WESTBROOK – Some dedicated Westbrook senior citizens have been working to help some of the city’s youngest children learn about having fun and staying fit by eating healthy foods and exercising.

It’s all part of the free “Catch Healthy Habits” program at the Westbrook Community Center. Funded by a grant from the Anthem Foundation, the program is run through Oasis, a national education organization dedicated to enriching the lives of people 50 years old and older.

Sharon Schulberger, the coordinator, said that the program is designed to pair the seniors with the young kids.

“We know from basic research that if retired people stay active in their community, if they’re exercising, if they’re thinking, they’re going to live a longer and healthier life,” she said.

And the volunteers in the program are doing that by working with the children to teach them about eating healthy foods and the importance of exercising. Schulberger said there is “a crisis of obesity among our children.”

“We need to give them lessons on what’s healthy to eat so they can make good decisions now, which will affect them later in life,” she said.

During the weekly sessions, Schulberger said, the kids have a healthy snack, followed by a nutrition lesson and then it’s down to the center’s gym for activities and games.

The program, which runs separate sessions for children in kindergarten through second grade and grades 3-5, started in September and wrapped up this week with a graduation ceremony.

After receiving their “diplomas,” on Tuesday, the younger children said they learned a lot and had fun doing it.

“I love everything that they made for us (to eat),” said 6-year-old Shyla Gailey.

“(I liked) eating ants on a log and playing the games,” added 5-year-old Jayden Johnson.

Five-year-old Olivia Price said she liked the program.

“We can eat lots of healthy foods,” she said.

Six-year-old Jasmynne Heath said she also enjoyed the program, and added she while would be eating healthy foods, she also learned that “it’s OK to eat sugary stuff sometimes.”

Kolby Boulay, 6, said that the best part of the program for him was that “we get to eat all healthy things and we get to play fun games.”

The kids in the Westbrook Community Center’s “Catch Healthy Habits” program received graduation certificates Tuesday after completing the 13-week program that teaches the importance of eating healthy food and exercising. Pictured, front, from left, Jasmynne Heath, Brooke Mowatt, Bryhenn Jon Baptiste, Bradley Jon Baptiste, Olivia Price, Shyla Gailey, Jared Fickett, Kolby Boulay and Jayden Johnson. Rear, from left, volunteers Nick Tremblay, “Bubba” Bill Brown, Shelia Brown and Beth Thompson.