Oceanside CA— Boys & Girls Clubs of Oceanside (BGCO) received $5,000 in grant funds from Nordson Corporation to support their Wellness Warriors Program.

This year-round program is designed to give youth the tools they need for a healthy lifestyle. Through classroom curriculum and hands-on experiences, Club members learn about preparing and eating healthy food, exploring stress reducing exercises like meditation, and exercising daily—all while having fun in the process. The program incorporates health related field trips and brings guest speakers from the American Heart Association and the Lung Association.
The Club collaborates with Coastal Roots Farm to teach youth about farming through field trips and on-site exploration of the Club’s garden. Through this collaboration, members experiment with and learn about soil content and composting, as well as test out their green thumbs in the Club’s newly assembled greenhouse. Produce grown by youth is used in cooking education and brought home to share with families.
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 setting allows staff the freedom to create a curriculum that is impactful and engaging, while working to combat the obesity crisis.
“Wellness Warriors is a unique and holistic approach to healthy lifestyles,” said Jodi Diamond, CEO. “Throughout the program, our youth benefit from hands on projects and activities. With support from partners like Nordson, we are able to make sure our youth have the tools they need to develop a lifelong commitment to health and wellness.”
For more information about the Boys & Girls Clubs of Oceanside please contact Hannah Moss at [email protected], call (760) 433-8920, and visit our website BGCOceanside.org or Facebook page at: www.facebook.com/BGCOside .