By Meg Hodson
This is a sponsored post for Together Counts™ and Girl Scouts Nation's Capital. While I am being compensated for this article, all opinions and statements remain 100% my own. #HealthyHabits
Finding balance and creating healthy habits for my children seems like a daily goal and albeit, sometimes a struggle. Whether it's monitoring screen time, being active, or devoting time to reading, as a parent, I find myself constantly trying to find the balance for them. With the summer months upon us, finding an even amount of activity, play, and educational time can be tough.
I recently discovered the new Girl Scouts campaign, Together Counts™. It's a nationwide campaign, organized by the Healthy Weight Commitment Foundation and Girl Scouts Nation's Capital to inspire active and healthy living via physical activity and nutrition, a fundamental underpinning of efforts to reduce obesity.
The principle behind the program is called Energy Balance. It's an easy concept to understand, but one that is sometimes hard to execute. Basically, it emphasized that what goes into your body must be balanced by activity (what is going out of your body). It's a simple concept, yet one that we find hard to follow sometimes.
So, the Girl Scouts themselves partnered with the Healthy Weight Commitment Foundation to help create booklets that would help in this whole concept.
o Between Earth and Sky with Healthy Habits - girls learn about the many plants,
and animals that flourish in nature, and also build important leadership skills.
o WOW! Wonders of Water with Healthy Habits - girls discover the many forms and
paths that water takes and how to protect it. They also learn how to engage in teamwork,
speak effectively to convey a message, and inspire others
o Get Moving! with Healthy Habits - girls learn how to use their energy to protect Earth’s
energy and build important leadership skills.
What I really like about this program is that it is empowering Girl Scouts and Girl Scout volunteers to all work together. Adults can empower girls. Girls can set good examples for each other. And it's all done in a fun, productive way.
Camping is essential to a Girl Scouts mission. I fondly remember a Girl Scouts camp I attended when I was in grade school. It is about the outdoors, and developing a deep appreciation for nature. Girls enjoy camping with their troop or attending a Girl Scout day and evening or resident sleep-away camp. From high adventure with kayaking, archery and rock climbing to traditional camps with crafts, singing, hiking and cooking over an open fire, Girl Scout camps give girls an opportunity to grow, explore, and have fun under the guidance of caring, trained adults.
To locate the council nearest you, see the Girl Scout Council.
What are your best practices for keeping the young girls in your life healthy and active?
