Highway to Health Junior Badge

Program Age Level: Junior (Grades 4-5)

Purpose: To equip Girl Scouts with information and skills relating to maintaining a healthy, active lifestyle in order to reduce their risk of developing heart disease.

Next scheduled session: Monday, September 28, 2009, 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Each session is limited to a maximum of 15 participants and must have a minimum of 7 participants. Additional sessions may be added if demand is very high. 
 
Requirements: Complete each of the eight activities listed.

About this Program

The Aspirus Heart & Vascular Institute offers Girl Scouts the opportunity to gain valuable knowledge and skills related to the prevention of heart disease through the promotion of leading a healthy, active lifestyle.

How to Participate

To inquire about specific program components, please call the Aspirus Heart & Vascular Institute’s Community Health Coordinator at 715.847.2000 ext. 54772. You may register for an upcoming session by calling the Aspirus Information Center at 715.847.2380 or toll free at 800.847.4707.

The program contains activities that will be completed both as groups and individually.  The group session is described in Program Activity No. 1 below, which is a required first step.

Each attendee will receive an informational letter upon registration and a full participation kit when attending the Heart & Vascular Institute session.

Each participant will be charged a program fee of $7.  Fees may be paid through the Aspirus Information Center with a credit card at the time of registration or the evening of the event by a check made payable to the Aspirus Heart & Vascular Institute.   

Program Dates

Program Activities

You must complete all eight components of the program to earn your Highway to Health badge.

1. Tour the Aspirus Heart & Vascular Institute
Here you will meet with Institute staff who will help you learn more about the prevention and treatment of heart disease. You will receive a tour of the procedure area, where patients undergo procedures to treat heart disease, and the cardiac rehab area, where patients learn to maintain a healthy lifestyle after a heart attack. After your tour, complete the corresponding activity in your “My Healthy Heart” learning pack.  This activity must be completed first.

2. Sincerely, Your Body
What would your body say if it had a chance to talk? Write a letter to yourself as if your body were doing the talking. It could say things like, “If I eat healthy snacks I will have lots of energy to play, do my homework, and hang out with my friends”. Or it could say, “I promise to limit my time watching television and spend more time riding my bike, walking or dancing”. The Sincerely, Your Body letter format is provided in the “My Healthy Heart” learning pack.

3. Healthy Steps
With your family, brainstorm a list of five healthy habits. Then brainstorm a list of five unhealthy habits. Using the template provided in the “My Healthy Heart” learning pack, write each habit on a piece of paper and place it in a bag.

A. Mark a starting point on the floor, using tape or a rope. Players start with their toes on the line. Pick a piece of paper out of the bag and read it aloud. Is it a positive habit - and something you do? Take one step forward. Don’t do it? Take one step backward. Is it a negative habit - and something you do? Take one step backward. Don’t do it? Take one step forward.

B. After you have finished reading all the habits, notice where everyone is standing. Discuss steps you can take as a family to improve your healthy habits and commit to trying three of them for one month.  Record your family plan in your “My Healthy Heart” learning pack.

4. Eating on the Run
A major component of healthy living is making healthy food choices.  But with busy lifestyles and so many “easy” options to choose from, how do you know which are the healthiest ways to go? 

A. Look through your Junior Girl Scout Handbook for a healthy snack recipe and try making one for your family. Include this recipe in your “My Healthy Heart” learning pack.  Submit a copy to the Aspirus Heart & Vascular Institute’s Community Health Coordinator for inclusion in a special cookbook!

B. Visit a fast food restaurant and scan the menu for healthy options. List the options you discovered on the worksheet provided in your “My Healthy Heart” learning pack. In this pack you will also find guidelines for selecting heart healthy options.

5. Family Tree
With the family tree and related information provided in your “My Healthy Heart” learning pack, create your own family history of heart disease. Here you will learn who in your family has the risk factors for heart disease, or who may already have it. At the bottom of your tree, list two personal goals that you will strive to achieve and reduce your risk of developing heart disease. Share this tree with your family and encourage them to develop their own personal goals.

6. Stress Relief
Read the section about stress management in the “Be Healthy, Be Fit” chapter of the Junior Girl Scout Handbook and pick one way to help you relieve stressful feelings. Commit to practicing your stress relief activity daily and record your commitment in your “My Healthy Heart” learning pack.

7. Picture, Picture
Make a picture frame for your refrigerator with the materials provided in your “My Healthy Heart” activity kit.  Inside the frame write a message to yourself and your family reminding them of the importance of healthy eating. Use any additional materials you have at home to decorate the frame for your own personal style.  Take a picture of your creation and keep it in your “My Healthy Heart” learning pack.

8. Check Out Healthy
Regular check-ups by a doctor help you grow up healthy and strong. Make a colorful poster about the importance of regularly visiting a doctor. Find out how often girls your age need to go to the doctor and include this in your poster. Display your poster (with permission!) where other young people and their parents can see it.

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