Funds to to Expand Garden at San Luis Rey Elementary
Oceanside CA— Boys & Girls Clubs of Oceanside (BGCO) has received a $1,000 grant from San Diego County Ag in the Classroom to support the Warriors program by expanding the existing garden at San Luis Rey Elementary.
Now in its fourth year, Wellness Warriors runs year-round and is designed to provide youth with the tools they need to make healthy lifestyle choices. This unique health and wellness program incorporates classroom curriculum, outdoor fitness activities and challenges, nutrition and cooking activities as well as suicide prevention.
According to the California Department of Education, 31% of youth in San Diego County are and will face lifelong health issues if their lifestyle patterns are not changed. The Wellness Warriors program aims to actively engage youth in taking control of their physical and emotional well-being. They need the nutrition, exercise, stress reduction and healthy cooking curriculum that this program provides.
In order to encourage our youth members to eat more fruits and vegetables and give them a hands-on experience, BGCO staff and members started a Garden Club. Under the guidance of staff, youth planted the garden’s very first plants- herbs (rosemary, thyme, oregano, basil, and sage), tomatoes and turnips! Youth in the Garden Club, 3r to 5th graders, tend to the garden three times a week. They have worked extremely hard to get the garden started, and BGCO is looking forward to using the grant funds to really make the garden grow!
“We are so grateful to the San Diego County Ag in the Classroom for this grant. Our youth need to learn the importance of good nutrition now more than ever, and that all starts with learning how food is grown. We can’t wait to see our new garden beds flourish as a result of this grant funding!” said Jodi Diamond, CEO.
For more information about the Boys & Girls Clubs of Oceanside please contact Rhonda Guaderrama at rguaderrama@BGCOceanside.org, call (760) 433-8920, and visit our website BGCOceanside.org or Facebook page at: www.facebook.com/BGCOside.