Natrona County students now have even more opportunities to try out fitness equipment like kayaks, rollerblades and snowshoes in their physical education classes.

Approximately $1.4 million has been awarded to the school district from the Carol M. White Physical Education for Progress Grant. It's the school district's second grant from the program.

The money will be used over the next three years to develop the school district's lifetime fitness and nutrition programs.

Amy Costello and Christy Olsen are co-coordinators for the grant. Both women also teach physical education at Natrona County High School.

Costello said the grant's focus this time around is to increase nutrition education and make sure all physical education teachers are trained in new curriculum opportunities.

The grant also leaves room to work closely with the district's student wellness representative to implement healthy school projects, Costello said.

Kristin Underwood, the first grant's coordinator, said physical education is in transition right now. The "old P.E" program of teaching skills doesn't teach students important lifetime healthy habits.

"It's important that kids know how to catch and throw," Underwood said. "That helps them participate in lifelong activities. But the new P.E. is looking at individual health."

Lifelong fitness programs show students how to set goals for themselves, what it is to be healthy and fit, and how to carry those skills into adulthood, Underwood said. Programs also include opportunities to learn kayaking, rollerblading and other activities.

"By the time they become adults, they will have a background knowledge of how to be healthy and fit," Underwood said.

Reach education reporter Jasa Santos at (307) 266-0593 or at Jasa.Santos@trib.com.