Oceanside CA— As a part of their efforts to make health and wellness a top priority, Boys & Girls Clubs of Oceanside (BGCO) has received $11,500 in grant funding from Tri-City Health Care District to support their Wellness Warriors Program.
Now in its third year, Wellness Warriors runs year-round and is designed to provide youth with knowledge to live a healthy lifestyle. It is a dynamic program that incorporates classroom curriculum, outdoor fitness activities and challenges, and nutrition and cooking activities.
This summer, as part of the program, Club members went to Coastal Roots Farm and got to enjoy the outdoors while digging dirt, learning the importance of earth worms, and picking fresh fruit from the farm. Members even picked their own cucumbers and learned how to pickle them at home!
The program also brings guest speakers from Tri-City Hospital, the American Heart Association and Power Crunch to talk to members about physical health and the importance of exercise. Power Crunch visited BGCO twice this summer to host field fun with running, jumping, and hula hoops.
Wellness Warriors also addresses emotional health and brings in speakers from QPR Institute and North County Lifeline to ensure teens are equipped with tools to support them through tougher times. Topics included learning how to handle the loss of a loved one as well as how to question, persuade and refer a friend who is struggling with suicide.
According to the California Department of Education, 31% of youth in San Diego County are overweight. The Wellness Warriors program works to benefit the physical health of members as well as nourishing their emotional health. The after school and camp settings allow staff the freedom to create a curriculum that is impactful and engaging, while working to combat the obesity crisis.
“BGCO is committed to creating an environment of health and wellness,” said Jodi Diamond, CEO. “Through support from partners like Tri-City Healthcare District, we are able to provide the Wellness Warriors Program to give our youth the opportunity to live a healthy lifestyle and feel a sense of pride in their well-being.”
For more information about the Boys & Girls Clubs of Oceanside please contact Hannah Moss at HMoss@BGCOceanside.org, call (760) 433-8920, and visit our website BGCOceanside.org or Facebook page at: www.facebook.com/BGCOside .