UTC Health and Human Performance student Kori Hahn hula hoops with Orchard Knob Elementary students
For the past few months, Kori Hahn has spent three days a week teaching elementary school kids how to properly exercise and, perhaps more importantly, how to eat healthily.
“If they eat one more grain, fruit or vegetable, I would count that as progress,” says Hahn.
Hahn, a UTC graduate student in Health and Human Performance, is the program leader for a healthy living afterschool program for students at Orchard Knob Elementary School, one of the schools in Hamilton County’s Opportunity Zone.
William Greer and classmate prepare for a potato sack race in Orchard Knob Elementary
Cheryl Greer, mother of an Orchard Knob student, is a volunteer in the program, says her son, William, joined after one of his school teachers suggested he should.
The program meets three times a week in the school; each session starts with exercise in the hope of burning off some of the kids’ energy as well as teach them the correct techniques. On Friday, the session ends with the kids learning how to cook a healthy meal.
About 15 to 20 students participate in each session along with two UTC students earning degrees in dietetics and two students in exercise science.
Greer attends on Friday specifically for the cooking portion so she can learn with William, a fifth-grader.
“I really try to make sure I come when they cook,” she says. “I like it and he likes cooking here.”
William also talks with her more about his day when they come.
The Urban League of Greater Chattanooga already had an afterschool program at Orchard Knob, but it was more of a tutoring and mentoring session. When the UTC students joined, they brought a new, robust energy.
“Having Urban League was such a game changer,” Hahn says. “The personnel, tutoring and transportation changed everything for us.”
Volunteers make sure the students have transportation to and from the school for the sessions and also participate in the educational program created by Hahn and the other students.
Quira Norwood, a 9-year-old Orchard Knob student, has been a participant from the beginning.
Quira Norwood, Orchard Knob Elementary student, dices onions for cooking class
“We get to do fun stuff and exercise in a fun way,” she says.
Hahn says she has learned a lot after creating the program and implementing her plan. She and the other UTC students learned to allow the students to exercise in their own way after a short, team-building experience.
“It became apparent early on that we structured the activity too much,” says Hahn.
The students spend about 25 to 40 minutes in each section, wearing a monitor around their torso to track their heart rate during exercise.
They start with a structured game that teaches them teamwork. The second portion allows for the students to choose how they want to play, which can be anything from basketball to kicking a soccer ball to hula hooping.
Hahn’s biggest hopes her fellow classmates will continue the program after she graduates and are able to impact their community and the students.
“I would love for this program to continue with the undergrads,” she says. “I think there is so much opportunity for everyone to benefit from this partnership.
