It’s a bird, it’s a plane! No, it’s a teacher flying through the air on a zip line.

The Northwest Regional Fuel Up to Play 60 Summit went to new heights on Monday, June 27, at Tree to Tree Aerial Adventure Park. On the first day of a two day summit, a unique mix of educational and agricultural leaders learned firsthand about the learning connection between physical activity and brain function while testing their own physical abilities.

Fuel Up to Play 60 is an in-school nutrition and physical activity program created by the National Dairy Council and the NFL, in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Inspired and led by youth, it empowers students to eat healthy, be active and make positive changes in their schools and communities.

The Oregon Dairy and Nutrition Council and Idaho Dairy Council invited leaders from schools and farms in both states who are committed to bettering the lives of students and learning ways of leveraging the proven benefits of improved learning through better diet and exercise. During the summit, they shared their Fuel Up to Play 60 experiences aimed at engaging and empowering youth to eat healthy and to be physically active at school, at home and in the community.

“This regional summit brought together school administrators, nutrition service directors, teachers, state partners and dairy farmers to increase everyone’s understanding of the connection between agriculture, healthy eating, physical activity and learning,” said Crista Hawkins, Manager of School Programs for Oregon Dairy and Nutrition Council. “We have so much to learn from one another.”

Cliff Garbett reflects on the regional Summit and Fuel Up to Play 60.