Governor's Council on Physical Fitness & Sports

Park Program In The Spotlight

Bay Point Garden Project

SILVER MEDALIST

The vision of the Mt. Diablo CARES Afterschool Program, a collaboration of Ambrose Recreation and Park District and Mt. Diablo Unified School District is "Children Learning to Change the World," and that vision is changing children and staff! CARES is committed to improving the physical activity and nutrition of all its 2,200 low-income students (approximately 2/3 free and reduced lunch eligible). It offers all students 60 minutes daily of moderate to vigorous physical activity. Often we don't think about gardening as physical activity, but it is at CARES. CARES strengthens its program through gardens found at every site that give children the opportunity to grow and taste fresh fruits and vegetables, while adding to their physical activity and inspiring healthy changes! Recreation Supervisor, Debra Mason oversees the organic garden that is part of this program, at Riverview Middle School. Every summer 20 youth, 14 - 20 years old, participate in Teen Garden Corp and have life changing experiences. This is a six week youth development program and summer employment opportunity for local teens. The teens work in the garden learning the importance of eating right and being physically active, then in the afternoon they serve as garden teachers working with children from the CARES program. After completing the program the teens receive a stipend and are invited to come back in the Fall and work as garden mentors. After which they are invited to work as a Recreation Specialist in the CARES afterschool program. They have really helped to integrate nutrition and physical activity into CARES because they have learned the importance of it while in Teen Garden Corp and pass it along to the elementary kids in program. Many of the teens have started their own gardens at home that they work in with their families.

More Park Programs In The Spotlight

Orange

Fun on the Run
GOLD MEDALIST In a city of 75,000 with a large Hispanic contingency, obesity is a significant issue. Fun on the Run mobile recreation unit, which was funded through a collaboration between the City of San Clemente and two local hospitals, operates 5 days per week at four underserved neighborhoods, sometimes in cul-de-sacs of neighborhoods where there aren't parks. Up to 45 children per day participate in physical activities and ... Read More »

San Mateo

Stay Fit & Play a Bit
BRONZE MEDALIST In February 2010 the Redwood City Youth Advisory Board (YAB) consisting of 9 junior high students, created and led a program they named Stay Fit & Play A Bit. The goals of the program: 1) Have fun 2) Be active & exercise 3) Learn about healthy food 4) Teamwork. YAB members led 2nd & 3rd grade students from Taft Elementary School in a one week program ... Read More »

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