Several West Virginia communities have created maps of the waking/running/hiking/biking/ cross-country skiing trails in their area. They hand maps out to local residents and put them in their tourism/economic development package to draw people looking for a relaxing outdoor experience. The Mid-Ohio Valley Health Department mapped all the hiking and biking trails in its six-county area. Huntington-area bike commuters have mapped the safest biking routes....

This is not the track team

It doesn’t cost much to jump rope. Dozens of  West Virginia schools now have jump rope teams. Some compete with each other. At Cabell County’s Martha Elementary, for instance, more than fifty 3rd through 5th-graders are on a jump rope team that competes in a league with six to eight other schools. In fact, Parkersburg native Tori Boggs, is now the world jump-rope champion! And the Jump...

  Barbour County  Adaland Community Heritage Orchard The Adaland Community Heritage Orchard project is supported by 11 Barbour County partners who want to build a healthier community through home gardening and healthy cooking/food preservation. Try This WV will let them buy 36 young apple trees (20 for planting and 16 to give away) and supplies for an heritage orchard planted on the Adaland Mansion...

  Try This …. and this … and this … and this … A wonderful smorgasbord of affordable, do-able ideas are waiting for you in Buckhannon, June 3 – 4!  More than 120 of your fellow West Virginians are volunteering their time to pack your head with healthy-community ideas! West Virginians trading ideas! Community by community, we’re creating a healthier state!     Full...

2014 grants:  $82,000 to 42 community teams.   Our 42 teams rose to the challenge in 2014!  The 2014 Try This minigrants ranged from $3,000 to $450. By October 1st, 66 percent of them had already exceeded at least one of their goals. When we award a minigrant, the team agrees to secure local match. By year’s end, the 2014 teams had used their minigrants as...

Here’s the list of 2015-16 projects: $102,000 to 53 community teams.    Barbour County   Green Thumbs, Dirty Hands and Healthy Kids. Master Gardeners will pair with a PreK-8 school to create a garden that grows produce for the school cafeteria. Children will track production and learn about healthy eating. About 200 students will harvest six 4’x8’ raised vegetable garden beds. They will chart growth,...

From early-morning yoga though inspiring, idea-packed sessions, to dancing in the dark with finger-tip lights, Try This is filled with positive energy and hope for our state.    Info on minigrants here.  Breakout session list    Thursday, June 6 Come early! Relax and be fresh for the conference! Enjoy networking, exhibits, and physical activities on The Green! Explore Buckhannon!   Try This Healthcare Professionals...

In 2018, 55 Mini-grants were awarded over $76,000 to start healthy, sustainable projects in their communities.

2017-18 Try This Mini-grants by county   Barbour County Eagles SOAR (Surmounting Obstacles through Agriculture & Recreation) – This team will greatly expand healthy activities at Kasson Elementary Middle School. After a new greenhouse is built, students will plant at least seven unusual vegetables and the team will organize quarterly healthy food tasting events for students PK-8, parents, and community members. They will also...

We’re still adding sessions and presenters!  …  full list and schedule up soon We thought we’d give you this sneak peek before the early bird rate disappears!   REGISTER HERE!   Mindful West Virginia. In two years, Mindful WV has exploded into a statewide organization that has trained 500+ teachers to weave yoga and mindfulness through the day. It all started with a Try...

Created during the 2017 Try This conference, using quotes from participants

54 wonderful minigrant projects in 2016-17!  Boone County Bike and Fishing Clubs for Area Youth – Whitesville Police will mentor youth biking and fishing clubs. The club meetings will include a positive anti-drug message, and the team will participate in weekly Family Adventure Nights. The bike club will go on bi-monthly group rides twice a month, and the project team will host at least...