A three-year, $333,000 grant from Verdant Health Commission is going to make a big difference around the Edmonds Boys and Girls Club.

Erin Thomas, athletic director with the Edmonds Boys and Girls Club, said the money will allow them to teach “healthy habits” to area children.

Planned are intramural sports for three seasons at six sites around town; the main Boys and Girls Club campus, and Lynndale, College Place, Edmonds, Westgate and Sherwood schools.

“This is not childcare,” Thomas said, “although the programs will run both before and after school.

“We’ll have cross country, soft lacrosse (no contact), volleyball and, during the winter, we’ll have some educational programs.”

Those programs could include dieticians from Swedish Hospital (and could include family night programs as well) and a PCC “walk-talk-taste” trip to the store.

Spring programs will include track and field, T-ball and rookie rugby (non-contact.)

The program will serve an estimated 200-250 K-6th grade youngsters.

There’s been a track program before with everyone competing individually, but this will be different.

“Kids will get a t-shirt and get to compete with their school,” Thomas said. “We’re expanding the normal activities.”

The Verdant grant is seen as a starting point to get youth active and more healthy.

“Our goal is to make this a self-sustaining program after three years,” Thomas said.