What I Learned At NORD
Civic and business leaders around the community gathered in January 2017 and shared their personal experiences with NORD through its various programs over the years. Ranging from increased physical activity to life skill development, their stories reflect the powerful impact that NORD has had on New Orleans youth. Click on the short video below, and hear what the Mayor, judges, bank presidents and young people have to say about the importance of recreation in our community.
Why Support Recreation?
Snapshot: How Our Community Benefits from Recreation
Community and Family Engagement
After-School and Summer Learning
Sports-Based Youth Development
Decreased Youth Violence/Conflict Resolution
Jobs for Teens
High School and College Scholarships for Student Athletes
Anti-Obesity and Healthy Lifestyles
Water Safety
Safe Places to Play
After-School and Summer Meals
Caring Adults/Mentoring
Career Exploration
Cultural Programs/Arts Education
Outdoor Education/Environmental Education
Active Living for Seniors
NORD COMMISSION PROGRAMS, most provided for free or low-fee:
Aquatics: Water Safety Classes, Swim Lessons for all ages, Junior Lifeguards, Aqua Aerobics Athletics: Youth Athletics for ages 5-14 - Basketball, Track & Field, Baseball/Softball, Volleyball, Flag Football, YLC Kicks Soccer, Louisiana Rugby, Tackle Football, Cheer and Dance Teams; Teen Sports for ages 15-18 in Basketball, Softball, Flag Football; Boxing; Tennis Cultural Arts: Music – Piano and String; Visual Arts – Ceramics, Teen Filmmaking, Painting and Drawing, Sewing; Dance and Theatre Fitness: Ballet, Boot Camp, Dance Fitness, Kickboxing, Line Dancing, Pilates, Swing Dancing, Walking Groups, Yoga, Zumba Outdoor Activities: Fishing, Canoeing, Geocaching, Survival Skills, Nature Walks, Teambuilding, Urban Camping Teens: Teen Council, Chevron Future Leaders, Teen Summer Career Camps Youth: Summer Youth Camps, After-School Programs, Free After-School and Summer Meals Family Events: Movies In The Park, Family Game Nights, Kite Day, Family Fun Walk, Celebrations of Women’s History, Black History and Hispanic Heritage, Easter Eggstravaganza, Halloween Spooktacular, Seniors Day
Research Shows....
Most people intuitively understand recreation’s role in crime prevention, public health and long-term community benefits. Academic research supports our intuition.
“The life skills learned through sport help empower individuals and enhance psychosocial well-being, such as increased resiliency, self-esteem and connections with others. [C]ommunities can make the pro-social choice easier than the anti-social choice.” (“The Influence of Sport and Recreation upon Crime Reduction,” 2012; hrmars.com/journals)
Active kids do better in life: physically active children are 1/10th as likely to be obese, have up to 40% higher test scores, are 15% more likely to go to college and will have 7-8% higher earnings; they are less prone to smoking, using drugs, pregnancy and risky sex, have lower health costs, are more productive at work and have a reduced risk of heart disease, stroke, cancer and diabetes. (The Aspen Institute: youthreport.projectplay.us/).
Among the important benefits of recreation for the senior population is increased health and fitness, as well as opportunities for socializing, for using skills and talents developed throughout their lifetime, and for learning new skills. (International Organization of Scientific Research: iosrjournals.org)