Healthy children are our hope for the future
Niños saludable, nuestra esperanza para el futuro

OUR PROGRAMS
The Carpinteria Childhood Obesity Prevention Initiative (CCOPI) is presently reaching more
than 400 children and their families at Canalino Elementary, Aliso Elementary, Carpinteria
Middle School, and non-profit sites at Camper Park Trailer Park and Dahlia Court apartment
complex with hopes of expanding to other sites in the near future.

CCOPI offers activities in:

• SPORTS

• CULTURAL ARTS

• GARDENING

• FOOD PREPERATION CLASSES

• NUTRITION CLASSES

• HEALTH AND WELL-BEING FOR THE FAMILY

• SPECIAL ACTIVITIES AND EVENTS

The program has trained Promotoras de Salud and wellness partners to promote healthy
living for “at-risk” families in the area. Instructors from UCSB and SBCC athletic departments
as well as outside experts and volunteers help implement the after-school sports programs
and nutrition education classes.

The activities are modified for both younger and older children so that all kids have a chance
to participate and learn how to have fun, be healthy, and to work together regardless of
gender, age, or socio-economic status.

The program and the instructors stress the zero tolerance policy of junk food during activity
and promote good attitudes and healthy living.

SPORTS

BASEBALL: Spring
Students learn the field positions, batting, catching and throwing techniques, conditioning
and improving physical fitness for sprinting around the bases.

Techniques and Terms taught:
1. Proper warm-up, conditioning, and cool-down activities
2. Field positions: pitcher, catcher, 1st-3rd base, short stop, etc.
3. Catching and throwing
4. Looking for a target/vision training
5. Swinging, balance, and stance
6. Base running

Locations: Canalino and Aliso Elementary and Carpinteria Middle School
Education Standards met: Math, P.E., Health

>BACK TO TOP

BASKETBALL: Winter
Students are taught the fundamentals of basketball and working and communicating as a
team or group. Listening and communication skills are necessary for the students to be
able to perform the drills and work out plays within the groups. Coaches encourage good
habits and teach the kids about doubling dribbling, traveling, and fouls.The students
participate in small scrimmages in order to test their skills.

Techniques and Terms taught:
1. Proper warm-up and stretching
2. Dribbling: Left and right hands
3. Lay-ups vs. jump shots
4. Shot form: Bent elbow, good eye contact, wrist flick, etc.
5. Passing type: Overhead, chest, bounce pass, wrap-around
6. Positions: Guard, forward, center, and what each position does
7. Defense: Man-to-man, zone defense, keeping hands up and no fouls
8. Offense: No bunching up, setting picks and screens, fast breaks, movement

Kids participated in Basketball Camp at Canalino, Summer ’07
B-Ball Showdown: March ’07, Canalino, Ballers vs. All-Stars
Aloha B-Ball Showdown: Canalino vs. Aliso, March ’08

Locations: Canalino and Aliso Elementary, Camper Park and Dashlia Court
Education Standards met: Math, P.E., Health

>BACK TO TOP

FLAG FOOTBALL: Fall
Coaches teach the basic rules of flag football and explain the difference between flag and
tackle football. Students learn the importance of safe stretching and warm-up for starting
each practice. Students understand the importance of conditioning and listening in order to
carry out plays and work as a group.

Techniques and terms taught:
1. Offense: Center, quarterback, running back, receives and blockers for offense
2. Defense:Linemen, line backers, defensive backs, strong safeties
3. Conditioning drills: Timed sprints, crab run, shuttle run, 40-yard dash
4. Proper blocking techniques
5. Running the football
6. Throwing and catching
7. Hand-offs
8. Defensive and Offensive stance
9. Flag grabbing

Flag football Camp, Winter ’06, Canalino

Locations: Canalino and Aliso Elementary and Dahlia Court
Education Standards met: Math, P.E., Health

>BACK TO TOP

SOCCER: Summer, Fall
Soccer is one of the most popular and competitive activities offered and great care is taken
to make sure that the students learn proper techniques while still having fun. Students are
taught to play hard, but play fair.The coaches start all students out by teaching the basics
and making sure to pair up newer players with those who already know the game. There is
no emphasis on the score or the winner and loser in order to ensure healthy competition
and promote positive attitudes when playing.

Techniques and terms taught:
1. Basic dribbling/passing skills
2. Game rules and positions
3. Traps: chest, thigh, foot
4. Headers and Volleys
5. Throw-ins
6. Correct shooting technique
7. Offense and Defense: Goal-side ball-side, off-sides, etc.
8. Making runs, calling for the ball

Kids participated in Soccer Camp, Summer ’07
Soccer Round Robin Tournament, Summer ’06, Canalino
Soccer Tournament, Aliso vs. Canalino, Fall ’07

Locations: Canalino, Aliso, Dahlia Court, Camper Park and the Middle School Education
Standards met: Math, Language Arts, P.E.

>BACK TO TOP

JUMP ROPE: Spring
Students learn the basics of jump rope including single rope skipping skills, long rope,
double dutch, and partner skills. Students learn coordination, keeping time and beat,
teamwork, and health and safety.

Techniques and terms taught:
1. Single rope skills: Basic jump (double bounce and fast single bounce), Side straddle,
Single side swing, Can Can, Double Under
2. Long rope skills: Rainbow, Triangle, Egg beater
3. Double dutch skills: Turning, Jumping, Entering and exiting the double dutch ropes,
Skills inside the double dutch ropes
4. Partner skipping skills: 1 rope, 1 jumper, both turning, 2 in 1 rope, both turning, both
jumping, Traveler, Twins, Triplets

Education Standards met: P.E, Language Arts, Math

>BACK TO TOP

CULTURAL ARTS

DANCE: Winter, Spring
Students learn the basics of ballet, jazz, and hip-hop and begin to incorporate their own
creativity and expression through small group performances and tasks given by the
instructor. Students learn to respect other’s dance abilities and feel free to express
themselves while following instruction. Students also learn to count beats in music and
recognize timing and music change for making up their own routines.

Techniques and terms taught:
1. Ballet: basic positions, Proper turn-out, Importance of flexibility, Proper toe point and arm
extension, Muscle strengthening activities
2. Jazz: Proper toe point, Leg and arm extensions, Head swivel and turning techniques,
Flexibility
3. Hip-hop: Flexibility and muscle strength, Exaggerated movements, Improvability, Dancing
to the beat, Increasing physical fitness for a wider range of moves

Canalino Winter Activity Camp, Winter ’06

Location: Canalino, Camper Park, and Dahlia Court
Education Standards met: Math, Cultural Arts, Health, P.E.

>BACK TO TOP

Techniques and terms taught:
1.Flexibility and core strength
2.Basic positions: High V, low V, T, broken T, etc.
3.Clapping vs. Clasping
4.Vocalizing
5.Correct stunt technique and positions
6.Recognizing 8 counts and clapping to the beat
7.Enthusiasm and facial expression

The kids performed at Round-Robin Soccer Tournament, Summer ’06
Goleta Valley Health Fair, Spring ’07

Locations: Canalino, Camper Park and Dahlia Court
Education Standards met: Math, P.E.

>BACK TO TOP

CAPOEIRA: Fall, Winter, Spring
Students learn about the history and art of capoeira and the benefits. Students learn about
force, speed, muscular strength, balance, and creativity.

Techniques and terms taught:
1. Discipline
2. Responsibility
3. Self-confidence
4. Self expression
5. Social skills
6. Counting the beat and music

Education Standards met: Cultural Arts, Math

>BACK TO TOP

GARDENING
With help from the Master gardeners from the Botanic Garden and the UC Davis Cooperative
Extension program: Agua Pura. Students learn about natural resources, composting and
recycling. They also learn about seeds, plants, soil, what things need to live, and to care for
the garden. After leaning how to plant and tend the garden, students were allowed to take
the excess vegetables home to share with their families. The garden helps provide healthy
choices and shows the kids where their food comes from.

Techniques and terms taught:
1. Composting
2. What can be recycled
3. Seed info: What are seeds, where they come from, how to plant them
4. Plant types and parts
5. What plants need: Food, water, light
6. Soil composition
7. Garden pests: Good vs. bad pests

Kids presented the garden at Soccer Round-Robin Tourney, Summer ’06

Locations: Aliso and Canalino
Education Standards met: Science, Health

>BACK TO TOP

FOOD PREPARATION/COOKING CLASS: Winter, Spring
Taught by a registered Dietician. Helps students learn how to prepare their own healthy
snacks at home or for school instead of eating unhealthy foods. Students learn to tell the
difference between whole wheat/whole grain foods and processed foods. Students learn to
be creative with food and enjoy healthy foods that taste good too.

Techniques and terms taught:
1. Wheat vs. White: What’s the difference?
2. Reading food labels: Grams of sugar, good fat and bad fat
3. Making healthy snacks

Kids presented caterpillar snacks at Family Fun Festival

Offered at Canalino Elementary
Education Standards met: Math, Health

>BACK TO TOP

NUTRITION CLASS: Fall, Winter, Spring
Students learn about the food groups, what is essential for the body to stay active and
healthy, and how to take the information home to get their families involved in healthy
living. The class combines both nutrition and exercise to help the kids understand that
eating right and being active go hand-in-hand. The program and lessons are designed
around a program called Eat Well and Keep Moving that uses age appropriate material and
fun games and activities to help the kids understand about nutrition.

Techniques and terms taught:
1. What is a balanced diet?
2. Healthy fat vs. Unhealthy fat
3. Components of a safe workout: Warm-up, stretch, cool-down, stretch
4. Why breakfast is important
5. Look at a food label
6. Sugar
7. Eating 5+ servings of fruits and vegetables each day
8. Essential nutrients

Locations: Canalino and Aliso Elementary, and soon at Franklin Elementary
Education Standards met: Math, Science, Physiology, Health

>BACK TO TOP

HEALTH AND WELL-BEING FOR THE FAMILY
Taught by Pediatrician Dr. Andria Ruth
10-week program called “Health and Well-being for the Family” that centers on prevention
of diabetes and unhealthy eating habits in the home and educates parents and children
about healthy eating and exercise. The class is taught on Fridays and the families learn
which foods are healthy (green light), can be eaten with caution (yellow light), and should
try to be avoided (red light). Dr. Ruth implements pedometers to get the families to
exercise together and assigns homework for the families to do each week. A lesson is
taught at the beginning followed by a 40 minute activity to get the families to exercise and
have fun together. At the end of the 10-week period the families graduate and a new group
continues on.

Techniques and terms taught:
1. Reading food labels
2. Food groups
3. Body fat and BMI
4. Using a pedometer
5. Counting trans fat, saturated fat, and sugar amounts
6. Types of fat
7. Exercise
8. Heart disease, obesity and other related problems from poor diet and exercise

Education Standards met: P.E., Math, Physiology, Language

>BACK TO TOP

SPECIAL ACTIVITIES AND EVENTS
Although the other activities offered have remained constant throughout the year, we have
been fortunate to be able to offer special activities for the kids.This helps to introduce the
students to different sports that they might not know much about and to see if the
students would like to have the activity added to the program.

1. TENNIS, Spring: One-week program at Canalino Elementary
2. LACROSS, Spring: One-week program at Canalino Elementary
3. ADULT YOGA: Winter
The Adult Yoga class is a 10-week program taught at Dahlia Court . The class is centered
around creating a relaxing environment for the women to come and experience a low-
impact physical activity free of stress. The class offered a place for the women to feel
comfortable exercising without having to travel far and stressed the importance of taking
time to keep themselves healthy as well as their families.

Techniques and terms taught:
1. Deep breathing
2. Body relaxation
3. Stretching
4. Basic Yoga poses
5. Using the body as resistance
6. Final relaxation
7. The importance of stretching every day

Location: Dahlia Court

A look back on all the festivals, special activities, and showcases that the kids
participated in:

1. Fiesta Children’s Parade, 2006
2. Family Fun Festival, 2007
3. Light’s On, October 18, 2007, at Canalino Elementary
4. Light’s On , October 16, 2008, at Franklin Elementary

>BACK TO TOP