OASIS Pairs Seniors and CATCH Kids

OASIS in San Antonio was one of 4 sites across the nation selected to receive an 18-month grant for Active Generations, a program designed to help older adults and children work together to prevent obesity and increase physical activity by identifying and implementing policy and environmental changes.

The $45,000 grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation enables OASIS to implement Active Generations at two federally-funded Learning Tree after-school programs at Villarreal Elementary and Meadow Village Elementary in the Northside Independent School District .

Active Generations is an outgrowth of OASIS' successful Active for Life® program, an initiative designed to increase the number of adults ages 50 and older who engage in regular physical activity. Active for Life is also funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Many of the Active for Life graduates continue the healthy behaviors they learned in the program, and go on to serve as positive role models for the children involved in the Active Generations program.

Active Generations is based on the Coordinated Approach To Child Health (CATCH), a nationally recognized school nutrition curriculum. The program partners mature adults and children in grades 3 through 5, with a focus on making environmental changes in the community that support healthier lifestyles.

Each 90-minute classroom structured session incorporates lessons from the CATCH curriculum, a healthy snack made by the children and adults, and a physical activity. Additionally, as part of the program, the Metropolitan Planning Organization, community partners and the students conducted a neighborhood walkability assessment to identify barriers to walking and bicycling.

The children and their families also participated in a “scavenger hunt” at a local HEB Store. They used information learned in the Active Generations program to identify healthy foods. The hunt was a huge success! Children read food labels and filled grocery carts with vegetables, low fat milk and fruit. Following the scavenger hunt participants received gift certificates to purchase healthy foods.

At graduation, the children shared what they had learned in the class. All of them commented that they now know more about healthy food and the benefits of increased activity than they did before they began the program.

“This program has shown that adults and children can work together to make changes that support healthier lifestyles through environmental changes in their community and increasing awareness of better nutrition and increased physical activity,” commented Brenda Schmachtenberger, Director of OASIS in San Antonio. “People interested in learning more about the Active Generations , and other OASIS initiatives, can visit our website at www.oasisnet.org , or contact us at 210-647-2546.”

OASIS is a national education organization dedicated to enriching the lives of mature adults. Offering challenging programs in the arts, humanities, health, technology and volunteer service OASIS creates opportunities for people to continue their personal growth and serve their communities. Membership to OASIS is free. In San Antonio , OASIS currently serves more than 17,000 adults. OASIS is sponsored in San Antonio by Macy's, the City of San Antonio , Warm Springs Rehabilitation Foundation and WellMed. OASIS is located inside the Macy's Furniture Galleries.

Back to Archives

Contact us for more information on CATCH!