Hampton-Dumont Middle School welcomes exercise equipment along Rolling Prairie Trailer connector

Community members and students can now workout while enjoying the sights along the Rolling Prairie Trail through Hampton.

Last month, the Hampton-Dumont Middle School in-stalled workout equipment on cement pads along the trail that leads from the middle school building to the Roll-ing Prairie Trail.

The six machines are designed to work out various parts of the body, such as biceps, legs and abdomens.

Hampton-Dumont Superintendent Todd Lettow said that the equipment was purchased through 5-2-1-0 funding available to the school. The 5-2-1-0 initiative pro-vides funds to individual communities for organizations to install programs and projects that facilitate healthier lifestyles.

Lettow said that while the equipment will be used for middle schoolers in P.E. classes and recess, he encourages anyone in the community looking for a quick workout while on a walk to give the new equipment a spin.

“We want people who walk by to utilize this equipment so if they’re out on a walk, they can stop for an exercise or two,” he said.

Lettow said the equipment can stand up to the elements but can also be removed, as the prairie grass the trail over-looks undergoes controlled burns every two or three years.

The equipment provides an added attraction to an already popular area, Lettow said. He said the district is looking at installing a cinder path on the east side of the prairie to form a complete path around the prairie grass. This will give students a place to walk during recess and the community a different path to see the other side of the prairie.

“We’re encouraging kids to have healthier lifestyles and we want to keep encouraging that,” he said. “Our P.E. classes are excited about this and we hope the community takes advantage of that.”

Lettow said by introducing new paths and equipment near the school, students can grasp onto healthier lifestyles while they are at school and bring those lessons home. He added that having community members use the trail and use the equipment can encourage students to do the same.

“Being healthy is a lifestyle and a choice, not just in P.E. at school, but it’s a life-long process,” he said. “What better way to showcase that than have people in the community using the equipment as well?”

Lettow said he’s pleased at the success of the 5-2-1-0 projects to this point as they not only encourage healthier lifestyles for children, but encourage collaboration across all sectors of a community. When people from many backgrounds are invested in bettering the community, Lettow said that example resonates in people of all ages.

“It always helps to have another organization that can give the same message to the kids and it gives it more credibility and more resources to help us with some of these things,” he said. “We just want to make sure we don’t squelch active learning, so if we can incorporate movement and the importance of being healthy during classes, I think that is important.”