North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit.