The Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe's South Dakota reservation has found the key to raising
healthy kids - gardening. However, the Cheyenne River Youth Project provides reservation children with a number of activities no matter the season, The Huffington Post reports.
Although the student-run garden has been put to sleep for the season, the children who participate in the program are staying active in the local gymnasium and are still enjoying the fruits of their labor for dinner each night.
"A lot of our children live on commodity and packaged foods, and the garden teaches them to appreciate healthy fruits and vegetables," Cheyenne River Youth Project's founder and director, tribal member Julie Garreau, told the news outlet. "Eating those foods also supports lifelong wellness, helping prevent diabetes and other chronic illnesses."
While the children get to learn about the outdoors and how the healthy foods can nourish them, they also learn to help others - the corn, beans, squash, tomatoes, chilies, greens and berries are donated to local elders and women's shelters. Others are sold at a farmer's market by teens who are learning about entrepreneurship and nutrition.
In addition to running a successful garden, the students also have the opportunity to participate in team sports such as basketball as well as classes in ballet and yoga. Kids can also stay healthy by playing on
natural playgrounds and other
playground equipment.