Girl Scout After-School Program Dishes Up Delicious Nutrition with a Dose of Fun and Fitness 

Concord, NH – The Girl Scouts of Swift Water Council will again offer a free after-school activity center built around nutrition and fitness thanks to a donation from Lincoln Financial Foundation.

This spring, two dozen girls took part in an eight-week program, Jumping Jacks & Healthy Snacks, at the Concord Boys & Girls Club and Girls Incorporated. They learned about nutrition and making healthful choices; prepared and enjoyed tasty snacks; took part in fitness activities including exercising to music and yoga; and “camped” indoors.

Last year Lincoln Foundation made the program possible with a $1,500 grant. This year Lincoln Foundation is continuing to support Jumping Jacks & Healthy Snacks with a $2,000 grant.

Girls in kindergarten through fourth grade created a “snack rainbow” with veggies and fruit -- and ate it. They made food pyramid collages which they took home to put on their refrigerators. They also learned a new word, osteoporosis, in a session about the importance of exercise and calcium for strong bones.

New things girls tried included soy milk. The name made a few kids wrinkle their noses, until one shy girl spoke up and said it’s all she drinks because she’s lactose intolerant. “I love it!” she said.

The girls had their photos taken with their milk moustaches. Besides the fun of trying something new, they discovered that people are different and not all differences can be seen on the outside.

Afterward, the children filled out evaluations about the program including their favorite thing. “I learned to just don’t sit on a couch, go outside and play,” one girl wrote when asked, “What does being active mean?”

Another said, “Being active is important so you can have enough energy to play and be healthy.” One girl said she learned that “I’m a fruit person more than a sugar person.” When it came to favorites, doing yoga and the indoor camping activity came out on top.

Lincoln Financial Group sets aside up to 2% of its pre-tax earnings to support charitable contributions in communities where they maintain a strong business presence. In 2007, the Lincoln Financial family of companies donated more than $12 million to a wide variety of philanthropic endeavors throughout the United States and the United Kingdom.

Girl Scouts of Swift Water Council is celebrating 50 years of building girls of courage, confidence, and character who make the world a better place. We serve nearly 14,000 girls in New Hampshire and eastern Vermont thanks to our 4,200 trained and dedicated volunteers. See www.swgirlscouts.org or call 603-627-4158 to join or volunteer.