Eat, move, read

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Katrina Heikkinen
  • 341st Missile Wing Public Affairs
MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. --  The Department of Defense summer reading program returns this summer to more than 250 installation libraries, including 74 Air Force libraries, with a goal to encourage and support a love for reading among military children and families.

This year's theme is "Reading is so Delicious!" and library visitors may participate in a range of free activities. Last year's "A Midsummer's Knight's Read" theme inspired military children around the globe to read and dream and resulted in an increase of more than 400 percent in program participation. Air Force library officials hope for similar levels of participation this year.
"Although the DoD chooses the theme each year, each base can put their own twist on it," said Linda Paronto, 341st Force Support Squadron library director. "Here at Malmstrom's library, we chose to put a healthy viewpoint on it, with an emphasis on eating healthy, exercising, and reading for knowledge and fun."

Malmstrom's subtitle for the program is "Eat, Move, Read," and the Health and Wellness Center will be teaming with the library to teach about fruits, vegetables and healthy eating.

"We'll be teaching children the difference between fruits, veggies and the food pyramid," said Kandice Hanenburg, 341st Medical Operations Squadron office manager. "We'll also discuss Myplate, which educates on overall food nutrition and portion control."

Malmstrom's program will run from July 2 to 31 for children ages 2 to 16. Upon signing up for the program, participants will receive a bag of goodies, a reading log, two prizes and a T-shirt.

There's also a serious side to summer reading. Research spanning 100 years shows that students typically score lower on standardized tests at the end of summer vacation than they do on the same tests at the beginning of the summer, said Margie Buchanan, Air Force Services Agency libraries division chief.

"Children who don't read during the summer can lose a whole grade in their reading levels," Paronto said. "That's why we want to make reading fun for the children. If the participants come in every week after reading at least 15 minutes a week, they get a prize."

Airmen and families will find this DoD-wide program "family friendly" as it allows those who are moving to new installations to meet other children in their age groups during the summer - thus lessening the stress of being new in their schools.

"Without the support of the DoD we wouldn't be able to provide these programs," Paronto said.

For more information about the DoD summer reading program, interested participants can stop by the Malmstrom library; open Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; or visit http://ila.org/dodsumread. Those who are not near an installation can email dodsumread@navy.mil to find out how to participate.