As part of the Blue Zones Project, Wayland Academy students must participate in a variety of athletics, health, and physical education activities. Courtesy of Wayland Academy
The Blue Zones Project is a community-led well-being improvement initiative designed to make healthier choices easier by encouraging simple changes to environment, policy, and social networks. Currently, nine U.S. communities, including Dodge County, Wisconsin, where Wayland is located, are participating Blue Zones.
Health is one of the four pillars of a Wayland education—along with scholarship, faith, and service. “The Blue Zones programming reinforces many of the activities that were already taking place on campus pertaining to health and provided additional natural opportunities to enhance the lives of our students, faculty, and staff,” says Joseph Lennertz, head of school.
With the Blue Zones Project, the school has added a number of healthful practices, including a guided mindfulness exercise at assembly, yoga classes for faculty and staff, designated parking spaces to encourage walking, a new walking path open to the community, the Day of Caring volunteer program in which students help area nonprofits, additional healthy menu choices in the cafeteria, and after-work gatherings to further foster a sense of community and connection.
“The whole premise of Blue Zones is making the healthy choice the easy choice,” Lennertz says. “Students and parents are excited to have this initiative in our school.”
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