21st Century Community Learning Centers Program:
Garden AHEC is a partner in New Jersey’s 21st Century Community Learning Centers program that operates four after-school and summer enrichment centers in Cumberland County. The Centers provide academic and cultural enrichment to school age children and their parents. Garden AHEC offers 56 classes in science, health and fitness, and career exploration to more than 1,000 students and parents each year.
Career Exploration: This course provides an overview of the value of health careers through goal setting exercises and interactive activities. Presentations are provided by health care professionals that discuss job responsibilities, educational requirements, and career ladders. Students are introduced to how to prepare for an interview, how to find online information about local schools that offer training in health careers, entry level positions, salaries, and working conditions.
Academic Enrichment: Our Brain Link program teaches science in a fun and interesting manner. This program helps students understand the skills required for that discipline. Students build models and ‘perform experiments’ that demonstrate how the brain functions. Students are exposed to critical thinking, reasoning, and the scientific process.
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation uses a popular subject to promote interest in scientific investigation. It focuses on developing critical thinking skills and can be used to compare how healthcare or public health professionals use of investigative approaches in such fields as medical research, public health surveillance and forensic science. The program is hands-on and students are introduced to the practice of evidence-based theory.
Health, Nutrition, Fitness and Physical Activity: Garden AHEC offers classes in stress management, information on age-appropriate nutritional requirements, healthy snacking and fast food alternatives, and physical activity for health and wellness.