Learning #HealthyHabits with Girl Scouts and Together Counts

A special Thank You to Girl Scouts Nation's Capital and Together Counts for partnering with Mom It Forward Blogger Network on this campaign.  I received compensation, however all opinions and personal stories are my own. 

As a Girl Scout Leader and Mother, I am worried about getting the right nutrition in our girls, not just my daughter who is the cutest Daisy Scout around, but the other 14 girls in our troop as well.  So many of our children go hungry around the world. It's easy to turn a blind eye and worry about it tomorrow.  Tomorrow's worries turn into next week's and the issue at hand becomes a large problem.

This past year my Daisy Troop did the Between Earth and Sky journey.  We went on a trip with Lupe and her flower friends from Maine to Alaska.  Tying in the Healthy Habits Booklet is really easy to do.  In the booklets, they teach you about Energy in and Energy out.  By adding Energy Balance focuses to our weekly lesson, the girls understand the exchange needed as well as ways to stay healthy!  Many of the girls took this information home to their family!

Healthy Habits Program & Booklets

• In partnership with the Healthy Weight Commitment Foundation, Girl Scouts developed three "healthy habits" booklets to easily incorporate energy balance into meetings, outings, events and adventures. The free booklets help guide girls as they learn to lead active, healthy lifestyles.
• Through the use of these free resources for Daisies, Brownies, and Juniors, Girl Scout volunteers and families can guide girls in fun, easy ways to achieve "energy balance."
• The three Healthy Habits booklets available for download include:
• Between Earth and Sky with Healthy Habits - girls learn about the many plants, trees, and animals that flourish in nature, and also build important leadership skills.
• 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
• Get Moving! with Healthy Habits - girls learn how to use their energy to protect Earth’s energy and build important leadership skills.

Together Counts Program

• The Together Counts program is nationwide and provided by the Healthy Weight Commitment Foundation 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, which just means balancing the calories we consume with the calories we expend.
• Energy In: the calories you get from eating and drinking.
• Energy Out: the calories you burn from physical activities.

Girl Scouts has been a part of health and fitness have been part of Girl Scouting since girls ran foot races in 1912!  There are so many activities girls can be involved in.  Camping is essential to Girl Scouts mission. 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. 

Girl Scouts’ leadership program is girl-led. Girl Scouts do a lot with guidance from caring adult mentors! From national badge programs to council-wide events, each council offers a variety of exciting program opportunities for girls of all ages.  Volunteers are supported with program level and subject training courses online and in classroom settings. There is a lot of peer-to-peer support and mentoring, and quality publications to support the delivery of high quality programs.

To locate the council nearest you, see the Girl Scout Council Finder.