The School District of Palm Beach County’s Department of Afterschool Programming operates between the hours of 2:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. Students can remain in a program for up to four hours; therefore, it is imperative that healthy snacks be offered. Students are offered a choice of two healthy food options, as well as a drink source consisting of lowfat milk or 100% juice. Examples of healthy choices are vegetables and dip, trail mix, yogurt, cheese and whole wheat crackers, or whole grain cereal and lowfat milk. In addition, accommodations are made for students with dietary restrictions and/or food allergies. Afterschool site staff is encouraged to model healthy choices for their students by not having sugary food and drink items such as soda, candy, or any other unhealthy choice.

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  Corporate Care Works (CCW) offered the Creating Healthy Lifestyles training to afterschool staff on January 26, 2013. This training provided practical tips on nutrition, portion control and healthy eating behaviors. Participants discussed common barriers to maintaining proper weight, incorporating physical activities into a daily routine, smoking cessation as well as other topics that contribute to a healthy lifestyle.

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Give ‘em a Boost is an art and healthy living program initiative. The program utilizes the Camp Boost, Sports, Play, and Active Recreation for Kids (SPARK) and Discover Art curricula. Camp Boost, developed by Healthy Lifestyle Choices, is an educational program that empowers youth by developing the skills and attitudes needed to avoid participating in risky behaviors and to promote healthy living. Through the use of structured enrichment activities, students are afforded the opportunity to socialize, play, and engage in developmentally appropriate activities. Units focus on life skills, conflict resolution, nutrition, substance abuse prevention, safety and fitness.

Participating Afterschool Sites During the 2012-2013 School Year:

Indian Pines Elementary
Jupiter Elementary
Lincoln Elementary Elementary
Loxahatchee Groves Elementary
North Palm Beach Elementary
Orchard View Elementary
Seminole Trails Elementary
West Riviera Elementary
Highland Elementary

Explore Literacy is a research-based, academic enrichment curriculum developed by Instructional Specialists, and supported by The School District of Palm Beach County. Explore Literacy supports learning by exposing students to literature and allowing them to experience the curriculum in a hands-on, afterschool friendly approach. In the 2012-2013 school year, 42 schools in The School District of Palm Beach County’s afterschool programs participated in Explore Literacy. These programs were given the opportunity to explore topics that encouraged healthy eating including:

• default_titleA Tree for All Seasons by Robin Bernard
  A one week study in which students learned about different foods that trees produce and how these foods can be incorporated into a healthy lifestyle.
• default_titleStegosaurus by Elaine Landau
  A one week study in which students learned about the eating habits of carnivores, herbivores and omnivores; creating their own herbivore “Stegosaurus Salad.”
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Creative Arts Designed to Reinforce Education (CADRE), a program provided through the Center for Creative Education in cooperation with Prime Time Palm Beach County provides comprehensive, curriculum-based healthy lifestyle instructional units for elementary and middle school children. Afterschool programs are able to participate in lessons combining the arts and hands-on activities giving students a better understanding of nutrition from earth to table, food etiquette and positive youth development.

Many afterschool programs of The School District Palm Beach County have integrated gardening clubs into their program schedules. Gardening is a fun, hands-on approach to teaching students about healthy lifestyles. Students learn to grow their own fruits and vegetables, and have the opportunity in afterschool to use those foods in their own healthy cooking projects.

Throughout the fifteen 21st Century Community Learning Centers (CCLC), students were given the opportunity to learn about gardening through a Service Learning Project, the Edible Garden. Students participated in an outdoor classroom setting where they studied the steps involved in planting, nurturing and harvesting a vegetable garden. They were responsible for preparing the garden as well as maintaining it throughout the school year. Students later prepared recipes using the vegetables they harvested.