Disc Golf Empowerment: 35 Schools Across US & Canada Receive Equipment Grants

The Professional Disc Golf Association (PDGA) has made significant strides in promoting youth access to disc golf since its inception in 2019. As part of their ongoing efforts, PDGA Youth and Education has partnered with several organizations to award equipment grants to 35 schools across the United States and Canada. This initiative aims to provide age-appropriate discs and a standards-based curriculum to over 20,000 students.

The grant recipients span 23 states in the US and three programs in Canada, covering elementary, middle, and high school levels. The Relief Packages include 50 age-appropriate discs and Getting the EDGE, a comprehensive disc golf curriculum designed for grades 3-12. This innovative program has the potential to revolutionize physical education departments by introducing students to a fun and engaging sport.

One of the grant recipients is Oakwood School in Greenville, North Carolina, which already boasts a thriving disc golf club. The school's coaches have implemented the Disc Golf STRONG warm-up exercises and plan to attend local tournaments as spectators or volunteers this fall. Another recipient, Broadmoor Junior High in Pekin, Illinois, has established a campus course and is grateful for the donated DGPT stamped discs.

The grant also highlights the impact of disc golf on students' lives. Travis Free, a physical educator at Glenwood Elementary in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, developed a nine-hole disc golf course within the school's gym area over two years ago. The course has become an integral part of the school community, with students and families enjoying it immensely.

The grant recipients were selected based on their commitment to promoting youth disc golf and addressing specific needs. Three of the grants were funded by the Disc Golf Pro Tour's Community Connect initiative in partnership with EDGE. These packages included four portable targets, 50 discs, and a comprehensive curriculum. The stories of ingenuity and resilience from these applications are truly inspiring.

As part of this initiative, Project Partners have provided a wide range of age-appropriate discs, including Aviars, Buzzzs, Cobras, Magics, Mystics, and Wizards. These donations will benefit over 20,000 students across the selected schools. The PDGA Youth and Education team extends their gratitude to all participating teachers and schools for supporting youth disc golf.

While this grant opportunity has closed, PDGA Youth and Education continues to focus on developing school disc golf clubs and organized play initiatives. As they say, "Throw for Sport - Play for Life." With the support of organizations like Gateway Disc Sports, Innova, Discraft, Disc Golf Pro Tour, and EDGE, the future of youth disc golf looks bright indeed.

This article was compiled from disc golf coverage with AI assistance. Source: pdga.com — https://www.pdga.com/news/pdga-announces-physical-education-covid-19-grant-awardees