Community

Girl Scouts, along with hundreds of other organizations, are supporting the Let’s Move initiative introduced by First Lady Michelle Obama. It's a comprehensive initiative dedicated to solving the challenge of childhood obesity within a generation.

Is it possible? You bet! Becoming aware and deciding to take action is the first step. The website that supports the initiative is full of great program ideas, ways to network with others in the community and instructions on how to become an advocate. Let’s Move is about putting children on the right path in their early years giving parents helpful information to foster healthy environments that support healthy choices, providing healthier food for our schools and ensuring that every family has access to healthy, affordable food. Oh, and one last thing -- it wants to make sure that children become more physically active!

“The physical and emotional health of an entire generation and the economic health and security of our nation is at stake,” the First Lady said when the initiative was launched in 2010.

According to the U.S. Department of Health, childhood obesity rates in America have tripled over the past three decades , and today, nearly one in three children in America are overweight or obese. The numbers are even higher in African American and Hispanic communities, where nearly 40% of the children are overweight or obese
.
If we don't solve this problem, one third of all children born in 2000 or later will suffer from diabetes at some point in their lives. Many others will face chronic, obesity-related health problems such as heart disease and high blood pressure.

Girl Scouts have historically been strong advocates of helping girls develop healthy living habits. There are well over 150 recognitions or awards girls in grades K-12 can earn that address healthy eating and physical well-being. In addition to the recognitions, girls in troops or as individuals may benefit from the first-class outdoor program offered at Girl Scout camps and elsewhere.

The suggestions listed on the Let’s Move Outdoor page mirrors Girl Scout goals and the positive outcomes that occur as a result of taking action to become more physically active. While these activities are offered at camp, parents and kids can do them as a family too.

• Did you know that getting active outside can help improve coordination, balance, and agility? This summer, keep kids healthy mentally and physically by making time for play each day.
• When the weather is warm, there is no better way to cool off - or get fit - than by splashing around. Swimming burns more calories per hour than almost any other activity and has been shown to improve cardiovascular health and lead to greater strength and flexibility. It's also low-impact, making it an ideal activity for people with disabilities or those recovering from an injury. Swimming pools are located at all Girl Scout camps, and swimming is an integral part of the camp program.
• Biking is a fun, family-friendly activity that can help improve endurance and balance. Use your bike as a means of "active transport" to get places faster while also getting healthier. Explore your community by bike with your family and get everyone active. If you want to bike at camp, look into Girl Scout Camp Darden’s programs.
• Traveling by foot is a fun, easy and affordable way to get moving and get outside. From a walk around the block to a mountain hike, there are a lot of new places to explore. Activities like hiking and walking have been shown to improve cardiovascular health and build stronger bones. Girl Scouts not only offer hiking, but rock-climbing and other fun ways to stay fit.

Girl Scouts nationally are challenging their 2.3 million members to take the lead and make healthy food choices and exercise as part of their daily activities. Whether it’s a Zumba class, planting a hydroponic garden or participating at camp, Girl Scouts are getting involved and taking the Let’s Move pledge.

This fall, Girl Scouts of Colonial Coast will take part in the Let’s Move and Meetup. The Meetup element of the initiative is a way to make it easy for parents, teachers, chefs, elected officials and others to take action by organizing or participating in face-to-face meetings or events dedicated to solving the problem of childhood obesity in their local communities. GSCCC will be offering girls and their parents a way to find out more about healthy living while registering for Girl Scouts at selected locations in September.
Girls and their parents don’t have to wait until then to start getting healthy. Register for Girl Scout camp and/or become a Girl Scout and get involved in the new Let’s Read, Let’s Move Girl Scout program. This is a new addition to the initiative which seeks to combat childhood obesity and summer reading loss by engaging youth in summer reading and physical activity, as well as by providing access to healthy, affordable food.

Visit www.letsmove.gov for more information on Let’s Move and visit http://www.girlscouts.org/readmove/ for the Let’s Move, Let’s Read effort being made by Girl Scouts.

To find out about Girl Scout camps and becoming a member, visit www.gsccc.org.

Marcella Germanotta
Communications Director
Girl Scout Council of Colonial Coast
A Place for Girls
912 Cedar Rd. , Chesapeake , VA 23322
757-547-4405 ext. 1258; direct 549-0836; fax757-547-1872 marcyg@gsccc.org