Belated March E-Newsletter

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 !