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Health and Wellness
Every girl deserves to live a healthy life—emotionally and physically. Whether they're working towards such earned grade-level awards as the Eat Right, Stay Healthy Try-It or the Stress Less Badge, or talking with leaders or advisors about issues of concern in their lives or in their communities, Girl Scouts build the skills they need to keep their bodies healthy, their minds engaged and their spirits alive.
Here are some of the many ways that girls can achieve balance and learn to live well:
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Fit's Inn: A Fun Getaway for Girls
A National Program Promoting Healthy Living for Girls Grades 2 to 5
Imagine the perfect destination where girls "check in" for a healthy getaway full of daily activities that inspire and challenge them to take action. Girls try sports and dance, and even learn yoga—all from girls their own age who act as "personal coaches" in five video episodes. Girls also learn to make healthy meals and snacks. Getting fit has never been more fun!
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Celebrate National Girls and Women in Sports Day
Since its inception in 1912, Girl Scouting has always promoted a healthy active lifestyle. It is only natural that many Girl Scouts are also gifted athletes. On February 4, 2009 and throughout the month, thousands of sports educators, coaches, athletic directors, recreation directors, association members, sponsors, students and parents across the country showed their support of the National Girls and Women in Sports Day and of this year's theme, "Look Who's Playing!" NGWSD is co-sponsored by Girl Scouts of the USA and several other women's organizations. Girl Scout councils who have already planned events are being asked to register them at www.NGWSDCentral.com. If you are interested in finding out more, a Community Action Kit with ideas for planning an event and the NGWSD certificate and poster, perfect for giving to participants, is available at www.NGWSDCentral.com.
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Staying Safe for Girls Ages 4-17
Designed to help girls learn ways to better ensure their personal safety, this series of books includes “No Way!” a book about staying safe for girls ages 4-6, “Don't Go There!” a book about staying safe for girls ages 6-8; "I Don't Think So!" a book about staying safe for girls ages 8-11; STUDIO 2B Focus: Take Charge for girls ages 11-17; the Adult Guide to Staying Safe, and the Council Guide to Staying Safe. This series is a component of P.A.V.E. (Project Anti-Violence Education) the Way, a national Girl Scout anti-violence initiative. |
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Girl Scouts shape UP!
Created to encourage healthy nutrition and regular physical activity, the Girl Scouts shape UP! program encourages girls to live well and develop healthy habits. Many Girl Scout councils have partnerships with parks and recreation departments, sports organizations, and with schools and colleges for instruction and facilities. The GSUSA online shop no longer sells the shape UP! patch, but it may be available in some council shops.
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See the USA: Take a Walk Today!
Local American Volkssport Association (AVA) clubs help Girl Scout councils and troops organize events on established trails for council-wide or family outings. Girl Scouts can walk for fun, friendship, and exercise. And because trails are always located in scenic and historic areas, troop leaders have a great opportunity to make a day of the walk—with picnics, games, or other fun program activities. The participation patch is available from the American Volkssport Association, it is no longer sold in the Girl Scout Shop.
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In the Zone: Living Drug-Free
These Girl Scout booklets, funded in part by the Office of National Drug Control Policy, encourage girls to find their "zone" by living a positive, healthy, and drug-free life. In addition to the four booklets, the series comes with an adult guide that provides advisors and parents with the tools they need to help keep their child drug-free.
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GirlSports
The GirlSports program develops lifelong health and fitness habits, and has been particularly successful in developing a popular new curriculum and increasing girls' participation in sports nationally. A sports-readiness kit for Girl Scout Daisies and Brownies teaches the basics of motor skills and agility, throwing, catching, volleying, batting and more through a variety of activities. Fit & Fun, a component of the Girl Scouts' GirlSports initiative aimed at girls ages 8 to 11, has ten different skill sets activity cards that focus on fair play, cooperation and skill progression.
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GAME FACE: What Does a Female Athlete Look Like?
Girls are inspired to get involved in physical activity with GAME FACE, the patch project that celebrates sports and activity in the lives of girls and women. Based on the nationally acclaimed book and photo exhibition, the interdisciplinary project re-examines the concepts of image, athleticism, and winning, while applauding the power of passion, pride in effort, and joy of discovery. Girls will love the photographs of track-and-field star Aimee Mullins on prosthetic legs, the young female football player with her hand over heart, and Susan Butcher, four-time winner of the Iditarod.
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Former Programs:
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Strong Bones, Strong Girls
Girl Scouts learned how to maintain healthy bones and bodies through the Strong Bones, Strong Girls video that was produced with U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the government's principal agency for protecting the health of all Americans and providing essential human services, especially for those who are least able to help themselves. Although the program has ended, you can still see the video.
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