GOAL University
GOAL University is an after-school program designed to teach elementary age students about nutrition and physical activity and encourage them to find ways to apply this information to daily life. GOAL University partners with already existing after-school programs through local school corporations, Boys and Girls Clubs, and YMCAs. We then go in once per week during the semester to teach about nutrition and physical activity topics, engage the kids in hands-on demonstrations and activities, and provide plenty of opportunities for movement and physical activity. The kids also set weekly health goals that they can work on at home and at school during the week.
In the fall semester, GOAL University operates as a service-learning partnership with the IU School of Nursing. Teams of sophomore nursing students visit the schools each week and lead the kids in the lessons, activities, and games. GOAL University runs for 10 weeks during the fall semester, and kids will learn about a variety of topics including MyPlate, fruits and vegetables, whole grains, balanced breakfasts, grocery shopping, screen time, and the benefits of physical activity.
In the spring semester, GOAL University operates as a service-learning partnership with Fitness and Wellness students at Ivy Tech Bloomington. The program runs for 7 weeks in the spring and covers similar topics.
GOAL University programs operate throughout the south central region of Indiana in Monroe, Lawrence, Owen, and Morgan counties.
Get Connected!
Parents and Caregivers: If your child is currently participating in GOAL University in their after-school program or you would just like more general information about nutrition and physical activity, please check out our weekly parent sheets and additional resources.
To find out if your child’s after-school program participates in GOAL University or if you would like more information, please contact the GOAL Program Manager, Cheryl Kilmark, at ckilmark@iu.edu or 812-856-5004.
After-school Care Providers: We are always happy to work with new after-school partners!
If you are interested in bringing GOAL University to your after-school program, please reach out to the GOAL Program Manager, Cheryl Kilmark, at ckilmark@iu.edu or 812-856-5004.
“Our favorite part of GOAL University was being able to see the kids and see how excited they were to see all of us every week. They started to become more engaged and you could tell they were catching on to what we were teaching them after a few weeks had gone by.”
Nursing Student Team Leader
“GOAL University has been such a great addition to our programming here at our after school site. The kids look forward to it every week. The lesson plans the students bring for us are informative and fun.”
After-school Program Coordinator
“I sure would recommend GOAL University to other schools as many of the kids and even my staff learned a lot from what they were teaching each and every week which was beneficial for them.”
After-school Program Coordinator
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