Hall of Famers Des and Jay Reading Inspire Students at Earhart Magnet School | Professional Disc Golf Association

Earhart Environmental Magnet School in Wichita, Kansas, is a place where "no child is left indoors," and it shows on Earth Day. The school's commitment to outdoor activities has led them to host an annual celebration that brings the community together. This year, disc golf took center stage as a featured activity, with the help of professional disc golf world champions Des and Jay Reading.

Des Reading, who leads the PDGA's Youth and Education department, has been working tirelessly to encourage junior disc golf participation since 2019. Her husband, Jay, is a founding member of the non-profit Educational Disc Golf Experience (EDGE), which has brought disc golf programming and equipment to millions of students worldwide. The Readings were more than happy to participate in Earhart's Earth Day celebration.

The school's 9-hole disc golf course, installed in Fall 2020 by the Dynamic Discs Course Design Team, features a unique mix of shot shaping holes with two tee pads for each hole and an average length of 102 feet from the shorts and 195 feet from the longs. First-year teacher Trey Thompson seized the opportunity to create a disc golf club for 4th and 5th graders, which has attracted over 20 students. The club meets twice a week after school and hopes to form a competitive team soon.

Thanks to the PDGA Youth and Education COVID-19 Relief grant, the school received additional equipment and resources to fuel their disc golf initiative. Principal Matt Malget and Thompson worked together to apply for the grant, which provided extra support for the school's efforts.

The Readings' clinic was a huge success, with participants including Earhart students, families, faculty, local business owners, and community members. The generosity of EDGE and the Disc Golf Pro Tour allowed for donations of lightweight Aviars, ensuring that all attendees had access to suitable discs. The clinic included putting sessions, basic instruction, line work, relay games, and drills from the EDGE curriculum.

To conclude the Earth Day celebration, students enjoyed a CTP contest and the Ring of Fire – their favorite activities. The event was a testament to the school's dedication to providing outdoor opportunities for its community and showed that disc golf can be an exciting way to bring people together.

This article was compiled from disc golf coverage with AI assistance. Source: pdga.com — https://www.pdga.com/news/hall-famers-des-and-jay-reading-inspire-students-earhart-magnet-school