Creating Healthier Out-of-School Environments for Kids Across the Country

Ed. note: This is cross-posted from the Let's Move! blog. See the original post here.

Continuing the celebration of the fourth anniversary of Let’s Move!, the First Lady traveled to Miami to visit a parks and recreation center to highlight a new announcement around healthy out-of-school time programs. In a commitment to the Partnership for a Healthier America, the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) and the Boys and Girls Clubs of America will work to create healthy environments for their out-of-school time programs.

Over the next five years, Boys and Girls Clubs and NRPA will adopt healthy guidelines to transform many of their sites into even healthier environments that will collectively reach 5 million children. In adopting these guidelines, sites will emphasize healthier food and beverage choices, provide nutrition education, encourage physical activity, and engage parents by using informational material and activities focused on healthy eating and physical activity. 

First Lady Michelle Obama participates in yoga with Jenna Bush and kids during a "Let's Move!" event in Miami, Fla.,  Feb. 25, 2014. (Official White House Photo by Amanda Lucidon) 

Today’s announcement follows the commitment of the YMCA of the USA in 2011 to adopt these healthy guidelines for their out-of-school time programs. Collectively, between the YMCA, Boys and Girls Clubs, and NRPA’s commitments, 5.6 million children will be attending out-of-school programming in healthier environments.

“With this new announcement from the Boys and Girls Clubs and from NRPA, millions more kids will be in healthy environments not just during the school day, but during those critical hours after school as well.” 

First Lady Michelle Obama participates in Zumba with Mario Lopez during a "Let's Move!" event in Miami, Fla.,  Feb. 25, 2014. (Official White House Photo by Amanda Lucidon) 

During the First Lady’s visit to Miami, she joined the kids at the parks and recreation center along with a few special guests to check out some of the great activities that the center offers. The First Lady and Amy Poehler, from the hit series Parks and Recreation, broke out their golf swing in a fun game of indoor golf. Then, Mrs. Obama joined the kids to work on their flexibility during one of the yoga classes offered at the center. Before departing, Alonzo Mourning and Mario Lopez showed off their moves in a Zumba class with the First Lady.

Miami is a great example of a community working together to create healthy environments for their kids, and through the commitments from the Boys and Girls Clubs and NRPA, healthy out-of-school time environments like this are becoming the new norm. With great work happening across the country, the First Lady is calling on all out-of-school time programs to show her how they are moving toward this healthier new norm. Using #LetsMove on social media, join in the movement and share your photos of healthy snacks and community gardens and videos of fun games you’re playing to get active.