“Wise Kids Outdoors”
The following article was published by the Sajai Foundation
Located in inner-city North Minneapolis, Plymouth Christian Youth Center (PCYC) is a nonprofit organization serving youth and families that was founded in 1954. Despite the many barriers that they face in their lives, more than 6,000 young people each year go to PCYC to learn and grow as individuals as well as within a community. In fact, its mission attests to that spirit of learning and growth, by “enriching the skills, prospects, and spirit of North Minneapolis area youth and adults, in partnership with families and communities.”
This past summer, despite tough economic times and an overwhelmed budget, PCYC remained determined to bring health and wellness to the forefront of its summer children’s program, using teachable moments to help kids understand the value of healthy living. With a thoroughly engaged staff, not only did PCYC revamp its children’s meal program, walking away from a no-cost meal source to seek out healthier options, but it literally brought healthy food to life for the youth enrolled in its summer program. In conjunction with the Wise Kids Outdoors program and a grant from the University of Minnesota, PCYC planted a garden full of nutritious vegetables so that the children would learn how easy it is to grow nutritious food – and how good it tastes! The Wise Kids Outdoors program really sparked the children’s natural curiosity about the outdoors and helped them realize and appreciate that nature can be found right outside your door, even if you live in a city!
Plymouth Christian Youth Center is another great program taking active steps to create Healthier Kids, Healthier Communities, and a Healthier World!
Children find academic growth at PCYC
At first glance the prognosis for academic success may have seemed doubtful last fall – 48% of the students were below grade level in reading.
However, amazing results happened with the teacher and kids who had just enrolled in PCYC’s After School Enrichment Program.
Daily classroom instruction, individualized coaching and independent reading at the correct level is now combined with small reading groups led by a licensed teacher. This is resulting in positive academic growth and success for ALL of the children by the end of the school year.
“We strive to get all kids up to grade level,” said Karen Goodenough, Director of Youth and Family programs. “The gap we attempt to close is between grade level academic performance standards, and where each child is at individually.”
The results? Ninety-four percent of the students made one year or more growth in reading, surpassing our goal of 90 percent.
By the end of the school year, 78 percent of the students who started the year below grade level had made more than one year’s growth in their reading level. In other words, the total number of students reading at or above grade level increased from 52 percent at the beginning of the school year to 70 percent at the end—significantly narrowing the achievement gap.
PCYC’s after school program provides a safe and welcoming environment for children in North Minneapolis to learn, grow, and play. In addition to improving their reading skills, the children:
- Learned and practiced grade level math skills
- Increased their exposure to the arts
- Increased their knowledge of healthy behaviors related to nutrition and exercise
- Increased personal development in areas of leadership, self-confidence, and behavior management.
“Everything we do is intended to engage young people in learning,” said Goodenough. “In addition to hands on academics in reading and math, the remaining program day aims to engage youth in high interest activities to support their overall learning.
“Teachable moments are seized throughout the day–teaching kids about healthy eating habits through the snacks we serve, or learning leadership skills such as compromise, decision making and how to ask good questions while mediating a dispute between students,” Goodenough said.
Healthy and active lifestyles of mind and body are promoted daily, formally and informally, including yoga and dance classes. How do the children feel about their experiences?
“We conducted student satisfaction surveys which indicate that 100 percent of students learned new things and new skills while in our program,” Goodenough said. When asked to make a list, students said they learned:
- About butterflies.
- How to garden vegetables.
- The court system.
- How to make new friends.
- Math, reading and writing.
- How to eat healthy.
- To try new things, and
- Always tell the truth.
These results are very encouraging signs for the “Bright Futures in Action” at PCYC.
