February E-News

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 !