Healthy Lifestyles

HEALTHY LIFESTYLES:

Our Healthy Lifestyle initiatives empower young people to adopt positive behaviors that promote their well-being, set personal goals, and successfully transition into self-sufficient adults. Nearly 62.2% of Club members report engaging in at least 60 minutes of physical activity five or more days a week.

Basketball is our most popular sport, with families regularly asking about registration and season start dates. The popularity of basketball grew significantly due to our Elementary Sports League program. This partnership between the Boys & Girls Clubs, YMCA, Parks Tacoma, and Tacoma Public Schools resulted in 250 teams and over 5,000 youth participating in basketball and staying active. It’s exciting to have all league teams play at the Boys & Girls Clubs on Saturdays, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. This partnership makes it possible for many families, who may not be able to afford traditional athletic programs, to provide their children with opportunities to participate in sports.

As part of our Healthy Lifestyles initiative, we also offer BGCA's award-winning Triple Play program, which focuses on three key areas:

Mind: This component helps Club members develop the knowledge to make healthy choices, such as understanding portion sizes, making smart food choices, and preparing balanced meals. We are enhancing this initiative by implementing cooking and nutrition classes with USDA-certified chefs, teaching kids how to eat healthier and providing valuable life skills for their future.

Body: We encourage youth to stay physically active through fun daily fitness activities, games, and challenges. These fitness challenges help kids of all ages engage in movement, build endurance, and develop a love for physical activity. At the Club, staff lead physical warm-ups before structured activities to ensure that everyone is moving and ready for the day's program.

Social-Emotional: This component fosters social recreation programs that strengthen interpersonal skills, promote good character, and encourage positive relationships. It helps Club members build self-confidence, develop a sense of self-worth, and cope effectively with both positive and negative situations. Staff lead structured programs, including team games, that foster teamwork, communication, and respect for rules, helping children develop strong, well-rounded character traits.

Program Highlight: Nutritional Food Program

Our Nutritional Food Program provides free meals and snacks to address the nutrition gaps children may face when school is out. Many youth return to empty homes after school and lack access to healthy meals or snacks. According to Child Trends Data, inadequate food intake in children is linked to serious health, behavioral, and cognitive challenges. Food insecurity increases the risk of poor health and developmental delays, and paradoxically, can also lead to a higher risk of obesity.

The Nutritional Food Program is a key part of our Healthy Lifestyles initiative, helping youth develop healthy behaviors and lead active, balanced lives. Offered Monday through Friday, both after school and during the summer, the program ensures that youth receive nutritious meals and snacks. By providing consistent access to healthy food, we help ensure that children are well-nourished, prepared to engage in educational and recreational programs, and ready to grow in a supportive environment.