“Thrive” & Naturally Active Victoria County Funding for GO (Girls Only) After the Bell Program Allows Girls Grades 7, 8 & 9 to Overcome Obstacles to Achieve Active & Healthy Lifestyles in Rural & Isolated Communities in Northern Victoria County Victoria County, Cape Breton, NS: A new program in Northern Victoria County is having a positive effect on the lives of girls in grades 7, 8 & 9 in Northern Communities in Victoria County thanks to funding from the province’s Thrive After-the Bell After-school Time Period in partnership with Naturally Active Victoria County (Physical Activity Strategy) and the Cape Breton Family Resource Centre. Our Partners For Your Health The GO (Girls Only) After the Bell Program has increased the opportunities available to girls to be active and eat healthy leading to an active and healthy lifestyle with a lot of different things that they were able to do if they were not in the program especially in a rural isolated area.
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“Thrive” & Naturally Active Victoria County Funding for GO (Girls Only) After the Bell Program Allows Girls Grades 7, 8 & 9 to Overcome Obstacles to Achieve Active & Healthy Lifestyles in Rural & Isolated
Communities in Northern Victoria County
Victoria County, Cape Breton, NS:A new program in Northern Victoria County is having a positive effect on the lives of girls in grades 7, 8 & 9 in Northern Communities in Victoria County thanks to funding from the province’s Thrive After-the Bell After-school Time Period in partnership with Naturally Active Victoria County (Physical Activity Strategy) and the Cape Breton Family Resource Centre.
Our Partners For Your Health
The GO (Girls Only) After the Bell Program has increased the opportunities available to girls to be active and eat healthy leading to an active and healthy lifestyle with a lot of different things that they were able to do if they were not in the program especially in a rural isolated area.
GO is increasing the number of youth girls who are active. Just as the research proved, they would rather go home, just didn't want to participate, less and less - NOT WANTING TO PARTICIPATE IN AN ACTIVITY regardless of transportation, equipment, facilities, etc. it was lack of mindset/motivation, not going to do it for anyone, unless take them to the mall to go shopping/movies (Feedback mentioned at meetings) . A program for this age group and girls is effective and makes a difference.
To motivate participation, if they participated in 5 activities, they would receive a merchandise item (Hoody sweater) with logo. ...so this motivated the participants - really motivated them to participate.
Tommy Chubbs - Teacher at Cabot School: “noticed those girls who are not normally active, now active and he was impressed by the impact of the program”.
Leaders, parents, teachers, Cabot School principal Donnie Simms and Coordinator Jena Taylor noticed a difference in participating levels that do not normally participate that were now participating.
GO Coordinator Jena Taylor “Getting Ready for a Picture”
22 girls regularly participated of the 46 girls at Cabot School that were eligible led mostly by female leaders (Female leader actually came back to participate with the girls as a mentor/role model). The program was free.
The program enhanced the likelihood that youth would participate beyond the scheduled ASTP program as the youth did participate beyond because it was all after school and a Cabot school teacher Tommy Chubbs noticed “a difference in participating levels that do not normally participate that were now participating and he was surprised and contributed that to the program”....GO Offered exposure to opportunities, facilities, etc. in the area that they may have not been exposed to. 3-6 pm for the most part. All equipment was free to the participants.
Activities that were offered during the program were Yoga, Zumba, Hip Hop dance, Classical ballet dance, Learning to kayak, ocean kayak, cycling, cheerleading and Aerobics with a fall ending social and presentation of hoody’s for the participants who participated in the minimum number of activities required to receive one!
One of the girl’s favourite activities of the program was cheerleading as they would like to have a cheerleading team for Cabot School; Kayaking also proved popular with girls excited on the ocean, proud of themselves, a good paddle.
Facilities and spaces used included kayaking on the ocean; yoga in green space/outdoors and full gym facility at Cabot School.
To help encourage increased usage of sport and recreation facilities and/or outdoor spaces in the communities: Leadership was identified and accessed our full resources in the area and worked with our facility operators, private operators and Cabot School to access the facilities for the program which w ere fully supported by the above and all very cooperative and willing to do whatever it takes/accommodate to reach the goals and objectives of the program. Facilities offered free access at times to accommodate.
Receiving Participant Hoody Sweater at Wrap-up Social at Neil’s Harbour
Highlights of the Program included:- Support from school, parents, whole community we heard from many, how great the program was and how much they enjoyed participating - a lot of positive feedback from the community.
-Activites based at Cabot School was great exposure for the program and community.
-Social media with Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/groups/goprogram2013/ and the media picked up on it and gave great exposure.
-The community, parents, participants now know about the program and were sad to see it end and wish to see it pick up again leaving a legacy impact on our grades 7,8,9 girls in an isolated northern tip of NS/CB leading to healthier lifestyles for a gender and grade group that needs it to turn back the tsunami.
Plans with Coordinator Jena Taylor and Physical Activity Coordinator Vince Forrestall are now underway for the fall session and will include girls only in grades 7, 8 & 9 at Cabot School “making a difference”. Naturally Active Victoria County is also interested in expanding the program to other schools in rural Victoria County and encouraging other areas of Cape Breton Island to adopt the model.
Both look forward to the next round of funding/applications to pick-up where the program concluded keeping the positive and popular image and great program that has been taking place in the community - keep up the momentum.
Thank You Thrive Child Obesity Strategy, Victoria County, Department of Health & Wellness, Cape Breton Family Resource Centre Society, CBVRSB, Cabot School and the many leaders, facility operators, service providers and organizations for the opportunity and partnership and to work as a region rolling it out and leading to its success benefiting our residents. It was greatly appreciated.
