Healthy Girls Initiative

Accepting Nominations for 2010 Healthy Girls Task Force!

2009-10-29T14:51:00.000-04:00

Last week, twenty girls ages 10-16 from South Sarasota County graduated from the 2009 Healthy Girls Task Force. Over the past ten months, the girls met 8 times, planned 3 community service projects aimed at helping girls in their community live healthier lives, did 2 fundraising community service projects, and finally created and filmed their Live Healthy! public-service announcement. Girls reported growing as community leaders and learning to led healthier lifestyles themselves as well as having fun with their Task Force experience.

The 2010 Healthy Girls Task Force is now recruiting girls through December 1, 2009. The 2010 Task Force will be focused on Project HOPE (Holistic Obesity Endeavor), a five-month intensive leadership development for teenage girls from all Sarasota County who want to help reduce and prevent youth obesity through a holistic approach to healthy lifestyle awareness. The Task Force will meet twice per month from January through May, for a total of ten meetings. Two community events will be planned and coordinated by the Task Force leaders – a Community Forum on Youth Obesity on January 18th (Martin Luther King, Jr. Day) and the HOPE Wellness Festival on April 25th (Global Youth Service Day). Teen leaders will also design and implement one community service project with the help of ten youth volunteers they recruit and manage.

Participation in the 2010 Project HOPE Task Force is an excellent opportunity for young women who are ready to grow as community leaders, earn up to 100 community service hours, and promote wellness in Sarasota County. To nominate a girl, please contact Julia Onnie-Hay, Program Specialist by email at juliao@gsgscf.org or by phone at (941) 921-5358 ext. 316. Self-nominations are accepted. Nominations are due by December 1, 2009. Nominees will be interviewed by phone and decisions will be made by December 18th. Graduates of the 2009 Healthy Girls Task Force are automatically accepted. The 2010 Project HOPE Task Force is open to 20 teen leaders.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me.

THANKS!

Julia

Julia Onnie-Hay

Program Specialist

Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida, Inc.

4780 Cattlemen Road, Sarasota, FL 34233

phone (941) 921-5358 ext. 316

fax (941) 921-923-5241

www.gsgcf.org

Want more Healthy Girls Initiative online? Visit: http://www.myspace.com/healthygirlsinitiative !

On Labor Day, It's "Time for Lunch" Community Potluck!

2009-09-03T16:29:00.002-04:00

Healthy Girls Initiative is co-hosting an awesome community event to raise support for healthy school lunches this Labor Day! Slow Foods of Greater Sarasota is hosting an “Eat – In” Community Potluck at Phillipi Estate Park from 12noon – 3pm on Labor Day September 7, 2009. Our Eat-In is part of a National Day of Action when thousands of people across the country will share a meal to demonstrate our commitment to getting high nutritional quality school lunches.
Attendees are asked to bring a dish that is in the “slow food” tradition, which means either home-made in the tradition of a specific culture or made from scratch as much as possible of fresh whole foods. Non alcoholic beverages will be provided. Attendees should bring their own eating utensils, cups, plates, and napkins.
Currently school meals are based upon the current USDA allotment $2.57 per child, of which less than $1 goes towards actual ingredients. Josh Viertel, President, Slow Food USA says “It is time to give kids real food: food that tastes good; is good for them; is good for the people who grow and prepare it; and, is good for the planet.”
In a time of escalating obesity and diabetes epidemics, our schools – due to this lack of financial resources and the complex administrative rules which hamper them - are often serving children precisely the fast food and junk food that endangers their health.
This year, Congress can give schools the resources to serve real food by:
1. increasing school lunch reimbursements by $1/child/day;
2. protecting against food that threatens children’s health by limiting high calorie, low nutrition foods; and,
3. teaching children healthy habits that will last throughout life.
More information on the campaign is available at www.slowfoodusa.org/timeforlunch and about Slow Food of Greater Sarasota at http://www.wholefood.meetup.com/192/.
To RSVP please send an email to slowfoodsarasota@gmail.com. For more information feel free to contact HGI Program Specialist Julia Onnie-Hay at (941) 921-5358 ext. 316 or juliao@gsgcf.org

Want more Healthy Girls Initiative online? Visit: http://www.myspace.com/healthygirlsinitiative !

Healthy Girls Task Force Update

2009-09-03T16:29:00.001-04:00

Both of the Healthy Girls Task Forces in Englewood and Venice will be teaming up to write and practice the script for their healthy lifestyle awareness public service announcement this month. Next month they will film the public service announcement. Look for it on Sarasota County television and in the public schools later this autumn! Graduation for the Task Forces take place in October and are open to families and friends of the girls. The Venice Task Force graduation is Thursday, October 22nd from 6pm to 7pm at the Venice Girl Scout House and the Englewood Task Force graduation is Monday, October 26th from 6pm to 7pm at the Englewood United Methodist Church.

This November, nominations and applications will be accepted for the 2010 Healthy Girls Task Force. There are a few changes to the opportunity this year. The Task Force will be recruiting girls from all over Sarasota County, not just South Sarasota County. Also, the Task Force will only be open to teenage girls. Finally, the Task Force will be partnering with other programs and organizations, including SWAT (Students Working Against Tobacco) and Orange Blossom Community Garden. The Task Force will meet twice monthly from January – May. Contact HGI Program Specialist for more information at (941) 921-5359 ext. 316 or juliao@gsgcf.org.

Want more Healthy Girls Initiative online? Visit: http://www.myspace.com/healthygirlsinitiative !

Changes for the Healthy Girls Initiative

2009-09-03T16:20:00.002-04:00

For the 2009-2010 school year, there are big changes for the Healthy Girls Initiative (HGI). There's good news and not-so-good news. The not-so-good news is that due to the economic recession, the primary funder of HGI is no longer funding programs and is only providing funds for emergency operational funds to keep local non-profits afloat. So, inspite of outstanding outcomes, a dozen letters of support, glowing evaluations from girls and adult participants, 216 programs delivered in the 2008-2009 school year and summer with over 2,000 girls served, HGI has - perhaps temporarily - lost funding.

The good news is that HGI will continue to deliver some programs to girls in South Sarasota County. HGI Program Specialist Julia Onnie-Hay has trained a part-time staff and a volunteer who will be delivering the Uniquely Me! Healthy Girls Program in four after-school programs and four elementary schools. A new class of the Healthy Girls Task Force will be recruited for 2010. Julia will continue to manage HGI programs and staff while serving the Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida council in her new full-time position as Program Specialist for five counties.

If you know of any funding sources for healthy lifestyle awareness programs for youth, please inform Julia by emailing her information at: juliao@gsgcf.org.

The Healthy Girls Initiative e-newsletter will now be sent out on a quarterly basis. The blog will also be updated on a quarterly basis. Expect to see the new issue and blog update in January 2010. If you ever have any questions about what’s up with the Healthy Girls Initiative, please contact HGI Program Specialist Julia Onnie-Hay at (941) 921-5358 ext. 316 or juliao@gsgcf.org.

Want more Healthy Girls Initiative online? Visit: http://www.myspace.com/healthygirlsinitiative

Healthy Girls Initiative Intern & Volunteer Opportunities

2009-09-03T16:19:00.001-04:00

For the 2009-2010 school year, the Healthy Girls Initiative has an opening for a Program Delivery Intern. Applicants must have an interest in or formal education/professional experience in a health/wellness-related field. Potential stipend. Please contact HGI Program Specialist Julia Onnie-Hay for further information at (941_ 921-5358 ext. 316 or juliao@gsgcf.org.

For folks looking to have a tremendous, positive impact on the lives of girls in our community, Healthy Girls Initiative welcomes volunteers to contribute their time and talents as guest instructors for our programs. If you are a chef, dancer, nurse, dietician, poet or have any other wellness-related skills, please contact Julia about coming as a special guest to a program session for girls or adults. HGI is particularly seeking fitness instructors.

Want more Healthy Girls Initiative online? Visit: http://www.myspace.com/healthygirlsinitiative !

Catch the Wave...Healthy Girls Summer Programs!

2009-06-05T18:03:00.001-04:00

Girls ages 8 -14 going to summer camp at the Englewood YMCA, Venice YMCA, North Port Boys & Girls Club, Venice Boys & Girls Club, and Laurel Civic Association (both the summer camp and the Teen Empowerment program) can look forward to the Healthy Girls Summer Program! The program consists of five sessions. Each summer camp will have two complete programs offered, one for older girls and one for younger girls. The programs all include: nutrition education, physical activity, emotional/mental wellness lessons and an emphasis on environmental health.

If you know of a girl who is not in any of the named summer camps, Healthy Girls Initiative can bring the Healthy Girls Summer Program your way! We can offer a one-time workshop or a one-week, five-session program for your summer camp, church youth group, or community center. Simply contact Healthy Girls Initiative Program Specialist Julia Onnie-Hay for more information at (941) 921-5358 ext. 319 or juliao@gsgcf.org.

Another GREAT way to get your summer off to a healthy start is to attend the Healthy Girls Wellness Fair being held on Saturday, June 20th from 11:00am to 3:00pm at the Venice Girl Scout House located at 1775 E. Venice Avenue, Venice, FL 34292. Smoothies and other healthy food will be available to fuel girls and their friends and families for participating in fun games, crafts and activities that promote holistic health.

OR, for those of you in the Englewood community, the Task Force girls will be hosting Beach Yoga & Trash Clean-Ups at Middle Beach every Saturday morning from 7:30am to 9:00am by the pavilion. Simply show up and wear comfy clothing. Bring a beach towel to use as a beach-friendly yoga mat. No experience with yoga or ANY exercise needed! 

Want more Healthy Girls Initiative online? Visit: http://www.myspace.com/healthygirlsinitiative !

Bienvinedos a "Nadie Como Yo!" Healthy Girls Initiative Goes Bilingual!

2009-06-05T18:02:00.002-04:00

The Healthy Girls Initiative is delighted to announce the very first delivery of the Nadie Como Yo! program to girls in Sarasota. The Nadie Como Yo! program is the Spanish version of the Uniquely Me! Program for Girls. It was delivered by new part-time Program Outreach Specialist Vivian Quintero. If you would like Vivian to deliver this holistic health program to Spanish-speaking girls at your church, summer camp or other youth program in South Sarasota County (Venice, North Port, Englewood, Laurel/Nokomis/Osprey), please contact HGI Program Specialist Julia Onnie-Hay at (941) 921-5358 ext. 319 or juliao@gsgcf.org.

Want more Healthy Girls Initiative online? Visit: http://www.myspace.com/healthygirlsinitiative !

Healthy Girls Task Forces Update

2009-06-05T18:01:00.002-04:00

The community activists of the Healthy Girls Task Forces (Venice and Englewood) were honored for their community service work at the Girls Awards ceremony held at Riverview High School in Ft. Myers last month. Also in May, the Venice Task Force hosted an Organic Garden Planning Potluck, which was well-attended by enthusiastic community-members eager to support the girls in planting an organic garden at the Venice Girl Scout House, including Vice Mayor of the City of Venice, Sue Lang! Next steps include inviting Sarasota County Master Gardeners to give a presentation on Florida gardening to the girls and purchasing some Earthboxes to start a summer garden in. If all goes well, the girls will plant direct in the Earth in the autumn.

This summer, the Task Force girls are offering several community wellness events throughout South Sarasota County. On Saturday, June 20th from 11:00am to 3:00pm, the Venice Task Force hosts the Healthy Girls Wellness Fair at the Venice Girl Scout House. On Saturday, July 18th from 12:00pm to 3:00pm, the Englewood Task Force hosts the Family Nature & Fitness Day at a location in Englewood to be determined (look for the location announcement in the July Healthy Girls Initiative E-Newsletter!). On Saturday, August 15th and Sunday, August 16th, the Venice Task Force girls will host a Back-To-School Stress Less Wellness Sleepover at the Venice Girl Scout House. Also, look for signs in the lawns of Englewood businesses and organizations promoting healthy living, planted by Englewood Task Force girls!

Want more Healthy Girls Initiative online? Visit: http://www.myspace.com/healthygirlsinitiative !

Great News - The Healthy Girls Initiative Cell Phone Is Back!

2009-06-05T18:01:00.001-04:00

For everyone who has been trying so persistently to get in touch with Healthy Girls Initiative Program Specialist Julia Onnie-Hay via the (941) 302-0004 cell phone, you may have been wondering if Julia was out to (a healthy) lunch or off on some wellness retreat outside of the cell phone reception zone! The cell phone charger was broken for the past two weeks, but has now been restored to working order. Apologies to anyone that had difficulty being in touch with Healthy Girls Initiative. Remember, aside from the cell phone you can always catch Julia by shooting her an email at: juliao@gsgcf.org. She also checks the (941) 921-5458 ext. 319 office line on a weekly basis.

Want more Healthy Girls Initiative online? Visit: http://www.myspace.com/healthygirlsinitiative !

Healthy Summer! June Programs

2009-06-05T18:00:00.000-04:00

Healthy Girls Initiative has a lot of exciting holistic health programs for girls and adults going on in South Sarasota County this June! Please contact Julia as soon as possible at (941) 921-5358 ext. 319 or (941) 302-0004 or juliao@gsgcf.org to register for any of the following:

* Healthy Girls Summer Programs
Dates, Times, Sites: Mondays @ Englewood YMCA 3:30pm to 4:30pm
Tuesdays @ North Port Boys & Girls Club 3pm to 4pm
Wednesdays @ Venice YMCA 3pm to 4pm
Thursdays @ Venice Boys & Girls Club 3pm to 4pm
Fridays @ Laurel Civic Association 3pm to 4pm
Cost: FREE!
More Info: Introducing the newly developed “Healthy Girls Summer Program” curriculum to girls in Sarasota County and all other nine counties in the Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida, Inc. region! All five of the programs offered in South Sarasota County this summer will be delivered by the new part-time program specialist Vivian Quintero. Programs fuse together nutrition education, physical activity, emotional/mental wellness lessons and an emphasis on environmental health in fun and ‘tween-friendly ways.

For girls ages 8-14 participating in the summer camps.

* Uniquely Me! Summer “Challenge” Program for Moms & Daughters
Dates: Wednesdays
Time: 6:00pm to 8:00pm
Location: Women’s Resource Center of Sarasota County - Venice
Cost: FREE!
More Info: For the first time, the Women’s Resource Center of Sarasota County combines their beloved “Challenge” program for women with the Healthy Girls Initiative “Uniquely Me!” program with the intention of strengthening relationships between moms and daughters while cultivating holistically healthy lifestyles together.

This program is closed to new registrations.

* Healthy Girls Circle @ Teen Empowerment
Dates: Thursdays
Time: 4:00pm to 5:00pm
Location: Laurel Civic Association - Laurel
Cost: FREE!
More Info: The Healthy Girls Summer Program will be modified to address holistic health issues selected by the teenage girls of the Teen Empowerment Program at Laurel Civic Association. This is a supplementary enrichment program new to Laurel!

This program is open to girls participating in the Teen Empowerment summer program at Laurel Civic Association.

* Englewood Task Force Presents: Beach Yoga & Clean-Up
Date: Saturdays
Time: 7:30am to 9:00am
Location: Middle Beach- Englewood
Cost: FREE!
More Info: Join a member of the Englewood Healthy Girls Task Force and HGI Program Specialist Julia Onnie-Hay for a gentle beach yoga session followed by a walk where we pick up trash on the beach. Start your day off right doing something healthy for your body and for the Earth!

For the whole South Sarasota County community.

* Wellness in Schools Forum
Date: Wednesday, June 17th
Time: 10:00am to 11:00am
Location: Sarasota County School Board - Sarasota
Cost: FREE!
More Info: This forum meets on a monthly basis with the intention of making healthy living resources more available to students and families in Sarasota County. The forum is a collaboration between the Sarasota County School Board, Sarasota County Health Department’s Community Health Improvement Partnership (CHIP), many non-profit organizations and concerned parents.

For Sarasota County School Board staff, Sarasota County Health Department staff, non-profit organization staff, and concerned parents. Please contact HGI Program Specialist Julia Onnie-Hay for room number.

* Venice Healthy Girls Task Force Meeting 6
Date: Thursday, June 18th
Time: 6:00pm to 8:00pm
Location: Venice Girl Scout House - Venice
Cost: FREE!
More Info: The girls will focus on last-minute preparations for the Healthy Girls Wellness Fair to be held on Saturday, June 20th (see below).

For members of the Venice Healthy Girls Task Force only.

* Venice Task Force Presents: Healthy Girls Wellness Fair
Date: Saturday, June 20th
Time: 11:00am to 3:00pm
Location: Venice Girl Scout House - Venice
Cost: $3 donation recommended
More Info: Healthy living games and activities; nutritious and delicious food and smoothies available; wellness information; crafts galore!

Open to the South Sarasota County community; however, every person must be accompanied by a girl under the age of 18 in order to be admitted.

* Englewood Task Force Meeting 6
Date: Monday, June 29th
Time: 6:00pm to 8:00pm
Location: Englewood United Methodist Church - Englewood
Cost: FREE!
More Info: Meeting 5 of the Task Force will focus on plans for the educational sign campaign as well as preparations for the Family Nature & Fitness Day planned for Saturday, July 18th.

Members of the Englewood Task Force only.

* Go Green! Healthy Snacking 101
Date: Tuesday, June 30th
Time: 3:00pm to 4:00pm
Location: Laurel Civic Association - Laurel
Cost: FREE!
More Info: This is the first of three wellness classes being offered to the first co-ed youth audience ever by the Healthy Girls Initiative. In July, look for the Stress Less! Visualization 101 and Real Deal! Substance Abuse 101 classes for the Teen Empowerment program at the Laurel Civic Association.

For girls and boys in the Teen Empowerment program at the Laurel Civic Association only.

Want more Healthy Girls Initiative online? Visit: http://www.myspace.com/healthygirlsinitiative !

June Healthy Woman of the Month: Alisa Peters

2009-06-05T17:59:00.000-04:00

Each month, Healthy Girls Initiative will feature a brief interview with a woman who contributes to our South Sarasota County community by leading by example and promoting holistically healthy lifestyles for our girls.
Our June Healthy Woman of the Month is Alisa Peters, a Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida, Inc. staff member always inspiring to other staff in her commitment to wellness and the girls of our community!

Where you live and how long have you lived there?
I live in Sarasota and have lived in the Bradenton/Sarasota area for 16 years.
What do you do for work?
I work for Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida, Inc. in the position of Director, Administrative Services. I have been with the Girl Scouts for 12 years and enjoy my work.

I started working in retail at the age of 17 but have mostly worked in administrative positions since the age of 22.
How many girls ages 8-14 do you interact with on a regular basis?
I interact with many girls when they come into the office or visit our Girl Scout Shop. I have helped several times at summer camp assisting girls with arts and crafts within this age range. I enjoy working with girls of these ages, they are a lot of fun and it is amazing what you can learn from them. I have three wonderful nieces that keep me up on the new and hip things happening in today’s society for their age range, it is so different now-a-days than it was when I was a kid.
What does living a healthy lifestyle mean to you?
To me it means taking care of yourself and your family. Everyone can live a healthy lifestyle just by making small changes on a daily basis. I have a daughter who is 7 years old and she was learning about the food pyramid in school in January. We promised together that we would incorporate some of these new changes in our daily routine of eating habits; so far it is working great.

The past few months I have been learning about eating healthy and am still learning how to make the right choices. It can be easy to make changes but it does take time to mentally make yourself think about choosing the right foods. In January I realized that I was not happy being at a weight that I had never reached before. I was uncomfortable in my clothes and upset at myself for letting myself make bad choices. So I made the decision to make a life change to start living a healthy life for my family and myself. I signed up in January to do the 3-Day Breast Cancer walk this coming October.

Since signing up and training for this event I have lost 30 lbs. to date and am working on loosing another 20 lbs. by October so I will be in good shape for the event. I was inspired by the TV show Biggest Loser (BL), which is a favorite of mine and three awesome trainers I had at Lifestyles in Bradenton, Toni, Carol, and Kate. Unfortunately, two of us moved and are now living in different areas; but to this day they stay in touch with me and keep me motivated. While watching the show (BL) I tell myself if these people can do it, so can I.

I feel it is important to set goals, stay focused, and work hard to accomplish them. I choose the 3-Day Breast Cancer event because it has been a life long goal of mine to accomplish. I lost my grandmother to breast cancer 27 years ago and I am walking in memory of her. I am very excited about the people I will meet, the new friendships I will form and I am proud of myself for taking the steps to learn how to make changes to live a healthy lifestyle.

My personal advice to others about making a change to start a healthy lifestyle is that I would advise anyone to start by making small steps. Make better choices, choose healthier meals, exercise and it will get easier to maintain a healthy weight. Do not give up! When you feel like you want to quit, you have push through it. It will get easier in time, you will be glad you did it and you will gain a happier out look on life. I hope that by living my life in a healthy way it inspires others to do the same.
Share your top three healthy living tips for other adult caregivers of girls:
1.) Exercise and make it fun - it is important to get some type of exercise daily or at least a few days a week. So go for a walk around the block, play outside with your kid(s), throw a ball around, try to get at least 30 minutes of exercise in everyday and you will feel better and will see results just by taking small steps in the right direction to be healthier. The bonus to exercising is that you will feel better with more energy and not less.

2.) Make small changes in your eating habits: Choose low fat cheeses and yogurts, whole-wheat crackers and cheese, smoothies made with fruit and fat-free milk, eat lots of fruits and vegetables. Choose lean meats such as skinless chicken, turkey breast, fish, or pork loin and cook with olive or canola oils instead of butters. Most important limit fried foods.

3.) Plan your meals for the week ahead of time. I recommend the steamer bags of veggies they have out now, they are easy and go with any meal. Try not to keep things like chips, candy, and soda in your pantry; they will only make you hungrier. Try not to be tempted by fast foods. It is so easy today with all the fast food chains we drive by on a daily basis, to just swing through and get a meal. Many of us are always on the go and rushing to get our kid(s) to their activities due to time restraints so we pick the quickest choice, which is fast food. It is okay to treat yourself to something once a week, but make sure you limit the amount you eat.
Why are you a part of Healthy Girls Initiative?
First and foremost I’m trying to be a positive role model for my own daughter and my family by focusing on healthy lifestyle choices – in other words I’m trying to “walk the talk.” At work, my team and I help the HGI and Julia by registering girls for all the great programs that the Healthy Girl Initiative has to offer.

P.S. If anyone would like to support me and my team with the 3-Day Cancer walk I would greatly appreciate it. To make a donation and sponsor me just go to www.The3Day.org put in my name, Alisa Peters and follow the prompts. You can also print the form and mail in a check if you are not comfortable making a contribution on line. My goal is to ask 200 people to make a $10.00 contribution or whatever amount they would like to contribute to sponsor me so I can reach my goal of $2300.00 and complete the journey.

Want more Healthy Girls Initiative online? Visit: http://www.myspace.com/healthygirlsinitiative !

Starting in August: Growing Healthy Girls In Our Schools!

2009-06-05T17:58:00.000-04:00

The Healthy Girls Initiative of Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida, Inc. was approved to deliver our holistic health programs for girls within the school day in Sarasota County elementary schools back in February 2009. Since then, we have been developing and refining the curriculum through delivering the Uniquely Me! Healthy Girls Program in after-school programs throughout the region.

This past May, HGI Program Specialist Julia Onnie-Hay met with guidance counselors from elementary schools in Venice, North Port, Laurel and Englewood regarding setting up the logistics for offering the program to 3rd, 4th and 5th grade girls in their schools. We are pleased to announce that starting with the new school term at the end of August, the Uniquely Me! Healthy Girls Program will be offered at Garden Elementary School in Venice, Glen Allen Elementary School in North Port, and Englewood Elementary School in Englewood. We are still available to offer the program in two other elementary schools in the region, so if you would like to see us in your school next term, please contact HGI Program Specialist Julia Onnie-Hay at (941) 921-5358 ext. 319 or juliao@gsgcf.org to find out how you can help make our cutting edge healthy living curriculum available to girls in your community!

Want more Healthy Girls Initiative online? Visit: http://www.myspace.com/healthygirlsinitiative !

Venice Girl Scout House Organic Garden Potluck!

2009-05-12T14:29:00.005-04:00

Friends, family and community allies of the Healthy Girls Initiative of Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida and the Healthy Girls Task Force (Venice and Englewood teams) are invited to a POTLUCK at the Venice Girl Scout House on Saturday, May 23rd from 5pm to 7pm to help plan the planting of the new organic garden!

For more information or to RSVP, please call Julia at (941) 302-0004 or email her at juliao@gsgcf.org

Want more Healthy Girls Initiative online? Visit: http://www.myspace.com/healthygirlsinitiative !

Last Chance to Register for Uniquely Me! Summer "Challenge" Program for Moms & Daughters!

2009-05-12T14:29:00.001-04:00

Uniquely Me! Summer “Challenge” Program Kicks Off!

This month, the Women’s Resource Center of Sarasota County and the Healthy Girls Initiative of Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida, Inc. team up for the first time to offer a free ten week holistic health program for mothers and daughters.

The Uniquely Me!: Summer “Challenge” Program for Moms and Daughters is designed to build a positive, long-lasting relationship between mothers and daughters while educating both on living a healthy lifestyle. The program will be held at the Women’s Resource Center in Venice, located on the campus of the Venice Branch of the South County Family YMCA at 701 Center Road, Venice, FL 34285. The first session of the program will be Wednesday, May 20th from 6pm to 8pm. The last session is on Wednesday, July 22nd.

This special program fuses together the curriculum used in the Uniquely Me! Program for Girls offered by the Healthy Girls Initiative and the Challenge Program offered by the Women’s Resource Center. The program facilitators will be Elaine Taylor of the Women’s Resource Center and Julia Onnie-Hay of the Healthy Girls Initiative. Topics include stress management, communication, and advocacy. Each session includes a delicious, healthy snack and nutrition lesson as well as a meditation and stretch break.

To register, contact Healthy Girls Initiative Program Specialist Julia Onnie-Hay at juliao@gsgcf.org or (941) 302-0004 for a registration form or simply pick one up from the Women’s Resource Center Venice Office located in the old building at the Venice YMCA. All forms are to be dropped off or mailed to the Women’s Resource Center Venice Office. The first ten mother-daughter teams to register will receive free dark chocolate!

Want more Healthy Girls Initiative online? Visit: http://www.myspace.com/healthygirlsinitiative !

Healthy Girls Summer Program

2009-05-12T14:28:00.004-04:00

For those of us looking forward to a summer of wellness, there is bad news and good news from Healthy Girls Initiative this month. To get the bad news out of the way, here it is: Due to low registration and budget cuts, the Healthy Girls South County Summer Camp has been canceled. Although thousands of flyers and registration forms were delivered to all South Sarasota County middle schools and elementary schools, the cost of the camp posed a hurdle to many of our families struggling in these challenging economic times to find the most affordable summer programs for their girls.

However, there’s really good news: Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida, Inc. has chosen to utilize the Healthy Girls Initiative five-session “Healthy Girls Summer Program” curriculum as their summer outreach program! That means that thousands of girls will receive holistic health education this summer in ten counties. Any summer camps wanting a Girl Scouts representative to come and deliver the Healthy Girls Summer Program is invited to contact the Girl Scouts Council to arrange the logistics of the program by calling Julia at (941) 921-5358 ext. 319.

Want more Healthy Girls Initiative online? Visit: http://www.myspace.com/healthygirlsinitiative !

Free Better Together! Zumba Classes

2009-05-12T14:28:00.003-04:00

Women & Girls Invited to Feel Better Together! with FREE Zumba Classes At the Venice YMCA!

Starting April 15th the Healthy Girls Initiative. will offer Better Together! a six-week series of free Zumba classes for girls and their adult female caregivers (moms, grandmas, aunts, sisters, guardians, Big Sister, teachers, trusted family friend, etc).

The classes will be taught by Christine Pitts, a certified fitness instructor with many years of experience and a passion for helping women who are new to group exercise have fun with fitness. The South County Family YMCA has generously offered space for the classes at their Venice location on Wednesday evenings from 6:00pm to 7:00pm.

This class is designed for girls and women who are new to group exercise or getting back into exercising after a break, but all fitness levels are welcomed.

The dates of the class are: April 15; April 22; April 29; May 6; May 13; May 20. Each class is limited to ten girl-woman teams. To register for one or more classes, contact Julia Onnie-Hay, Program Specialist at (941) 921-5358 ext. 319 or juliao@gsgcf.org.

Task Force Girls Raised $1000 To Fund Six Community Service Projects Happening This Summer!

Last month we reported that the Healthy Girls Initiative Venice and Englewood Youth Leadership Task Force girls had chosen six community service projects they’ll be working on this summer. During April, these 24 girls completed two major volunteer projects that raised a little over $1000 to cover the expenses of their projects. These projects include: planting an organic community garden at the Venice Girl Scout House; Healthy Girls Wellness Fair at the Venice Girl Scout House on Saturday, June 20th; Healthy Girls Beach Yoga & Clean-Up at Englewood Beach on Saturday mornings starting in June and running through the summer; Healthy Girls Nature & Fitness Day on Saturday, July 18th in Englewood; an educational healthy living sign campaign in Englewood; and a Back-to-School Stress Less Sleep-Over on Saturday, August 15th at the Venice Girl Scout House.

On Saturday, April 11th, Task Force girls raised $500 selling tickets to the Venice Wellness Expo at the Venice Community Center on the island of Venice. Two weeks later, on Saturday, April 25th, Task Force girls and other girls from Healthy Girls Initiative programs traveled up to St. Petersburg before dawn and served as the water girls at the annual Meek and Mighty Triathlon, earning an additional $500. After the Triathlon, the girls relaxed at a beach picnic at Fort Desoto Park on Terra Verde Island for some well-earned rest and relaxation. Through these two projects, girls learned about events that promote community wellness while being of service and fundraising. Thanks are due to Richard Benham of the Venice Wellness Expo and Alyson Noune of the Meek & Mighty Triathlon for providing these stellar opportunities to the Healthy Girls Initiative girls!

Want more Healthy Girls Initiative online? Visit: http://www.myspace.com/healthygirlsinitiative !

May Programs

2009-05-12T14:28:00.001-04:00

Get Ready for a Healthy Summer! May Programs:

Healthy Girls Initiative has a lot of exciting holistic health programs for girls and adults going on in South Sarasota County this May! Please contact Julia as soon as possible at (941) 921-5358 ext. 319 or (941) 302-0004 or juliao@gsgcf.org to register for any of the following:

* Community Wellness Event: A.R.T. Bike Map Release Party @ Arlington Park (Sarasota)

Date: Saturday, May 2nd

Time: 12:00pm to 3:00pm

Cost: FREE!

More Info: www.bikewalklive.org

For all community members.

* BYOU2 Dance Parties @ Uniquely Me! Program for Girls Sites

Dates: Tuesday, May12th at North Port Boys & Girls Club

Wednesday, May 13th at Venice YMCA

Thursday, May 14th at Venice Boys & Girls Club

Friday, May 15th at Laurel Civic Association

Time: 4:00pm to 5:00pm

Cost: $5 for registered Girl Scouts and $10 for non-Girl Scouts

More Info: Enjoy a fun dance party with hiphop and Bollywood moves led by a Cheetah Girl! Focus on loving yourself while celebrating the start of a healthy summer with other girls!

For girls at the sites.

* Better Together Free Fusion Fitness Program @ Venice YMCA

Date: Wednesdays May 6th, May 13th & May 20th

Time: 6:00pm to 7:00pm

Cost: FREE!

More Info: The class is held at the Venice Family YMCA (a HGI community partner), which offers a wide variety of classes and opportunities for girls and adults to exercise in a friendly, safe community environment. Come to one, two, or all six classes! This class is perfect for girls and adults new to group exercise but is appropriate for all fitness levels.

For girls and women.

* Girl Awards Ceremony @ Riverview High School (Ft. Myers)

Date: Sunday, May 17th

Time: 2:00pm to 4:00pm

Cost: FREE!

More Info: The Healthy Girls Initiative Task Forces will be honored for their community service projects helping girls in South Sarasota County to lead healthier lifestyles.

For girls in the Healthy Girls Initiative Youth Leadership Task Forces and their families and friends.

* Uniquely Me! Summer “Challenge” Program for Moms & Daughters @ Women’s Resource Center (Venice)

Date: Wednesdays May 20th – July 22nd

Time: 6:00pm to 8:00pm

Cost: FREE!

More Info: See article on first page of e-newsletter.

For students at North Port High School.

* Englewood Youth Leadership Task Force Meeting @ Englewood United Methodist Church (Englewood)

Date: Monday, May 18th

Time: 6:00pm to 8:00pm

Cost: FREE!

More Info: Meeting 5 of the Task Force will focus continue with plans for the other two community service projects.

Members of the Englewood Task Force only.

* Venice Youth Leadership Task Force Meeting @ Northern Trust Bank (Venice)

Date: Thursday, May 21st

Time: 6:00pm to 8:00pm

Cost: FREE!

More Info: Meeting 5 of the Task Force will focus on continuing plans for summer community service projects.

Members of the Venice Task Force only.

Want more Healthy Girls Initiative online? Visit: http://www.myspace.com/healthygirlsinitiative !

Healthy Woman of the Month: Vivian Quintero

2009-05-12T14:26:00.000-04:00

Healthy Woman of the Month: Vivian Quintero

Each month, Healthy Girls Initiative will feature a brief interview with a woman who contributes to our South Sarasota County community by leading by example and promoting holistically healthy lifestyles for our girls.

Our May Healthy Woman of the Month is Vivian Quintero, the new and warmly welcomed part-time Healthy Girls Initiative staff member.

Where you live and how long have you lived there?

I have lived in Sarasota, by the beautiful bay (one of my favorite places), since May 2007. Before that, I lived in Bradenton with my mom and grandma.

What do you do for work?

I work for Healthy Girls Initiative! My main responsibility is to deliver the Healthy Girls Initiative program to girls in Spanish. I also work for Worden Farms at the Farmer's Market whenever they need extra help and provide babysitting and interpreting/translating services to low-income families. I have worked as an administrative assistant for St. Jude Catholic Church, El Mariachi Loco insurance agency and the Hispanic-Latino Coalition. I have been a hostess at Captain Brian's Seafood Restaurant and Market and a tutor/mentor and babysitter on many, many occassions. I especially enjoy tutoring in math.

What do you do when you’re not working?

I take classes at Manatee Community College, walk on the beach with friends, meditate and sing by the bay, visit my family in Bradenton, volunteer with several organizations through New College (Jesus Club, Food Not Bombs, Coalition of Immokalee Farmworkers), hang out with my 5-year old cousin, Elena, go to Bible studies, enjoy cooking Colombian food to share with others, hang out at Big E's Coffeeshop and make new friends/meet with old friends, turn up the radio and dance in my living room while cleaning, hang out with the kids I babysit, go Latin dancing, sing in my church choir, take walks around my neighborhood...

How many girls ages 8-14 do you interact with on a regular basis?

Besides the girls that are a part of Healthy Girls Initiative, zero. The young people I interact with on a regular basis are my cousin, Elena, and the kids I babysit (both are boys).

What does living a healthy lifestyle mean to you?

Living a healthy lifestyle means being holistically well. I strive to achieve wellness in all of its dimensions (emotional, physical, social, spiritual, intellectual, occupational and environmental) because mind and body are interrelated. For years, I've been making and re-making a list which describes in detail the goals I'm working on or will work on in each dimension to achieve wellness in that area of my life. It is in setting these goals, striving to achieve them and re-evaluating them periodically that I feel that I reach my greatest potential for wellness.

Share your top three healthy living tips for other adult caregivers of girls:

#1- LOVE and SMILE! Learn to truly love yourself and others and show it in your lifestyle. Smiling will change your mood in positive ways!

#2- FAST! Take a break from some things, sometimes. Give yourself a break from the chaos of everyday living to relax and discover/re-evaluate priorities. Do this to re-energize as often as needed to avoid burnout and stay at your best!

#3- SET GOALS! Align your thoughts and actions with what you want to accomplish, with who you want to be, and write down each one of your goals in a special place. See how each goal relates to your overall wellness. Repeat, as needed.

Why are you a part of Healthy Girls Initiative?

I am embracing this opportunity to educate and serve as a role model because I know how important wellness education and support from healthy role models is in the lives of young girls and recognize how critical it has been in the ever-continuing transformation of my own lifestyle. For example, as a young girl I developed unhealthy eating habits and poor self-esteem. Later on, in high school, my life management skills teacher served as an excellent and extremely influencial role model, supporter and educator. She introduced me to healthy attitudes towards nutrition and became my "fitness coach" sophomore year. Today, I am thrilled about the opportunity to work alongside and continue learning from Julia, and to be an empowerer of young girls and their families through education and support.

Want more Healthy Girls Initiative online? Visit: http://www.myspace.com/healthygirlsinitiative !

Healthy Girls South County Summer Camp!

2009-03-25T18:54:00.002-04:00

Ladies, looking for a healthy and FUN & FABULOUS way to spend summer vacation????

Healthy Girls South County Summer Day Camp!
For girls entering 4th – 8th grades

Kick off the summer right with fun activities that will be good for your body, mind and spirit! Daily activities will focus on preparing, learning about, and enjoying nutritious and delicious foods; a fun variety of physical activities including yoga, sports, and dance; self-esteem strengthening games and crafts; and connecting with nature. Go green from the inside out!

Healthy Girls South County Summer Day Campat theVenice Girl Scout House1775 East Venice Avenue  Venice, FL 34292S

ix one-week sessions  Attend one session or all six!
June 8, 2009 – July 24, 2009
$150 per session (Fee includes lunch, snack, and a weekly field trip)
Plus a one-time $10 Girl Scout membership fee
Financial assistance available, download form at www.gsgcf.org

SESSION 1 -
Girls Go Green!
Healthy Girls Need a Healthy Planet
June 8 – June 12

SESSION 2 -
Super foods for super stars!
Nutrition 101 for Girls Who Eat
June 15 – June 19

SESSION 3 -
Moves & Grooves!
Boot Camp for Girls Who Hate PE
June 22 – June 26

SESSION 4 -
Feel good,do good!
Mind  Body  Spirit Community Service
July 6 – July 10

SESSION 5 -
Princess HQ!
Healthy Girls Spa Camp
July 13 – July 17

SESSION 6 -
Go with the flow & express yourself!
Healthy Girls Art Intensive
July 20 – July 24

Want to sign up? Contact Julia Onnie-Hay, Healthy Girls Initiative Program Specialist at (941) 302-0004 or juliao@gsgcf.org

Want more Healthy Girls Initiative online? Visit: http://www.myspace.com/healthygirlsinitiative !

Uniquely Me! "Challenge" Program for Moms & Daughters!

2009-03-25T18:51:00.003-04:00

Healthy Girls Initiative and the Women's Resource Center of Sarasota County
presents . . .
UNIQUELY ME! SUMMER "Challenge" PROGRAM FOR MOMS & DAUGHTERS
A 10-Week Holistic Health Program

May 20 – July 22, 2009
Wednesdays 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
at the
Women’s Resource Center  Venice
701 Center Road  Venice, FL 34285
(in the original YMCA building)

Moms & Daughters Can Expect To:
 Expand your relationship & develop new tools to support a lifetime together
and
 Identify the components of a holistically healthy lifestyle

Space is limited! Contact us for a registration form TODAY!

FREE CHOCOLATE TO FIRST 10 MOM & DAUGHTER TEAMS!

For more information contact:
Healthy Girls Initiative Program Specialist
Julia Onnie-Hay at (941) 302-0004
email: juliao@gsgcf.org

Want more Healthy Girls Initiative online? Visit: http://www.myspace.com/healthygirlsinitiative !

Belated March E-Newsletter

2009-03-25T18:45:00.003-04:00

Yes, We Can! Be Positive Examples for Our Kids

Do you want to help the kids in your life be healthy? Do you want to improve your health through positive lifestyle change? If so, please join other caring adult caregivers of kids at the We Can! Wellness Workshops for Adult being offered by the Healthy Girls Initiative. The * free * workshops meet at Elsie Quirk Library from 6:00pm to 7:00pm on Mondays and at North Port Library from 6:00pm to 7:00pm on Tuesdays all March and part of April.

We Can! (Ways to Enhance Children’s Activity & Nutrition), is a new program from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to address the growing obesity epidemic among youths ages 8-13. We Can! reaches parents and caregivers in community settings with educational materials and activities including a new six-lesson course for parents. “We Can! is designed to empower parents by providing them the tools they need to promote healthy eating, increase physical activity and reduce sedentary time within their families,” said Dr. Elizabeth G. Nabel, Director of the National Heat, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) at NHI.

Adults may come to one, multiple, or all sessions. Each session includes a healthy snack. To register, please contact HGI Program Specialist Julia Onnie-Hay as soon as possible at (941) 302-0004 or juliao@gsgcf.org.

Girl Stars Invited to Uniquely Me! Pathway for Girls

For girls who want to learn to live like a star by making their holistic health a priority, Healthy Girls Initiative is offering two Uniquely Me! Pathway for Girls programs starting this month. Girls ages 8-14 from South Sarasota County are invited to join the six-week program at either North Port Library or Jacaranda Library.

Girls interested in improving their health while having fun are invited to “learn how to shine your brightest by living a healthy lifestyle.” The program will meet once per week for one-hour sessions. Participants will learn how to enrich their lives with nutritious foods, enjoy exercising, getting “you time” to do what the girls love, relax, and connect to nature.

Julia Onnie-Hay and Julie Krueger from the Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida, Inc. will lead the sessions at the Jacaranda Library on Wednesdays from 6:00pm to 7:00pm. The Pathway at Jacaranda Library starts March 18th and ends on April 29th. The North Port Library program will be held on Tuesdays from 7:00 to 8:00pm. The Pathway at North Port Library starts March 17th and ends on April 28th. The cost is $10 for all six sessions, which includes journals and snacks. This special Pathway program is only open to 25 girls at each location. Call (941) 921-5358 ext. 320 to register.

Spring Break Wellness Journey to Organic Farms!

Girls ages 8-14 from South Sarasota County are invited to join the Healthy Girls Initiative for the first annual Spring Break Wellness Journey from Wednesday, April 8th through Friday, April 10th. Girls will visit three Florida organic farms and gardens, enjoy preparing and eating healthy meals, get daily exercise, and connect with the natural environment.

The trip starts with an orientation at the Venice Girl Scout House on the Wednesday morning and then the girls will travel to Valrico, FL to tour and have a picnic lunch at Willow’s Delight Nursery, where they will meet community herbalist Willow LaMonte and learn about tasty and medicinal Florida plants. Then they will travel on to the Aqua Organics Farm near Polk City, FL where they will set-up camp and prepare and enjoy dinner.

On Thursday, the girls will do yoga, tour Aqua Organics Farm, meet the local neighbors and many animals, do hands-on educational service work harvesting vegetables, catch fish, cook meals over a fire and tell stories around a campfire. On Friday, the girls will depart from Aqua Organics Farm, go for a gentle nature hike nearby, and travel back to Sarasota County to tour Jessica’s Organic Farm in North Sarasota, where they will meet girls and adult women who work on the farm. The trip will end with a closing circle back at the Venice Girl Scout House on Friday night at 5pm.

The cost for this trip is $50, which includes transportation, a tent, food and drink, and tours of the three farms/gardens. Participants will be accompanied at all times by Julia Onnie-Hay, Healthy Girls Initiative Program Specialist and an adult volunteer. This trip is limited to 12 girls and is more already half full, so register soon! To register for the Spring Break Wellness Journey please call (941) 921-5358 ext. 319 or for more information, contact Julia at (941) 302-0004 or juliao@gsgcf.org.

Task Force Update: 2009 Community Projects

In the second meetings of the Venice & Englewood Youth Leadership Task Forces, the girl leaders engaged in brainstorming activities worthy of hurricane status! Each group came up with long lists of potential community service projects that could help make their communities healthier places for girls or help girls in their community live healthier lives.
Practicing the democratic process, girls voted for their top three choices of projects to be performed between March and September 2009. Here are the projects the girls will be designing and implementing:

Venice
1 – Organic community garden at the Venice Girl Scout House
2 – Holistic health pool party at the Venice YMCA –or- holistic health slumber party for Venice girls at location TBA (tie)
3 – Girls’ wellness fair at location TBA

Englewood
1 – Educational sign campaign focused on healthy lifestyle facts
2 – Beach yoga and trash pick-up club on weekends
3 – Community nature day with canoeing/kayaking/hiking/biking

Spring Into Wellness! March Programs:

Healthy Girls Initiative has a lot of exciting holistic health programs for girls and adults going on in South Sarasota County this March! Please contact Julia as soon as possible at (941) 921-5358 ext. 319 or (941) 302-0004 or juliao@gsgcf.org to register for any of the following:

* HGI Yoga Session @ Florida Creativity Weekend
(Sarasota)
Date: Sunday, March 1st
Time: 8:00am to 8:45am
Cost: $200 for the whole weekend
More Info: Check out www.flcreativity.com for full information and registration for this amazing weekend full of workshops, presentations and activities sure to get those creative juices flowing and stretch the imagination! HGI Program Specialist will stop in on Sunday morning to lead a gentle, restorative yoga session focused on sun salutations.

For girls and adults who are participating in the Florida Creativity Weekend.

* We Can! Wellness Workshops for Adults @ Elise Quirk Library (Englewood)
Date: Mondays March 2nd – April 13th
Time: 7:00pm to 8:00pm
Cost: FREE!
More Info: See first article in this e-newsletter. These free workshops focus on helping adult caregivers of children and teens learn strategies for reducing screen time and junk foods while increasing physical activity and healthy foods as a family. A nutritious and delicious snack will be served at each session. Come to one or the whole seven-week program! The Elsie Quirk Library is located in Englewood.

Offered to adult caregivers of children (i.e. parents, grandparents, guardians, teachers, youth counselors, etc.) in South Sarasota County and the Englewood community.

* We Can! Wellness Workshops for Adults @ North Port Library
(North Port)
Date: Tuesdays March 3rd – April 14th
Time: 7:00pm to 8:00pm
Cost: FREE!
More Info: See first article in this e-newsletter. These free workshops focus on helping adult caregivers of children and teens learn strategies for reducing screen time and junk foods while increasing physical activity and healthy foods as a family. A nutritious and delicious snack will be served at each session. Come to one or the whole seven-week program!

Offered to adult caregivers of children (i.e. parents, grandparents, guardians, teachers, youth counselors, etc.) in South Sarasota County, particularly the North Port community.

* Better Together Yoga Classes @ Venice YMCA (Venice)
Date: Wednesdays
Time: 5:30pm to 6:45pm
Cost: FREE!
More Info: The class is held at the Venice Family YMCA (a HGI community partner), which offers a wide variety of classes and opportunities for girls and adults to exercise in a friendly, safe community environment. Come to one, two, or all ten classes! This class is perfect for girls and adults new to yoga and group exercise.

For girls ages 8-14 with an adult caregiver (parent, other relative, Big Sister, family friend, guardian)

* Youth Advisory Committee on Substance Abuse Prevention @ Sarasota County School Board (Sarasota)
Date: Monday, March 9th & Monday, March 23rd
Time: 3:30pm to 4:30pm
Cost: FREE!
More Info: This youth-led committee serves as a liaison between the youth of Sarasota County and the Community Advisory Committee on Youth Substance Abuse, a collection of Sarasota County School Board, Sarasota County Health Department, non-profit organization and parent representatives dedicated to preventing substance abuse in community youth. Any teens interested in joining can feel free to attend the meetings. Get directions by calling HGI Program Specialist Julia Onnie-Hay at (941) 302-0004.

For teen leaders from schools and youth organizations in Sarasota County.

* Holistic Health Party with Big & Little Sisters @ Woodmere Park
(Venice)
Date: Thursday, March 12th
Time: 6:00pm to 8:00pm
Cost: $10 per Big Sister/Little Sister team
More Info: This special event for Big and Little Sisters from South Sarasota County will include a delicious and nutritious goddess salad, sweet treat smoothies, stretching and light yoga, and a relaxing dream-journey, among other exotic surprises!

For female adults and girls who are part of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Sun Coast Florida and reside in South Sarasota County.

* Venice Girl Scouts Go Green! Neighborhood Campout @ Camp Honi Hanta (Manatee County)
Date: Saturday, March 14th
Time: All Day
Cost: FREE!
More Info: For the Venice Girl Scout troops, Healthy Girls Initiative will present fun educational activities focused on nutrition, physical activity, emotional/mental wellness, and environmental health.

Current Venice Girl Scouts are invited.

* Uniquely Me! Pathway for Girls @ North Port Library (North Port)
Date: Tuesdays, March 17th – April 28th
Time: 7:00pm to 8:00pm
Cost: $10 total for all six sessions
More Info: Each session will include a nutritious and delicious snack with recipe, fun physical activity, an emotional/mental wellness craft or game, and an emphasis on connecting to the natural environment. This is a great way to get plugged into the new, innovative side of the Girl Scouts and to learn to live the life of your dreams!

Girls ages 8-14 are invited.

* Uniquely Me! Pathway for Girls @ Jacaranda Library (Venice)
Date: Wednesdays, March 18th – April 29th
Time: 7:00pm to 8:00pm
Cost: $10 total for all six sessions
More Info: Each session will include a nutritious and delicious snack with recipe, fun physical activity, an emotional/mental wellness craft or game, and an emphasis on connecting to the natural environment. This is a great way to get plugged into the new, innovative side of the Girl Scouts and to learn to live the life of your dreams!

Girls ages 8-14 are invited.

* Englewood Youth Leadership Task Force Meeting @ Englewood United Methodist Church (Englewood)
Date: Monday, March 23rd
Time: 6:00pm to 8:00pm
Cost: FREE!
More Info: Meeting 3 of the Task Force will focus on developing step-by-step plans for the three community service projects the girls selected and creating a timeline for the task to be completed over the spring and summer.

Members of the Englewood Task Force only.

* Venice Youth Leadership Task Force Meeting @ Venice Girl Scout House (Venice)
Date: Thursday, March 26th
Time: 6:00pm to 8:00pm
Cost: FREE!
More Info: Meeting 3 of the Task Force will focus on developing step-by-step plans for the three community service projects the girls selected and creating a timeline for the task to be completed over the spring and summer.

Members of the Venice Task Force only.

* Go Green Scene at the 2009 Girls Summit @ Sarasota High School (Sarasota)
Date: Saturday, March 28th
Time: 9:00am to 2:00pm
Cost: FREE!
More Info: For more information about Girls Summit, please check out: http://2009girlssummit.eventbrite.com/

Girls who are participating in the Girls Summit are invited.

Healthy Woman of the Month: Martha Pelot

Each month, Healthy Girls Initiative will feature a brief interview with a woman who contributes to our South Sarasota County community by leading by example and promoting holistically healthy lifestyles for our girls.

Our March Healthy Woman of the Month is Martha Pelot, the HGI Volunteer Yoga Instructor. Aside from teaching our free Better Together! yoga class on Wednesdays from 5:30pm to 6:45pm at the Venice YMCA, Martha puts her commitment to youth and wellness into action as a substitute teacher. Meet Martha!

Where you live and how long have you lived there?

I live in Punta Gorda Florida and am connected to Sarasota through Yoga from the Heart studio which offers an excellent teacher training program and the Art Center of Sarasota where I show collages sometimes.

What do you do for work?

I’m currently a substitute teacher in Charlotte County public schools and am teaching one yoga class for Healthy Girl Initiative in Venice; a free class on Wednesday nights at the YMCA.

What do you do when you’re not working?

I try to spend time with John, my husband, and our cats. I actively take yoga classes at the Yoga Sanctuary in town too.

How many girls ages 8-14 do you interact with on a regular basis?

Not too many right now. I’m working with high school students but meet with some 8-14year olds each Wednesday in yoga class.

What does living a healthy lifestyle mean to you?

Eating well balanced meals with healthy ingredients (not too much processed foods), moving your body regularly and doing your best to remain as positive about life as possible.

Share your top three healthy living tips for other adult caregivers of girls:
1 – Communication 2 - Become involved in what interests them and 3 - Live what you speak (live by example)

Why are you a part of Healthy Girls Initiative?
I recently graduated the teacher training program from Yoga from the Heart in Sarasota and received an email from there about working with Healthy Girls Initiative as a yoga teacher and I jumped on the opportunity!

Healthy Girls Initiative THANK YOUs of the Month:

This month, there are many people to thank for writing emails of support of the Healthy Girls Initiative that will be used in our next grant application. Big thanks and shout-outs goes out to these fabulous folks:
Christine Banks – Big Brothers Big Sisters of Sun Coast Florida (Englewood)
Josh Bashford – Boys & Girls Clubs of Sarasota County (North Port)
Nancy Basile – Englewood Girl Scouts Troop 38
Jill Collins, RD – All Faiths Food Bank
Kari Ellingstad, MPH – Sarasota County Health Department
Amber Halscheid – Boys & Girls Clubs of Sarasota County (Venice)
Karla Pignotti, RD – Sarasota County Schools Food & Nutrition Services
Diane Ramseyer – Sarasota County Health Department
Jennifer Tucker – South County Family YMCA

Heart-felt gratitude also goes to the following organizations for providing meeting space for the Healthy Girls Initiative Youth Leadership Task Force meetings. Thanks for opening your space to our movement!

Northern Trust Bank in Venice: Thanks for the generosity of Susan Hines, a Task Force leader mom and extraordinary Healthy Girls Initiative supporter, in providing meeting space for the two meetings that the Venice Girl Scout House is not available.

Englewood United Methodist Church: As a true community center, the church provides monthly meeting space for the Task Force as well as the Community Health Action Team!

Coming Soon…Summer Camp! Organic Co-Op! Garden!
This spring, look forward to reading about the Healthy Girls South County Summer Camp that will take place in June and July at the Venice Girl Scout House and the Healthy Girls End-of-Summer Retreat for girls entering high school happening at Camp Honi Hanta in August.

Also coming up is a partnership with Harvest Cycle, who will be working with Healthy Girls Initiative to start a co-op offering organic, locally-grown produce for pick-up from the Venice Girl Scout House. And did we mention that we’re getting ready to put an organic community garden in at the Venice Girl Scout House? It doesn’t get much greener than that!

HGI Intern & Volunteers Still Needed!
Healthy Girls Initiative still has openings for an intern. Applicants must be a high school or college student interested in or formally studying health/wellness. Generous stipend available for mileage. Please contact Julia at (941) 302-0004 or juliao@gsgcf.org for further information.

For folks looking to have a tremendous, positive impact on the lives of girls in our community, Healthy Girls Initiative welcomes volunteers to contribute their time and talents as guest instructors for our programs. If you are a chef, dancer, nurse, dietician, poet or have any other wellness-related skills, please contact Julia about coming as a special guest to a program session for girls or adults. HGI is particularly seeking fitness instructors available on Wednesday evenings starting for the summer.

Healthy Girl Quote of the Month:

“Three things I learned? Um…pumpkin seeds are a good snack…sit-ups and push-ups are more fun to do with a friend…and there are lots of things about me to love. Do we get smoothies next time?”

- Girl in Uniquely Me! After-School Program for Girls at Venice YMCA on Wednesday, February 11th

Want more Healthy Girls Initiative online? Visit: http://www.myspace.com/healthygirlsinitiative !

February E-News

2009-02-02T16:35:00.001-05:00

Sprouting Up in March: We Can! Wellness Classes for Adults & Pathways Program for Girls at Local Libraries!

This spring, two We Can! wellness programs for adults and two Uniquely ME! wellness programs for girls are being offered to the South Sarasota County community by the Healthy Girls Initiative. All programs are six sessions that meet once per week for one hour at local libraries.

Healthy Girls Initiative will be launching the We Can! (Ways to Enhance Children’s Activity & Nutrition), a new program from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to address the growing obesity epidemic among youths ages 8-13. We Can! reaches parents and caregivers in community settings with educational materials and activities including a new six-lesson course for parents. “We Can! is designed to empower parents by providing them the tools they need to promote healthy eating, increase physical activity and reduce sedentary time within their families,” said Dr. Elizabeth G. Nabel, Director of the National Heat, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) at NHI.

Two free We Can! six-week programs will be offered this spring at North Port Library and Elsie Quirk Library (in Englewood) starting in March. The North Port Library program will meet on Tuesdays starting March 3rd and end on April 14th. The Elsie Quirk Library (Englewood) program will meet on Mondays starting March 2nd and end on April 13th. Both programs will meet from 6:00pm to 7:00pm. Adults may come to one, multiple, or all sessions. To register, please contact HGI Program Specialist Julia Onnie-Hay as soon as possible by phone or e-mail.

Girls ages 8-14 from South Sarasota County are invited to join the Healthy Girls Initiative for the six-week Uniquely ME! Healthy Girls Pathway program at local libraries this spring. Venice and North Port girls interested in improving their health while having fun are invited to “learn how to shine your brightest by living a healthy lifestyle.” The program will meet once per week for one-hour sessions. Participants will learn how to enrich their lives with nutritious foods, enjoy exercising, getting “you time” to do what the girls love, relax, and connect to nature.

Julia Onnie-Hay and Julie Krueger from the Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida, Inc. will lead the sessions at the Jacaranda Library on Wednesdays from 6:00pm to 7:00pm. The Pathway at Jacaranda Library starts March 18th and ends on April 29th. The North Port Library program will be held on Tuesdays from 7:00 to 8:00pm. The Pathway at North Port Library starts March 17th and ends on April 28th. The cost is $10 for all six sessions, which includes journals and snacks. This special Pathway program is only open to 25 girls at each location. Call (941) 921-5358 to register.

Better Together! Free Yoga Classes at Venice YMCA

So far two free yoga classes have been offered at the Venice YMCA by volunteer instructor Martha Pelot, a certified teacher trained at the popular Yoga from the Heart studio. 16 girls and adults attended the first class and 10 girls and adults attended the second class. Most participants are new to yoga and group fitness in general. “I felt so good afterwards, much more relaxed than when I came through the door!” exclaimed one participant, a busy Venice mom. Other mother-daughter teams came from as far as Englewood and North Port to try it out. “It’s not as scary as I thought and it makes me feel stronger,” explained one North Port girl when asked why she came back for the second class.

Classes are on Wednesdays from 5:30pm to 6:45pm in Studio B of the Gymnastics Area at the old building of the Venice YMCA. Each class is open to no more than 20 participants, so if you plan on attending, please register by calling HGI Program Specialist Julia Onnie-Hay to save your space. Mats are provided. Please wear loose, comfortable clothing.

All Aboard the Healthy Living Express! February Programs:

Healthy Girls Initiative has a lot of exciting holistic health programs for girls and adults going on in South Sarasota County this February! Please contact Julia as soon as possible at (941) 921-5358 ext. 319 or juliao@gsgcf.org to register for any of the following:

* Better Together Yoga Classes @ Venice YMCA - Venice

Date: Wednesdays

Time: 5:30pm to 6:45pm

Cost: Free!

More Info: The class is held at the Venice Family YMCA (a HGI community partner), which offers a wide variety of classes and opportunities for girls and adults to exercise in a friendly, safe community environment. Come to one, two, or all ten classes! This class is perfect for girls and adults new to yoga and group exercise.

For girls ages 8-14 with an adult caregiver (parent, other relative, Big Sister, family friend, guardian)

* Holistic Health HQ @ Youth Safety Rally - Sarasota

Date: Saturday, February 7th

Time: 11:00am to 3:00pm

Cost: Donation

More Info: The Youth Safety Rally will be held at the Central Church of Christ (6221 Proctor Road, Sarasota, FL 34241). The Holistic Health HQ will offer three interactive presentations on making healthy, natural snacks; pedestrian safety; and identifying eating disorders in youth.

Whole Sarasota County community invited.

* Girls Health Day @ Infinity School - Sarasota

Date: Friday, February 13th

Time: 8:00am to 2:00pm

Cost: Free

More Info: HGI Program Specialist will be co-facilitating holistic health activities focusing on nutrition education, physical activity, stress-reduction, anger management, self-esteem and environmental health.

For girls ages 8-14 who are students at Infinity School.

* Troop 38 Cooking Badge Challenge - Englewood

Date: Friday, February 13th & Friday, February 27th

Time: 7:00pm to 8:00pm

Cost: Free

More Info: Troop 38 will be making healthy “sloppy joes” and other traditional goodies made with more nutritious ingredients in order to earn their cooking badges. HGI Program Specialist will facilitate nutritional education and hands-on cooking activity.

For girls who are members of Troop 38 in Englewood. To become a Girl Scout and get plugged into a troop, call Membership Specialist Julie Krueger at (941) 921-5358 ext.320.

* Healthy Girls Initiative & Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida Inc. Booth @ Southwest Florida Women’s Expo – North Port

Date: Saturday, February 21st

Time: 9:00am to 3:30pm

Cost: $3 per person (children under 12 free)

More Info: Over 150 exhibitors, health, food court, art & craft booths, services, business, non-profit, local authors, and more at this incredible Expo! The Expo will be held at the George Mullen Activity Center & Grounds at 4956 City Center Blvd. in North Port. There will be interactive presentations and snacks all day at the Healthy Girls Initiative booth, so be sure to stop by!

Whole Southwest Florida community invited.

* South Sarasota County United Way Walkathon – Venice

Date: Saturday, February 28th

Time: 8:00am to 11:30am

Cost: Call Meghan Johnson, Venice Girl Scout Service Unit Manager, for more information and to register to walk with our group at (941) 284-2577.

More Info: Meet at the Gazebo in Centennial Park in downtown Venice to register at 8:00am. The walk officially starts at 9:00am. This third annual Walkathon benefits United Way of South Sarasota County, which funds forty-seven Agency programs provided through thirty-one agencies that support the health and well being of special needs adults and children, provides funding for crisis intervention, assists the elderly and strengthens families and children.

Whole South Sarasota County community invited.

* HGI Yoga Session @ Florida Creativity Weekend – Sarasota

Date: Sunday, March 1st

Time: 8:00am to 8:45am

Cost: $200 for the whole weekend

More Info: Check out www.flcreativity.com for full information and registration for this amazing weekend full of workshops, presentations and activities sure to get those creative juices flowing and stretch the imagination! HGI Program Specialist will stop in on Sunday morning to lead a gentle, restorative yoga session focused on sun salutations.

For girls and adults who are participating in the Florida Creativity Weekend.

GREAT News! In-School & After-School Programs Take Off

In January, the Healthy Girls Initiative was approved by the Safe and Drug-Free Schools committee of the Sarasota County School Board to offer our Uniquely ME! Program for Girls inside the Sarasota County elementary schools. This is a tremendous milestone! HGI thanks all the Safe and Drug-Free Schools committee members and the Sarasota County School Board leadership for recognizing the value of the program to students. A document detailing the specific ways the Uniquely ME! Program for Girls aids the schools in fulfilling the Sunshine Standards is available to the public upon request; please contact HGI Program Specialist Julia Onnie-Hay to obtain a copy or learn more.

HGI is currently in the process of meeting with school nurses, guidance counselors and principals to work out the logistics of getting the program offered in the schools this term. Specific schools being targeted at this time include Taylor Ranch Elementary, Lamarque Elementay, Cranberry Elementary, and Garden Elementary. If you would like to see the Healthy Girls Initiative in your school or your daughter’s school, please send a short letter of support to HGI Program Specialist Julia Onnie-Hay by e-mail.

Healthy Woman of the Month: Karen McCormack

Each month, Healthy Girls Initiative will feature a brief interview with a woman who contributes to our South Sarasota County community by leading by example and promoting holistically healthy lifestyles for our girls.

Our February Healthy Woman of the Month is Nurse Karen McCormack, an outstanding school nurse for several South Sarasota County elementary and middle schools. She has been exceptionally supportive of Healthy Girls Initiative from the start. Meet Nurse McCormack!

Where you live and how long have you lived there?

I have lived in Venice for 2 1/2 years.

What do you do for work?

I work for Sarasota County Health Department as a School Nurse.

What do you do when you’re not working?

I am a taxi driver for my 12 year old son and 11 year old daughter! I love to watch my son play soccer and my daughter play tennis. I walk our dog and I love to read!

How many girls ages 8-14 do you interact with on a regular basis?

A lot! I am responsible for 3 elementary schools and 1 middle school. I also spend a lot of time with my daughter and her friends.

Share your top three healthy living tips for other adult caregivers of girls:

1- LISTEN 2- SHARE your knowledge 3- Be PATIENT

Why are you a part of Healthy Girls Initiative?

I feel that this program will promote increased awareness for the young girls in our community. It will provide the support and knowledge to increase self-esteem and enable the girls to make smart choices.

Introducing the 2009 HGI Youth Leadership Task Forces!

Over 30 girls with leadership potential were nominated to serve on the 2009 Healthy Girls Initiative Youth Leadership Task Force. Each nominee was interviewed by phone by HGI Program Specialist Julia Onnie-Hay and was selected based on enthusiasm for performing community service and passion for healthy living. Because there was such a strong interest in the Task Force, enough girls were selected to serve both the Venice and Englewood communities. The two Task Forces will meet once a month for ten months in each community. Task Force girls will design and implement community service projects aimed at improving the health of their communities. In the autumn, the girls will create healthy living public-service announcement commercials which will be aired on local television. HGI is proud to welcome the following extraordinary young ladies onto the first-ever Venice and Englewood HGI Youth Leadership Task Forces:

Venice Task Force

Bronwyn Barrick Samantha Kelly

Kayla Braham Catherine Ortner

Casey Church Stevie Peacock

Alexandra Guelzow Kristin Pinkerton

Bailey Hines Justine Schulz

Samantha Johnson Kaitlyn Stelzer

Englewood Task Force

Jessica Collins Jacquelin Needham

Margo Costa Alexis Pelletier

Jaid Graham Katelynn Pelletier

Madison Johnson Alley Jean Schmidt

Tia Layne Tabitha South

Girls on the Task Forces will be specially invited to serve on the Youth Advisory Committee (YAC) to the Community Advisory Board of the Sarasota County School Board that deals with youth substance abuse prevention. The first meeting of the YAC will be Tuesday, February 10th at 4:00pm at the Sarasota County School Board headquarters at The Landings in Sarasota.

Coming Soon…Spring Break Wellness Journey!

Girls ages 8-14 from South Sarasota County are invited to join the Healthy Girls Initiative for the first annual Spring Break Wellness Journey from Wednesday, April 8th through Friday, April 10th. Girls will visit three Florida organic farms and gardens, enjoy preparing and eating healthy meals, get daily exercise, and connect with the natural environment. The trip starts with an orientation at the Venice Girl Scout House on the Wednesday morning and then the girls will travel to Valrico, FL to tour and have a picnic lunch at Willow’s Delight Nursery, where they will meet community herbalist Willow LaMonte and learn about tasty and medicinal Florida plants. Then they will travel on to the Aqua Organics Farm near Polk City, FL where they will set-up camp and prepare and enjoy dinner.

On Thursday, the girls will do yoga, tour Aqua Organics Farm, meet the local neighbors and many animals, do hands-on educational service work harvesting vegetables, catch fish, cook meals over a fire and tell stories around a campfire. On Friday, the girls will depart from Aqua Organics Farm, go for a gentle nature hike nearby, and travel back to Sarasota County to tour Jessica’s Organic Farm in North Sarasota, where they will meet girls and adult women who work on the farm. The trip will end with a closing circle back at the Venice Girl Scout House on Friday night at 5pm.

The cost for this trip is $50, which includes transportation, a tent, food and drink, and tours of the three farms/gardens. Participants will be accompanied at all times by Julia Onnie-Hay, Healthy Girls Initiative Program Specialist and an adult volunteer. This trip is limited to 12 girls, so register soon! To register for the Spring Break Wellness Journey please call (941) 921-5358 or for more information, call Julia at (941) 302-0004.

Want more Healthy Girls Initiative online? Visit: http://www.myspace.com/healthygirlsinitiative !

Healthy Girls Initiative in Women's Outlook Magazine!

2009-01-05T14:16:00.002-05:00

Women's Outlook Magazine features an interview with Healthy Girls Initiative Program Specialist Julia Onnie-Hay in the January issue!

Check out the article on pages 10-11 to learn more about the Healthy Girls Initiative philosophy and staff at:

http://www.womensoutlook.com/uploads/Jan.09.web..pdf

Women's Outlook Magazine is an awesome resource for all girls and women living in Sarasota and Charlotte counties. Each issue packs lots of information related to living a holistically-healthy and fully-empowered life.

Want more Healthy Girls Initiative online? Visit: http://www.myspace.com/healthygirlsinitiative !

New Year's Wellness Resolutions

2008-12-29T10:07:00.002-05:00

We’ve got three more days of 2008 left! Take some time to reflect on this past year. What went well? What was challenging? How did your life change? How did it stay the same?

Based on your reflections, you may want to make some resolutions for the New Year. Millions of New Year’s resolutions made in the United States each year revolve around losing weight and other wellness-related goals…and they frequently get broken by Valentine’s Day.

This year, try making your resolutions realistic. If you’re inclined to resolve to work out at the gym one hour every day of the week and you’re currently getting to the gym twice a week for a half hour, scale that resolution down to a time commitment you can really make. If your goal is around getting more sleep at night, make your resolution specific to HOW you will accomplish that goal (so instead of having the goal of “getting more sleep at night,” make it a goal to “make 9:30pm quiet time for reading in bed so when lights go off at 10pm, I’m relaxed and ready to sleep.”

Wellness resolutions for 2009 need not be focused on physical activity, nutrition and sleep. Any goal that will help you be happier will improve your overall wellness. Resolutions to have more fun through monthly weekend trips with loved ones or to increase connection to your community through volunteering an hour per week with another organization or your church are both rooted in your wellness.

Here’s a worksheet that you can use to help you craft your New Year’s resolutions. Print them out and put them someplace where you’ll see them on a daily basis (like your bedroom mirror, the fridge, or even your car dashboard; girls can put them in their locker or inside a school notebook):

2009 NEW YEAR’S WELLNESS RESOLUTIONS

I, _________________________________, resolve to work towards the three wellness goals listed below during 2009. I have reflected on my goals and they are realistic for me to accomplish this year. I promise not to beat up on myself if I stray from my goals and I commit to pursuing my goals for the whole twelve months of the year.

GOAL ONE:

Why am I making this a goal?

How will I accomplish this goal?

How will I know if I’m on track?

What will success look and feel like?

GOAL TWO:

Why am I making this a goal?

How will I accomplish this goal?

How will I know if I’m on track?

What will success look and feel like?

GOAL THREE:

Why am I making this a goal?

How will I accomplish this goal?

How will I know if I’m on track?

What will success look and feel like?

MAY 2009 BE HOLISTICALLY HEALTHY & JOY-FILLED!

Want more Healthy Girls Initiative online? Visit: http://www.myspace.com/healthygirlsinitiative !

Don't Stress! Last Minute Healthy Holiday Gift Idea!

2008-12-23T11:53:00.002-05:00

No matter what religious or cultural tradition you follow, the Winter Solstice (shortest day and longest night of the year) was yesterday and we’re now less than ten days from the New Year. I think it’s safe to say the winter holidays are finally here!

For those of us still scrambling to get gifts for family or friends, here’s a recipe for making a holistically healthy skin scrub. Everyone who baths or showers can enjoy this gift, and it’s easy, quick, and inexpensive to make. For those of us who have all our holiday gifts taken care off, treat yourself with this skin scrub and a nice warm bath to get in the right mood for holiday vacation…

Here’s some background: All-natural scrubs help to renew and promote healthy skin by gently clearing away dead skin cells and allowing the living skin cells to absorb moisture and nutrients. Salt Scrubs help to eliminate toxins from the body while leaving your skin silky and soft.

A Salt Scrub is easy to make and ingredients are available at your local grocery store, no matter where you usually shop. If you want a special essential oil or fragrance, they sell them at Richard’s Markets and certain “regular” grocery stores, such as Sweetbay. To make, simply mix together all the ingredients in a bowl. Put the scrub in mason jar or other small container (even a plastic baggies works) with a ribbon and you’ve got an easy, affordable, all-natural holiday gift!

You may want to add a pretty card with the ingredients and instructions for use:

“When in the shower or bath tub, in a circular motion, gently massage salt scrub on your body, starting at the feet and massaging upward. Do not put on any open cuts as it will sting or freshly shaven legs. Don't use on your face. Can leave on for about 10 minutes. Rinse off with water.”

What You Need:

1/4 cup fine sea salt
1/4 cup sugar
4 tablespoons oil (or olive, almond, apricot oil)

What You Can Add:

1 tsp. honey
2 drops essential oil OR 6 drops fragrance according to what you like

NOTE: Be careful with essential oils. They are very strong and need to be diluted into other ingredients, or else they can burn the skin.

Notes On Choosing Salt & Sugar:

Since you are using these common ingredients for skincare, it is preferable to use all-natural sea salt and organic cane sugar.

The reason for using both salt and sugar is that the two substances have different textures, which helps exfoliate the skin.

In choosing a sugar, the raw cane varieties tend to have larger grains and may not be the best choice for people with very sensitive skin.
Notes On Choosing An Oil:

Olive Oil: Olive Oil will help you shed dead skin, but retain moisture in your skin. It has been used for hundreds of years as a beauty treatment, and has a two year shelf life. It's also relatively easy to obtain, which makes it desirable for those who don't want to place a specialty order for a more unusual and expensive oils like sweet almond oil.

Sesame Oil: Contains fatty acids, vitamins B, E, minerals, proteins, very nourishing, moisturizing and soothing. For skin: use for dry, normal, damaged skin, eczema, psoriasis

Vitamin E Oil: Vitamin E Oil is very easy to obtain, and can be found in most drugstores. Vitamin E Oil is typically used by pregnant women because it helps prevent stretch marks, and may even help repair ones that form. It is useful in scarred and damaged skin, and has an incredibly long shelf life.

May your soul be fed throughout the winter holiday celebrations with the joyful blessings of family and friends. Don't forget to feed your body some nutritious veggies and plenty of clean water in addition to the delicious holiday treats ;)

Want more Healthy Girls Initiative online? Visit: http://www.myspace.com/healthygirlsinitiative !

No School on January 12th! Have Fun in the Park Instead!

2008-12-05T17:08:00.002-05:00

No School January 12th! Special Fitness & Nature Event!

Healthy Girls Initiative invites girls ages 8-14 to...

Fitness & Nature Day @ Oscar Scherer State Park!

Instead of sitting around at home bored all day, bring your friends and come spend the day in the park. We will ride the new paved bike trail, swim in the lake and hike along the river. While doing these things we will search for Gopher Tortoises and Scrub Jays. You will also have an opportunity to talk to the rangers and find out what an average day in the park is like. For lunch, we will practice our cooking skills and make our lunch over a campfire!

Location: Oscar Scherer State Park, 1843 S. Tamiami Trail, Osprey

Date: Monday, January 12th, 2009

Time: 8:30am to 5pm

Deadline to Register: December 29, 2008

Fee: $20 (includes lunch and bike rental)

Bring: Water, sunblock, bike riding clothes, bathing suit and towel

To Sign Up: Contact the Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida, Inc. at (941) 921-5358 and tell the receptionist that you want to attend the "Fitness & Nature Day," Program # 52-175.

Questions? E-Mail Julia @ juliao@gsgcf.org

Want more Healthy Girls Initiative online? Visit: http://www.myspace.com/healthygirlsinitiative !

Calling All Girl Superheros in South Sarasota County!

2008-12-02T17:04:00.001-05:00

Want to change the world?

Start with your community!

The HEALTHY GIRLS INITIATIVE
is accepting nominations
for the 2009 Youth Leadership Task Force!

12 girls ages 10-14 living in Venice, North Port, Englewood, Laurel, Nokomis or Osprey will be selected to serve on the Task Force from January through October 2009.

The Task Force is a COMMUNITY SERVICE opportunity focused on making South Sarasota County a shining model of a HOLISTICALLY HEALTHY COMMUNITY of YOUTH for other counties in Florida and the USA!

To nominate a girl or yourself, please send an e-mail with the name, contact information (phone, e-mail, address), and a few sentences explaining why the girl could be a wellness leader in your community to Program Specialist Julia Onnie-Hay at: juliao@gsgcf.org

NOMINATIONS ARE DUE FRIDAY, JANUARY 9th!

Want more Healthy Girls Initiative online? Visit: http://www.myspace.com/healthygirlsinitiative !

Introducing the Healthy Girls Initiative Monthly Newsletter!

2008-12-02T17:02:00.002-05:00

Hungry for the latest information about the Healthy Girls Initiative? Nourish your mind with monthly e-updates with fresh information about HGI programs, events, partnerships and wellness tips! Sign up to receive the monthly e-newsletter by shooting an e-mail to Program Specialist Julia Onnie-Hay at: juliao@gsgcf.org

Want more Healthy Girls Initiative online? Visit: http://www.myspace.com/healthygirlsinitiative !

Happy & Healthy Thanksgiving from the Healthy Girls Initiative!

2008-11-25T15:08:00.008-05:00

What do you love about Thanksgiving?

I asked this question at a “Friendsgiving Potluck” pre-Thanksgiving party this weekend and the replies were standard: Food. Family. Friends.

Whether you’re still scrambling for recipes or already have made name cards for where all your guests will sit, whether you’re gathering with family and friends or giving thanks solo, whether you are incorporating some healthier dishes into your spread or looking forward to heavy gravies and pies galore, here are a few tips that can help us all enjoy the feasting while honoring our health!

Go for quality, not quantity:
Eat whatever you want, but eat less of it. Want a piece of pumpkin pie…and also try the pecan pie? Huge stuffing fan? Do scalloped potatoes rock your world? Go ahead and have a small slice, serving or bite of whatever you love, but put half of the normal serving size on your plate. Don’t worry; if you really want more later on, you can have it, but it’s easier to resist overeating once you’ve tried a little of everything you love.

Stay hydrated:
Sometimes we get so focused on feasting that we forget to drink water, and thirst is commonly mistaken for hunger! The dehydrating effects of holiday punches, wine and other libations also make it important to keep drinking water. Added bonus: Drinking water before the Thanksgiving meal will help you to feel fuller and not eat so much.

Take a break:
It takes about twenty minutes for the stomach’s “Enough, I’m full!” message to reach the brain, so after the first round of food, try taking a break to stretch, maybe go for a walk, or even just lie on the sofa until going back to the table for seconds or dessert.

Load up on the good stuff:
Fill your plate with the veggies, lean proteins and fruits offered at the meal. Traditional foods that may be particularly nourishing include crudités, green beans, cranberry sauce, turkey, sweet potatoes, and the filling in pumpkin pie. For healthy versions of traditional Thanksgiving recipes, check out the Mayo’s Clinic site: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/thanksgiving-recipes/NU00643

Put the “giving” in Thanksgiving:
Give tempting leftovers like cookies, pies, stuffing, rolls and anything else that may not be part of your normal health-conscious diet (wink wink) to friends, coworkers, or to families in need. Great resources for donating food includes Salvation Army, Resurrection House (in Sarasota), and local churches.

Enjoy a healthy - and above all joyful – Thanksgiving!

Want more Healthy Girls Initiative online? Visit Our MySpace Page

First Healthy Girls Initiative Events - Preparing for Healthy Holidays in December!

2008-11-12T08:54:00.003-05:00

UPCOMING HEALTHY GIRLS INITIATIVE EVENTS:

Thursday, December 11th
6pm to 8pm
Venice Girl Scouts House
Holiday Hype Oasis for Moms & Daughters

Does the excitement of celebrating the holiday season sometimes stress you out? Find yourself overindulging in those holiday treats and struggling to take good care of yourself as you scramble to get gifts for loved ones and run around to different gatherings? You may need to escape the “holiday hype” by visiting our evening oasis for moms and daughters who want to enjoy a fun and healthy holiday season. We’ll learn to make delicious and nutritious, easy and affordable holidays treats; share gift ideas that support healthy lifestyles in our family and friends; practice a few stretching moves; and come up with plans for creating our own stress-free sanctuaries in our homes. Throughout the evening, two licensed massage therapists – Sandy Johnson of Women’s Wellness Massage and Terri Michelle of Prana Massage – will be giving free mini-massages to each mom and daughter. Superfood smoothies will be served.

This event is limited to twenty individuals – ten moms-and-daughter teams – so please register soon by contacting Julia Onnie-Hay of the Healthy Girls Initiative at (941) 921-5258 ex. 319 or juliao@gsgcf.org. The Healthy Girls Initiative is a project of Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida, Inc. offering healthy lifestyle awareness programs to girls and their adult caregivers in South Sarasota County.

Thursday, December 18th
12pm to 1pm
Venice Girl Scouts House
Lunch & Learn for Moms: Holiday Hype

Are you a busy mom getting ready for the holidays? Take an hour for yourself! Manage the stress of the season – the “holiday hype” – by joining other moms who want to enjoy a fun and healthy holiday season. We’ll enjoy an organic salad with locally-grown ingredients; discuss setting sustainable New Year wellness goals; and craft a plan for our own stress-relief sanctuaries and strategies in our homes. Throughout the hour, two licensed massage therapists – Sandy Johnson of Women’s Wellness Massage and Terri Michelle of Prana Massage – will be giving free mini-massages to each mom.

This event is limited to ten moms, so please register soon by contacting Julia Onnie-Hay of the Healthy Girls Initiative at (941) 921-5258 ex. 319 or juliao@gsgcf.org. The Healthy Girls Initiative is a project of Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida, Inc. offering healthy lifestyle awareness programs to girls and their adult caregivers in South Sarasota County.

Want more Healthy Girls Initiative online? Visit: http://www.myspace.com/healthygirlsinitiative !

Wellness Tip: Easy Breakfast

2008-11-10T14:27:00.001-05:00

You’ve probably heard that breakfast is the most important meal of the day…scientific research over the past decade backs up what Traditional Chinese Medicine, Ayurveda (the ancient Indian “science of life”), and common American folk wisdom (frequently coming from our grandmothers) has been telling us for centuries: to lay the foundation for a productive day, eat a hearty, well-balanced meal within the first few hours of rising in the morning. Eating a balanced breakfast with protein, carbohydrates, and fat can reduce fatigue and sugar cravings in the afternoon, overeating at night, and has proven to be an effective weight-management strategy.

But like most working folks, you’re probably pressed for time in the morning. Here are some easy, affordable breakfast solutions made from staples that can be prepared in advance and grabbed on the way out of the door and eaten in the car or at the desk. Of course, it’s important to take time for meals but even when it’s necessary to eat on the go, you don’t have to sacrifice good nutrition:

1 – Eggs: Hard-boil them the night or several days beforehand, keep them in the carton in the fridge, and you have an easy grab-and-go breakfast when paired with a piece of toast and an apple. Alternatively, crack two into a bowl, break the yolks up with a fork, add salt and pepper, and nuke ‘em in the microwave for a minute…voila, instant scrambled eggs! Put them on top of the toast or make a quick sandwich with two pieces of toast and you’re good to go. A piece of lettuce, tomato slice, and avocado can really jazz it up.

2 – Grains: Cook a big pot of brown rice or oats the night or several days beforehand and keep it in a Tupperware container or bowl in the fridge, so all you have to do in the morning is scoop out a cup and a half (or so) of the grains into a big mug, add some milk or plain yogurt, add some frozen berries (blueberries, blackberries, and raspberries are superfoods), sprinkle some cinnamon, mash it all up, and you’ve got an instant all-natural breakfast. Want it warm? Put it on the stove for a few minutes or in the microwave for a minute. If you need some sweetness in addition to the berries, some honey, maple syrup, stevia or agave nectar are all good choices. Are you a protein person? Try quinoa, an ancient grain used by the Incans in South America; it’s an excellent source of protein and cooks faster than rice and oats.

3 – Lunch: We at the Girl Scouts “defy conformity,” right? So it’s okay to eat lunch, for breakfast! If you’ve got some leftovers from dinner, they would probably make an excellent breakfast. How about grabbing some salad from a big salad you made earlier in the week and adding a can of tuna fish or a turkey burger? Remember, the digestive fire is strongest in the morning and at mid-day, so it’s better to eat your big meal for breakfast or lunch rather than dinner, so try eating half your normal dinner and saving the rest breakfast the next day. Foods we normally don’t think of as “breakfast foods” – like vegetables – can beat a muffin or bagel for balanced nutrition any day.
4 – Smoothie: Drinking your breakfast can be the way to go if you’re enjoying breakfast during your commute or during a meeting. If the sound of a blender early in the morning won’t put your relationship with your family or housemates in jeopardy, throw some ice cubes, berries, nut butter (if you want to make a small splurge, try something new other than peanut butter, like cashew or almond butter) or whey-based protein powder, milk or plain yogurt, and maybe a banana if you’re not sugar-sensitive into the blender. Using frozen berries or bananas will make the smoothie creamier. Want to supercharge your smoothie? Add in some greens, like kale leaves, spinach, or a spirulina-based green powder to really wake you up. It’ll look green and scary, but you’ll taste the other ingredients more than the greens ;)

Wellness Tip: Sweet Superfoods

2008-11-10T14:24:00.000-05:00

As the winter holiday season approaches and we all recover from our Halloween-induced sugar highs, try integrating some more nutritious forms of sweetness into your treats. It is well-documented that the two most common forms of sweetness in our diets - white sugar and high fructose corn syrup – actually deplete our systems of nutrients, wreck havoc on blood sugar levels, and are highly addictive. But that doesn’t mean we need to cut out all the sweets from our diets! The good news is that there are several sources of sweetness that can be substituted in recipes for goodies like cookies, hot cocoa, and even oatmeal. Check them out:

- Stevia: Available in either liquid or powder form, this zero-calorie sweetener is made from a herb that grows in the Amazon Rainforest.
- Agave nectar: From the agave cactus, this syrup-like sweetener has a lower glycemic index (GI) than most sweeteners, meaning it releases the sugars into the blood stream slower than the other options here (with the exception of stevia)…which means it doesn’t cause the intense sugar crash some of us experience from other sweeteners.
- Maple syrup: Full of B vitamins and minerals, real maple syrup isn’t only for pancakes! Try substituting it for other sugars in any recipe or even tea. A little goes a long way.
- Raw honey: For folks who suffer from allergies, there is evidence than regular consumption of locally-produced honey may help immunize against some allergens. Raw – a.k.a. unpasteurized – honey retains the many vitamins and minerals that are cooked away during the heating process, making it more nutritious than pasteurized honey.

All four of these “superfood” sweeteners can be purchased at area health food stores such as Richard’s, The Granary, Whole Foods Market, and Good Earth as well as at some regular supermarkets such as Publix and Sweetbay. The downtown Sarasota Farmer’s Market is an excellent source of local Florida raw honey.

Questions? Comments? Ideas for future tips? Hungry for more healthy living tips? Please feel free to contact Julia Onnie-Hay, Program Specialist for the Uniquely ME! Healthy Girls Initiative at (941) 921-5358 ex. 319 or juliao@gsgcf.org.

Welcome to the Healthy Girls Initiative Blog!

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The Healthy Girls Initiative of the Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida, Inc. offers free healthy lifestyle awareness programs and activities to girls ages 8-14 and their adult caregivers (usually parents) in South Sarasota County (North Port, Venice, Englewood, and Laurel/Nokomis/Osprey).

Our mission is to help grow holistically healthy girls through good nutrition, physical activity, emotional/mental wellness, and environmental health. Our vision is a South Sarasota County community where each girl is supported in laying a strong foundation for a healthy lifestyle.

This blog serves as a public forum of communication for the adults and girls involved with HGI. Any programs, activities, events or resources related to healthy lifestyles for girls can be shared here. Everyone is welcome to contribute as we cultivate a holistically healthier community, starting with our girls!