| CABOT CREAMERY CHALLENGE EARNS GIRL SCOUT CALCIUM PATCH | ||
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Contact Information: “The moment the judges saw her entry, they knew that it had amazing potential,” said Richard Stammer president of Cabot Cheese. “The Calcium Crisis Challenge began as a way to tap into teens influence on each other, and Megan’s Calcium Patch exceeded all our expectations.” Following the first ever Calcium Crisis Challenge at the Smithsonian Natural History Museum in the fall of 2002, the Cabot farmers headed south to the McWane Center in Birmingham, where an emphasis on health made the Big Bones Bash Calcium Challenge Contest last March a natural forum for their program. Sixth through eighth graders were challenged to use their creativity to find ways to convince their peers of the importance of calcium and exercise. Amid creative entries from 13 schools and 171 students, including songs, dances, skits, computer games, and more, eighth grade Girl Scout Megan Novak’s Girl Scout patch program rose to the top capturing first prize and $500. Girl Scouts, ages 6 to 18, can choose from a list of 15 activities created by Megan to earn the Cabot Calcium Challenge Patch. Brownies are required to complete five activities, Juniors must complete eight activities, and Cadettes/Seniors must complete ten activities to earn the patch. Three required activities for all groups include trying a weight-bearing activity, keeping a log of calcium products eaten for one week, and sharing information learned about the importance of calcium to another group of at least six people. “The Cahaba Council is extremely proud of Megan Novak and the work she has done,” said Marjorie Davis-Stephan, Spokesperson for the Cahaba Girl Scout Council. “She took the calcium crisis that exists for all young girls and, as a Girl Scout, created a tool that will impact thousands of girls’ lives for the better.” After approval by the Girl Scouts of Cahaba Council in Birmingham, which serves more than 13,000 Girl Scouts, the patch made a further impression on the director of the "Girl Scouting in the School Day program," Flo Blackledge. Beginning in fall 2004, more than 4,000 Girl Scouts in the Birmingham area who participated in the "Girl Scouting in the School Day" program will earn the patch, which has now been incorporated into the core activity list for the program. Girl Scouts in any council or state can get a copy of the Cabot Calcium Program Patch booklet. The bookket contains the list of activities, including the resources available through the national 3-A-Day of dairy for stronger bones and healthy weight campaign, required for earning the patch by contacting Deb Lowry at writer1118@bellsouth.net or 205-980-1118. To buy the patch, councils or groups can contact Steven White of National Emblems at swwhite@mindspring.com or 770-888-9308. The oval patch features a skeleton giving the Girl Scout sign and includes elements (cheese, milk, a soccer ball, and a jump rope) representing ways to build bone strength through diet and activity. The patch costs about $1 each for a minimum order of 200, or less for larger orders. According to the National Institutes of Health, American children and teens are in the midst of a “calcium crisis.” In fact, three out of four teenagers do not get enough calcium in their diets. The Cabot Calcium Crisis Challenge was created by Cabot Creamery as part of its ongoing effort to raise awareness of this national health crisis, while engaging those most at risk - our nation’s children - in the awareness process. The Challenge invites teens to design creative ways to inform their peers about the importance of calcium nutrition. For more information about the Cabot Calcium Challenge and links to online calcium resources, please visit www.calciumchallenge.com. Printer-friendly version |
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