Serving the Community and University through Partnerships
By: Drew Zwald, Starla McCollum, Willie Burden, Jim McMillan & Padmini Shankar, Georgia Southern University

The purpose of this paper is to describe a multi-faceted partnership between Georgia Southern University and the Boys and Girls Club of Bulloch County.

The partnership involved planning and implementation of after-school programs for over 850 kids ages 5-17; funding through grants (General Mills, Atlanta Falcons, Hospital Authority, University); service learning for university students in exercise science, health and physical education, nutrition, sport management, and coaching education; and sustaining collaborative relationships between university faculty and the community. The after-school programs were delivered by graduate and undergraduate students from a variety of programs within the Department of Health & Kinesiology (exercise science, health and physical education, nutrition, sport management, and coaching education). All program instructors were trained, evaluated, and supervised by two department funded graduate assistants as they taught and mentored the Boys and Girls club members.

The Health & Physical Education (HPE) Majors were engaged in service learning to integrate developmentally appropriate instruction and community service within the Boys’ & Girls’ Club After-school Program. The majors enrolled in a three hour course titled “Teaching Fitness Education.” Most of the HPE majors who participated were juniors and seniors with some prior experience teaching physical education classes in schools.

The Sports Play & Active Recreation for Kids (SPARK) Physical Education Guides (Elementary & After-school Programs) were used to guide the learning activities taught in the program (SPARK, 2004). The focus of SPARK was the development of healthy lifestyles, motor skills and movement knowledge, and social and personal skills. In addition to the SPARK resources, the Physical Best Activity Guide for the Elementary level was utilized to educate the after-school program participants about the knowledge, skills, and attitudes they need for a healthy and active lifestyle (NASPE, 2005).

The FITNESSGRAM, a national fitness battery for youth, was used to assess program participants' health related fitness levels. The assessment included a variety of health-related physical fitness tests designed to measure cardiovascular fitness, muscle strength, muscular endurance, flexibility, and body composition (Meredith and Welk, 2005). Graduate Assistants, along with HPE seniors, were responsible for unit and daily lesson planning. A sample unit plan is shown in the table below:

The Exercise Science students were involved with the Boys and Girls Club in two ways. Undergraduate students, juniors and seniors, assisted in after-school activities. The activities were part of the SPARK program implemented at this center. The students assisted with a variety of age-appropriate activities for the elementary and middle school students. Rules, sportsmanship, and skill acquisition were among the topics covered in these activity sessions. Additionally, students were involved in supervising and assisting participants during assigned homework times. These university students received academic credit for this service through enrolling in the exercise science practicum course, or an individual directed study course.

During this time period, one university graduate student completed data collection for her research thesis. After receiving appropriate permission from the Boys and Girls Club, University Human Subjects Committee, and the parents and student participants, she completed a six-week evaluation of the efficacy of the SPARK program components utilized at the club. She was assisted in the data collection by university faculty, part of her thesis committee, and the university undergraduate students who had received training for this part of their service. The graduate student used the FITNESSGRAM and computed BMI percentiles for the pre- and post-tests. The Boys and Girls Club participants (n=246) had a great time participating in the study. The graduate student, and undergraduate students who assisted, learned a valuable lesson related to research using a variable, dynamic human population!

The Nutrition and Food Science majors were actively involved in conducting nutrition education workshops to increase awareness and knowledge of the vital role of good nutrition on health and wellness, as well as laying the foundation for life-long healthy eating habits among the Boys and Girls Club children and adolescents. To facilitate this goal, workshops’ content focused on increasing intake of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean meats and low-fat dairy products, and decreasing intake of food/snacks high in fat and simple sugars. Further, children and teens were educated on nutrition labeling issues and correct portion sizes. Strategies employed to deliver knowledge included lecture and discussion, Pre- and Post-assessments, interactive games and activities, taste testing of healthy food samples, take-home activities including tracking of food/beverage intake, educational flyers with practical tips to promote healthy eating, and recipe contests to increase parental involvement. Workshops for parents featured lecture and discussion on purchasing and cooking nutritious meals on a limited budget, being positive role models for their children, and cooking demonstrations.

Age-appropriate nutrition education strategies were effective in increasing knowledge and awareness, and improving food selection skills among children and adolescents. Non-parametric Sign test at a = 0.05 level of significance found significant improvement in the test performance of 5/7 groups of children who participated in the nutrition education workshops. Even though 2/7 groups did not show statistical significance, there was improvement in the mean scores. Service learning projects were mutually beneficial for students and the underprivileged population of the Boys and Girls Club. Through this experience students realized that nutrition education is vital for children and adults of all ages, since it has the potential to improve health and extend healthy lives by decreasing the prevalence of obesity and other health related problems.

The Sport Management program at Georgia Southern University has had a long standing relationship with the Boys and Girls Club of Bulloch County, approximately since the Club first opened its doors in fall 2001. Recognizing the needs of the Club for staffing and counselor support, and the sport management program for student service learning opportunities, we immediately formed a mutually beneficial partnership. Over the years this partnership has culminated in two to three sport management majors receiving internships annually with the Club, as well as many other students gaining volunteer hours for serving as counselors and staff for the Club’s athletic activities and after school programs. Since funding sources are vital to the ongoing operation of the Club, the Sport Management majors sponsor an Annual “Clubs for Kids” Golf Tournament, and split the proceeds of the tournament with the Boys & Girls Club. Just a few years ago, the sport management students were part of a community-wide fundraising effort that brought the Harlem Globetrotters to Statesboro with profits going to the Club.

The SPARK program, and other after school activities delivered this past year, supported overall healthy lifestyles and directly focused on youth development and fun. Sport Management students volunteered and received academic course credit. Their responsibilities included working through the guidance of the athletics director in administering program activities. One featured event was the Boys and Girls Club Annual Basketball Championships. Students operated league play, serving as commissioners, coaches, game officials, and clock operators; and assisted with an annual fundraiser in conjunction with the championship games.

It should be noted that Georgia Southern University is one of the first National Council for Accreditation of Coaching Education, accredited Level III coaching education programs in the United States. Over 200 coaching minor students are certified to coach at the school, select and recreational levels. Three of the coaching courses include a field experience requirement, and students are evaluated utilizing detailed daily logs and a formal objective evaluation instrument completed by the immediate supervisor. The Coaching Education program provides over 50 coaches each year, not only in basketball but also in floor hockey, soccer, flag football, as well as track and field.

The students had the opportunity to reflect upon their experiences with the Club, applying the knowledge gained to theoretical situations learned in the classroom. Learning outcomes included hands-on experience, an appreciation for the totality of preparation and effort needed to run a semester long sport league, and event management structures and processes. They also practiced leadership situations, planning, goal setting, strategy development, skills development, team dynamics, scheduling, event operations and coordination, fund raising, and role modeling. The students acquired an appreciation for the goals and mission of the Statesboro Bulloch County Boys and Girls Club, an enhanced understanding of the community’s needs as well as recognized the great opportunity we have to partner with such an agency and maintain community participation.

Dr. Drew Zwald is a Professor and Coordinator of the Coaching Education Program at Georgia Southern University.
Dr. Starla McCollum is an Associate Professor and Coordinator of the Health & Physical Education Program at Georgia Southern University.
Dr. Willie Burden is an Associate Professor and Coordinator of the Undergraduate Program in Sport Management at Georgia Southern University.
Dr. Jim McMillan is an Associate Professor and Coordinator of the Graduate Exercise Science Program at Georgia Southern University.
Dr. Padmini Shankar is an associate professor of Nutrition and Food Science at Georgia Southern University. She is a registered and licensed dietitian.

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