By Patty Mintz
If it wasn’t for Girls Week, Nikki Latta might still be a stranger to snowboarding.
“It’s awesome!” says Latta, a 17-year-old student at Lawrencetown Education Centre, who tried the sport at Ski Martock near Windsor during a recent kick-off held for the approaching Girls Healthy Living Week, Feb. 18-24.
“I heard about it and said, ‘oh my gosh, I really want to go. I went down the big hill twice. I never thought I’d be able to do that.” “For sure, I loved it and would do it again.”
It’s the kind of thing Jen Kelday loves to hear.
As Sports Animator for the Annapolis Valley Regional School Board, Kelday helps to develop ways for girls and boys in Annapolis, Kings and West Hants counties to engage in healthy lifestyles through increased physical activity, improved eating habits, and emotional well-being initiatives.
Health Promotion and Protection
and Health Promoting Schools programs plus various local businesses support the effort.
Kelday says it’s the second year for the initiative, which includes a week for boys, April 21-27.
“The idea is to ensure school-age girls and boys have a chance to sample various activities.”
She says there are plenty of statistics to back up the need for such initiatives.
According to data supplied by PACY (Physical Activity for Children and Youth) for 2006, by Grade 7, only 24 per cent of girls are getting enough physical activity for health benefits, determined to be 60 minutes of accumulated physical activity five days a week.
By Grade 11, the figure plummets to one per cent.
In addition, female students feel, react and behave in ways that affect their participation in PE class. Among other things, many young women are prone to feeling uncomfortable with their bodies; ill at ease participating in front of males; and frustrated being ignored or excluded by sports.
Kelday says some people question the wisdom of holding separate weeks for boys and girls.
“There is a lot of data that shows girls are self-conscious to be active in front of boys and a lot of data that shows girls and boys are more active when separate.”
Latta agrees. She knows girls can feel embarrassment about how they look when running or sweating due to societal pressure, although she says she has learned to overcome some of her discomfort. She has friends, though, who never take part in physical activities.
She feels smaller schools are more likely to succeed at encouraging involvement for all.
“When I went to a big school I never got involved because everyone was just like in a little clique. The good sport girls kept together. Some get the courage to join in, but others don’t.”
Now that Latta is at a smaller school in Lawrencetown, the scenario is better. “My school is really good for motivation.” Kelday says the idea for Girls and Boys Weeks began in Halifax and was later adopted by other school boards around the province.
This year, she says, the program looks good.
“We have double the amount of events this year. Right now we have over 30 events planned for the Valley (for Girls Week), from Windsor to Annapolis Royal,” says Kelday, everything from yoga, pilates and dance to boxing, skating, snowshoeing, curling, skiing and more.
Schools play a prominent role, but businesses, community organizations, government departments and others in the Annapolis Valley Regional School Board are encouraged to host a no-cost or low-cost healthy lifestyle event for boys and girls during the appropriate weeks.
Kelday says the events are not limited to physical activity but also involve organizations promoting sexual health, addictions, mental health, and other such elements.
Still, the “high energy presentation with a combination of Martial Art techniques and fun fitness games,” being offered by Abhaya Mixed Martial Arts in Greenwich will surely tempt some participants.
As well, Curves, a big sponsor, is offering female students from 15-19 a chance to try its fitness experience during Girls Week, and holding a draw for a free mother-daughter membership.
Certain skating facilities and curling clubs are also taking part.
Kelday says small grants of $50, $75, and $100 are also being offered to non-profit organizations to host an event.
“For example, if a school wanted to bring in a yoga instructor, we have grant money to help them pay for that.”
Kelday points out that some of the activities are limited to particular schools and their students but there are plenty of events open to all school age children.
As for Latta, she’s looking forward to another opportunity to try something new, “especially if I have a friend to go. It will be really cool, a good thing.”
For additional details, visit
www.avrsb.ednet.ns.ca
