After School Programs: Call for Pilot Sites Across Canada

Monday, October 3, 2011

Physical & Health Education Canada is seeking 20 After School programs from across Canada to pilot test the Active Living After School 'How to' Guide and Physical Activity Equipment Tote Bag.

The Active Living After School (ALAS) program is designed to assist After School Program Coordinators/Administrators in delivering high quality experiences for participants. The objective of ALAS is to ensure that all children and youth, regardless of their age, abilities, gender, culture or socioeconomic status, have the basic skills necessary to become healthy and enjoy lifelong physical activity. The ALAS program includes a 'How To' Guide and a Physical Activity Equipment Tote Bag.

  • The 'How To' Guide is a one-stop resource to support after school programs. It provides information related to community connections, funding and fundraising, program logistics, leadership and training, planning quality programs, physical activity and healthy eating, accessibility and inclusion, and publicity and promotion. There are also a number of physical activity and healthy eating activity ideas included in the 'How To' Guide that can be incorporated into After School programs.
  • The Physical Activity Equipment Tote Bag includes equipment that is needed to deliver physical activity and healthy eating activities.

This initiative has been made possible through a financial contribution from the Public Health Agency of Canada and the GoodLife Kids Foundation.

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR:

  •  20 After School programs from across Canada that are delivered to children and youth between the hours of 3pm - 6pm, with a Program Coordinator/Administrator who is willing to pilot test this program in English.
  •  The Program Coordinator/Administrator must have access to email, as email will be the main vehicle of communication for the pilot test.

 *Please note that the 20 After School programs selected for this pilot will be provided with a Physical Activity Equipment Tote Bag.

REQUIREMENTS OF SELECTED AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS:

  •  Review the materials sent. (Electronic copy - Late October. Hard copy - Early November.)
  •  The Program Coordinator/Administrator will be expected to read the ALAS 'How To' Guide, complete the worksheets in the 'How to' Guide, implement the ideas as best as possible and provide detailed feedback on the content. (November 2011 - January 2012)
  •  The Program Coordinator/Administrator will use the 'How To' Guide to work with frontline staff/volunteers to plan a quality program.
  •  Additionally, frontline staff/volunteers will deliver the physical activity and healthy eating activity ideas from the 'How to' Guide during their program and include their feedback in the evaluation questionnaire.
  • Pilot sites will be expected to use the 'How To' Guide and the Physical Activity Equipment Tote Bag to implement a physical activity and healthy eating component into their After School program.
  • All pilot sites are expected to complete and return a feedback evaluation form that will capture personal opinions about the resource, activities, and equipment and include ideas on how we can enhance them for the final version.
  • PHE Canada may contact you directly to clarify any questions or comments about your feedback.
  • Please note that your name and your After School program's name will not appear within the final resource once completed.

WHAT'S IN IT FOR YOU?

  • Pilot sites will have access to information that will support the delivery of a quality Active Living After School program with an emphasis on moderate to vigorous physical activity and healthy eating. The 'How To' Guide provides information related to community connections, funding and fundraising, program logistics, leadership and training, planning quality programs, physical activity and healthy eating, accessibility and inclusion as well as publicity and promotion.
  • Pilot sites will have access to a number of physical activity and healthy eating activities that can be incorporated into their program.
  • The 20 After School programs that provide feedback will be able to keep the Physical Activity Equipment Tote Bag used during their pilot.

If you would like to be involved as a pilot site, please complete the online application form by Friday, October 14th, 2011. After this deadline, we will quickly review, select, and notify all applicants of their status.

Click here to apply to pilot this program!!