Skagit Valley College’s Skagit/Islands Head Start program was awarded three $5,000 grants to improve outdoor play spaces from Head Start Body Start National Center for Physical Development and Outdoor Play of Reston, Va.

Spaces to be improved are Hand-in-Hand Early Learning Center in Oak Harbor, Pacific Place Head Start in Mount Vernon and the Susan M. Edwards-Wilbur Early Education Center in La Conner.

“These grants will enable our Head Start centers to enhance and improve outdoor learning environments for the children and families we serve. These centers also operate in partnership with their associated school districts, special education providers and in La Conner, tribal government, so the playgrounds will benefit low income children enrolled in Head Start as well as children with special needs,” Mary Ellen Lykins, director of Skagit/Islands Head Start, said in a press release.

A total of 394 grants were awarded nationally. In addition to the play space improvement, each award-winning Head Start center will have access to online courses, webinars and resource materials.

Head Start Body Start National Center for Physical Development and Outdoor Play is a project of the National Association for Sport and Physical Education and the American Association for Physical Activity and Recreation, which are associations of the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance.