Youth Voice: Youth Choice-Promoting Healthy Lifestyles Through Hands-On Programming to Youth By Youth

Elizabeth Shephard
UF/IFAS/Brevard County Extension

Get Active is an event to encourage kids and their families to become more active in an effort to fight childhood obesity. This festival-style event was held to raise awareness about the importance of good nutrition and physical activity in maintaining wellness. In addition, the program was able to bring awareness to research based information and where this information can be found in the community as it relates to nutrition and health. During this day-long event the educational vendors all had learning games/activities for families as well as educational hand-outs.

Vendors included, safe kids, the health department, the Extension Service, Florida Institute of Technology, Health First, Brevard healthcare forum, early learning coalition, American Heart Association and YMCA. There were field activities for participants that included obstacle courses, soccer, golf, skate boarding, rock climbing and basketball. There were demonstrations by recreational groups such as cheerleading, dance groups, aerobics, marching bands and martial arts.

Educational presentations included doctor panels, think your drink, making healthy snacks, choosing healthy foods at school, creating an active lifestyle in Brevard County and the food pyramid. This event involved many partners within the community allowing all health and activity related groups to collaborate on a program. In the two years of the program there were over 2000 participants.

Out of the 81 surveys returned:
75% of participants learned about new resources in the community.
57% have utilized at least one of the services.
42% of the participants reported including a family exercise activity at least 5 times a week.
41% reported decreasing screen time daily 1-5 hours a day.
42% reported consuming healthier beverages.
43% reported eating dinner together at least 5 times a week.