Whitecourt teens YOLO into active lifestyles

You Only Live Once Program educates youth on healthy living

Story by Mark Evans; Photo credit: Courtesy Whitecourt YOLO Program

Mark Bell, a Grade 8 student at Percy Baxter School in Whitecourt is reading nutrition labels, eating healthier and trying new activities to be active since participating in YOLO Whitecourt, a recently-launched program to get local teens living healthier and more active lifestyles.

Bell liked his Phys Ed class in school but signed up for the program wanting to learn more about how to get fitter and be healthier.

Alberta Health Services (AHS) staff came up with the idea for the Whitecourt YOLO program after discussions with some local teachers highlighted the need for more options for teens to be active and live a healthy lifestyle, beyond the usual organized or team sports.

“As a Phys Ed teacher the goal is 100 per cent participation, but competitive sports aren’t for everyone,” said Daniel Hein, athletic director at the Grade 4-12 École St. Joseph School in Whitecourt.

He wanted to reach out to those students and expose them to all the opportunities that exist in the community to be active. He knew it’s often intimidating for a student to show up at the local recreation centre to try something different like yoga, kickboxing or TRX training.

Lyndsay Perkins, physiotherapy assistant along with the AHS team of dieticians, nurses and mental health staff involved in the Whitecourt Healthy Living program saw the opportunity to adapt the program for youth.

“We’re just trying to reach those kids who don’t fit the regular physical activity programs,” says Perkins.

With a $1,000 donation from Taiga Helicopters Ltd they piloted the program at École St. Joseph School in spring 2014 and nine students completed the program.

The project was a success and with ongoing funding from Friends of Whitecourt, it ran again at Percy Baxter School in the fall of 2014 and 14 kids, including Bell, completed the program. Another session started at Hilltop High school in February and another session is planned back at St. Joseph in May.

The seven-week program runs twice a week with each session starting with a 15-minute education session and then a 45-minute exercise session where they tried out a wide range of activities at the Town of Whitecourt’s Allan and Jean Millar Centre, also partners in the program.

“It was fun and I learned more about eating better and how to be healthier,” said Bell.

The program ended with participants cooking a healthy meal for their families and participants getting a six-month membership to the Allan and Jean Millar Centre to continue their activity.

“I think for a lot of them it was opening up their eyes to all the different ways you can exercise and have fun doing it,” said Perkins.

Perkins saw improvements in the students’ endurance and strength and many of the participants continued with the exercises and the healthy eating tips made their way into the families’ homes.

“If they can take away a couple of things and learn how they can change their lifestyle, reduce their risk for chronic illness and take that back to their family, it’s a long-term benefit to their health,” says Perkins.

Bell agreed, adding that he not only knows more about portion control, daily exercise and the need for the right amount of sleep he’s also getting out to the walking track and playing volleyball.

In the school Hein saw similar changes in the students from the program last spring. One signed up for a Phys Ed class in the fall, another tried out for the volleyball team and became the starting setter.

“They’ve shown more self-confidence and the desire to participate,” said Hein.