Wes Nugteren leads Oxford Elementary School students from the school gardens at Roberts Farm to catch the bus and return to their classroom in Oxford last Thursday. Nugteren is a program management specialist with Health Oxford Hills, a position funded by the New Balance Foundation. He leads outdoor education for third and fourth grades at the farm preserve Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays using tools from Fit Kit, a program developed by New Balance and Boston Children’s Hospital that focuses on teaching kids balance of five health topics: exercise, nutrition, stress, sedentary activities and sleep. Saroya Wronski’s third grade class spent the day hiking – combining exercise with mindfulness – and learning about different foods grown in the gardens. “It’s an opportunity for them to try new things. It’s more fun for them to try something new growing in the garden because they picked it, rather than at home on a plate,” Mr. Wes explained. Cherry tomatoes were a hit while celery paired with ranch dressing not so much; the taste and fragrance of fresh dill produced several surprised expressions. Nicole Carter / Advertiser Democrat