BHC Orientation

Every day, thousands of children across our state utilize before- and after-school programs as safe, supportive places to spend constructive time. The types of activities that we integrate into these programs can play an important role in children’s physical and mental health. When out-of-school programs emphasize wellness – like fun physical activity and healthy snacks, it can help them achieve the recommended 60-minutes of daily exercise, and can improve children’s diet quality, food security, and the likelihood of choosing healthy foods on their own.

The Healthy Kids Club (HKC) is a free before- or after-school program that offers a fun, safe, and supportive environment for all elementary students to engage in physical activity and healthy eating with their peers. While each club can select the types of activities in which they engage, we want to focus on keeping children active and providing a nutritious snack. The HKC provides an opportunity for children, especially those who may not otherwise engage in after-school fitness, to join friends in a fun, free, healthy club. Below, you’ll find lots of resources to a) get your club up and running, b) promote physical activity, including mileage clubs and active games, and c) easy snack ideas that reinforce the healthy messages children are receiving during the school day.

Have questions? Please reach out to your BHC School Coordinator for support or additional ways that you can make your HKC a fun, healthy experience!

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Healthy Kids Club Logistics

As you get started structuring your Healthy Kids Club, you’ll want to plan for some basic logistics, including determining your capacity for club attendance and activities. some important logistics to consider:

Recruit participants and gather permission slips.
Plan for healthy snacks!
Plan games that match the abilities of your students.
Measure for mileage.
Track students’ attendance

5 – Step Process

After many years of working with schools throughout Michigan, Building Healthy Communities has identified five steps for an effective Healthy Kids Club session. This formula is designed for a one-hour HKC session that encourages physical activity, healthy eating, and FUN! Feel free to use it as a guide if it works for the makeup of your school’s HKC.

Healthy Kids Club Advisor Resources