SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - Three Yellowknife schools will receive funding from the GNWT's new Active After School program, which aims to improve the fitness of the territory's youth.

J.H. Sissons School received $13,359, St. Joseph's got $11,220, and William McDonald will be getting $13,952.

"Between (ages) three and five is a critical time for kids," said Robert C. McLeod, minister of Municipal and Community Affairs. "Now more than before there are so many opportunities for kids to get in front of the TV."

Eighteen schools or organizations across the territory were chosen for funding from the program. To qualify, the schools had to demonstrate they are providing activities that appeal to inactive or under-active youth and ensure the kids are active for a minimum of 40 out of every 60 minutes.

"The beauty of playing a sport with someone else is it not (only) has a physical benefit but a social benefit," said Paul Bennett, principal for J.H. Sissons School. "Once they get tapped into the social aspect of these activities, it's pure joy."

J.H. Sissons has been offering after-school sports for a few years with activities such as snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, badminton, floor hockey and soccer.

Monique Marinier, a teacher and organizer for after-school activities, said the new funding program is an excellent opportunity to add to their equipment and improve their facilities.

"The whole purpose of the program is to get kids involved in physical activity and that's what we want to do."

With the funding, the school hopes to get a climbing wall, start a yoga program and buy a Nintendo Wii system with sports and fitness games. Marinier said the new equipment will help students that wouldn't normally want to participate in sports get more active.

"If you don't get kids involved in sports at a young age they turn into obese and unhappy adults," she said.