Kids’ healthy bodies and minds

“Brain Power” empowers children to start making healthy choices from an early age, one community service event at a time.

Together with the Laguna Beach Boys & Girls Club and the Wyland Foundation, the Brain Power program raises awareness on the issues surrounding youth drug and alcohol abuse through community service and educational field trips for children of all ages.

For the program’s first event July 17, 10 children with adult chaperons from the Boys & Girls Club met at the Wyland Gallery for an art tour and a lecture on protecting the world’s oceans followed by lunch and a beach cleanup.

“You have to start children young with ideal, right living. A clean environment and a clean mind,” said April Rath, co-founder and director of the program.

During the beach cleanup, the children stuffed bags as they patrolled the sand picking up trash. Some were not pleased with what they had found.

“It was a really fun day, but I was surprised that there were that many cigarette butts on the beach,” said Jordan Eisler, 12.

Afterward, the children discussed the day in the van as they made their way back to the club.

“I am proud of myself for recycling and helping out,” said Nicole Bloshtein, 9.

Rath’s experience as the crafts director for the Laguna Beach Boys & Girls Club for the past nine years was the motivation behind the program that teaches children how to build self-esteem and a positive self image as insurance against giving in to the demands of the peer pressure associated with drugs and alcohol.

“When I first started here my students were 6 to 8 years old, then they transferred to Laguna Beach High School. I heard that some [students] had started to use drugs, and I thought, ‘I have to do something about this,’” Rath said.

This summer the program will host a series of events that will educate children as well as adults on the negative side effects that substance abuse has upon the human brain and body.

“I would like to educate as many children and adults as I can, and to try and get them to see the consequences of their actions,” Rath said.

Elena Mendoza, the Main Branch director, feels this program is a necessary component in deterring youth from giving into peer pressure.

“During the week, the line is drawn between the kids who are not doing well and the kids who are. However, on the weekends that line becomes blurred, because it’s not cool to hold a Coke can, so they hold a beer can instead,” Mendoza said.

Coleen Walloch, community service officer for the Laguna Beach Police Department and Sue Monlux, administrative assistant for the Laguna Beach Police Department have also joined forces as co-directors with the objective to help children learn how to live healthy lives.

For more information, call Rath at (949) 494-7630.