Maine Youth Action Network

March 2007 News to Use--Physical Activity & Nutrition

 NEWS TO USE
from the Maine Youth Action Network

 March 2007
- vol. 1, issue 6

Web Resources
Topic of the Month:
Physical Activity & Nutrition (PAN)
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Eating “right” and getting enough exercise are easier said than done for many of us. All the information out there about what the “right” foods and habits are can be overwhelming. Finding ways and time to stay fit on top of school, jobs, homework, afterschool activities, and families can tire you out before you even start.

Don’t give up & head to the couch with a supersized french fries yet, though! Healthy Maine Partnership Youth Advocacy Programs and many other youth & adults are finding creative and fun ways to get their peers and communities moving & eating well. These youth and adults are working together to improve school lunches, put healthy drinks within easy reach, and help you find ways to stay active, even in snowy Maine. This News to Use is full of websites, resources and stories to inspire you to put on your sneakers and get involved.

*March is National Nutrition Month!
Test your fad knowledge!


What popular cracker was originally created as part of a health-food diet?


A. Cheese crackers
B. Saltine crackers
C. Graham crackers
D. Animal crackers


The theme of this year's Nutrition Month is "Fad Free." Click here for the answer to this question & the full Nutrition Month Fad Quiz.
*Build Your Skills
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Find tons of recipes and ideas on the Fruit and Veggies, More Matters website. Fruit and Veggies, More Matters is a new campaign, launched March 19th, replacing "5 A Day".

Don't want to hold a bake sale to raise money for your healthy project? Check out these non food-based fundraiser ideas.

The Weight Management Research to Practice Series is designed to summarize the science on weight management topics for health professionals and the lay audience.

Visit MYAN's Physical Activity & Nutrition Page for More Web & Print Resources!

*Growing Power
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Thank you to Cultivating Community for sharing this youth story from their archives.


Youth Gardeners Cultivate New Skills
by Johnathan McGraw and Craig Phillips, Cultivating Community

In January 2005, we applied to YouThink, an organization that supports youth projects, for a grant. We wanted to go to Milwaukee to visit a program called Growing Power to learn how to improve composting. Growing Power is an education workshop for all ages on the subject of urban agriculture. We got the grant, and on March 11 we headed to Manchester airport to catch our plane to Milwaukee. Over the weekend of workshops, we saw things that were new to us and that we're trying to bring back to Maine.

The best part of the Milwaukee trip was when we learned hands on. They had us make microbial beds (like flower beds but with worms). They also had us make compost piles and shovel hops and that showed us how much work they put in to help us learn.

In Milwaukee we learned that turning the compost pile can be easier if you have two people, one softening the pile for the second person to shovel. Worms can help break it down faster due to the bacteria and worms working together. Plus they make it more fertile with their worm castings. We also learned that worms will only help break it down if the compost is broken down into smaller parts, or you can add worms later when it is decomposed enough.

The trip to Milwaukee changed our way of thinking about Compost Corps. It is more fun because we understand it more. That's pretty cool. One big lesson we learned was how important it is for people to understand landfill waste and that paying money to throw things away can be avoided. They probably would like to learn about something like that. Thanks to Ainsely Wallace and the rest of the people at YouThink for supporting our trip to Milwaukee and for helping us spread the word here at home in Portland.
  • Cultivating Community, based in Portland, Maine, uses organic, sustainable practices to grow food in community and school gardens and at partnering farms. They use community food work as an engine for high-impact youth and community development programs that reconnect people to the natural and social systems. Learn more about Cultivating Community.
  • Learn more about Growing Power.

    • *PAN in the News
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    It's important to get your mind working as well as your body! Do you think schools should measure BMI? How does your school lunch compare to others? Check out these recent articles related to physical activity and nutrition to get you thinking.
  • "Kids Accepting Healthier School Foods" by Janet Frankston Lorin, Associated Press, 2007
  • "Excercise Helps Students in the Classroom" National Public Radio, August 31, 2006.
  • "Meet the Lunch Lady" by Tom Philpott, Grist, January 18, 2007
  • "Unhappy Meals" by Michael Pollan, New York Times, January 28, 2007.

    • Help keep PAN topics in the news! Read about upcoming PAN legislation & the case for support so you can be an informed advocate.

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    *Show Me the Money
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    Nike Community Grants
    Application deadline: Rolling


    Nike’s corporate giving focuses on programs that support youth and physical activity, and the positive effects of the two when they are truly in sync. Programs should increase and promote physical activity in some way, and can include indoor programs, outdoor programs, or both. Funding priorities include programs that get kids more physically active, activities that get kids involved in the teamwork of sport, and physical activity programs that have real, positive and measurable impact.

    Giving is focused to communities where Nike has a significant employee or Niketown retail presence. U.S.-based 501© (3) organizations are eligible to apply as well as non-U.S. organizations that are charitable/non-profit.

    *Messages from MYAN
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  • 3rd Annual Maine Youth Stop. Quit. RESIST! Anti-Tobacco Summit Update
    Save the Date! April 26th & 27th, 2007 at the Augusta Civic Center, sponsored by the Partnership For A Tobacco-Free Maine and organized by MYAN and a statewide youth planning team.

    • Check the Summit page for registration materials and more event information! The deadline to register your group is April 6, 2007.

    This year’s keynote speaker will be Victor DeNoble, a former researcher for Philip Morris and a key witness in the federal government’s case against the tobacco industry. In his keynote address on the 26th, DeNoble will discuss the addictive nature of nicotine and the tobacco industry’s attempt to hide health effects from the public. In addition, DeNoble will be conducting two workshops on April 27th.

  • Save the date! On May 17th MYAN will be offering a school day long training entitled Partnering for Change: Building Successful Youth & Adult Partnerships at the Washington County Community College in Calais. The training will be open to adults and 7th-12th grade students. More information coming soon!
    • *Calendar of Events
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    Want to get the word out about events in your community? Please email Molly O’Connell at mlo@propeople.org to let us know about what’s going on near you! Events will be published on the MYAN website & in the MYAN News to Use when timing allows.
  • Kick Butts Day
    Wednesday, March 28th

  • Bullying Prevention Training for School Coordinators
    March 26-30, 2007, University of Southern Maine, Portland
    FMI call Pam Anderson at 780-4991.

  • Creating a Safe and Resilient School Climate: Integrating Effective Bullying Prevention and Pro-Social Programs
    March 29th-30th, Holiday Inn, Ellsworth (Two day workshop, but participants may choose to attend only one day)
    Offered by the Maine Psychological Trauma Institute.

  • Beyond the Basics of Suicide Prevention III
    April 4, 2007, Sheraton South Portland Hotel
    Attend a special workshop organized by MYAN and Topsham area youth about GLBTQ Cultural Competency in Youth Suicide Prevention for only $20! The registration deadline has been extended to make this important topic more accessible. Register by Friday, March 30th by printing the brochure & selecting "Afternoon Workshop I: Serving Queer Youth." The registration deadline has been extended to make this important topic more accessible. Register by Friday, March 30th by printing the brochure & selecting "Afternoon Workshop I: Serving Queer Youth."

  • FREE Suicide Prevention Gatekeeper Training
    April 18th, 2007, 8:00am-3:30pm, Portland
    FMI contact Danny Gay at 874-0060 ext.204


  • Intensive Tobacco Treatment Training and Conference
    April 25 & 26, 2007, Hilton Garden Inn, Auburn, Maine
    The conference will feature internationally and nationally recognized tobacco specialists on both days of the conference.

  • 3rd Annual Anti-Tobacco Youth Summit--Stop.Quit. RESIST!
    April 26-27, 2007, Augusta Civic Center
    Sponsored by the Partnership For A Tobacco-Free Maine and organized by MYAN and a statewide youth planning team.

  • Take Back the Night
    A night to speak out against sexual violence.
    April 27th, 6:30-8pm, Portland's Monument Square


  • Discussing Controversial Public Issues in the Classroom
    2007 Focus issue: Immigration
    May 16-17, 2007, USM Abromson Center, Portland


  • 14th Annual Education Law Conference
    July 24 - 27, 2007, University of Southern Maine, Portland

  • National Conference on Tobacco or Health
    October 24-26, 2007 Minneapolis, MN

  • Healthy Communities, Healthy Youth Conference
    2007 Theme: TRANSFORMING Relationships: For the Common Good
    November 8-10, 2007, Hyatt Regency Hotel and Riverside Convention Center, Rochester, NY
    • *The Award Goes to...
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    Nominations for the Annual KIDS as Planners Service-Learning Awards are being accepted until April 4!


    Awards will be given in two categories:
    1. Community Partner Awards
    2. Service-Learning Project Awards; includes: $100 cash award! (to be used at the discretion of the class to further their work). Assistance with transportation to the Hall of Flags (if needed).

    This year, KIDS Consortium will recognize outstanding service-learning projects and community organizations who have made a significant contribution to supporting and/or expanding opportunities for Maine youth to participate in high quality service-learning experiences as a part of their K-12 education.

    The nomination packet can also be retrieved off the KIDS Consortium website.

    Winners will be announced at the Hall of Flags Service-Learning Celebration on May 1.

    *Network News
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    The Kismet Rock Foundation seeks to offer week-long intensive technical rock climbing experiences to young people 12-16 who couldn't otherwise afford this opportunity. They are looking to expand the program to serve Portland youth. If you would like to help connect KRF with Maine youth, please contact Sasha Johnson at Rippleffect at 207-791-7870 or sjohnson@rippleffect.org.

    If you missed the Eat Local Eat Smart conference in Farmington in October you can get DVDs of key portions of the day by going directly to MT Blue Cable to order the DVDs or call 778-8146 or email JP Fortier at jpfortier@maine.edu. The cost is $10 per DVD plus shipping.

    Do you know of or have access to a local policy to ban junk food or soda advertising on school grounds? (in Maine or outside?) Contact MaryEllen Doyle of the Maine Physical Activity & Nutrition Program at 207-287-5041 or MaryEllen.Doyle@maine.gov.

    The Healthy Weight Awareness Campaign, organized by the Maine Physical Activity & Nutrition Program, has a small number of winter physical activity posters left in stock. If you would like to order posters, use the order form on the Web page and indicate on that form where you will be using them. They will be distributed on a first-come, first served basis.

    A Take Time! training has been scheduled for May 9, 2007. The hosts are looking for teams of two or more from a school to attend. Information and a registration form can be found by going to the Maine Center for Public Health Web site. This is a Maine Nutrition Network and Maine Center for Public Health initiative.

    Seeking youth ages 5-18 who have lost a parent to cancer to be part of a project to give kids a voice in order to create healing and inspiration in the face of loss. Youth must be willing to be interviewed or be willing to tape themselves answering questions. FMI, contact T. Duffy at tnduffy@gmail.com.

    Seeking Volunteers! The annual Rippleffect Cow Island Clean-up be held on Saturday and Sunday, April 21 and 22nd from 9am-4pm. Rain or shine, help prepare programming gear for the spring, do trail maintenance, beach clean-up, and garden preparation. Register on-line for the event on Rippleffect's homepage and click on "Ft. Lyons Adult Programs."

    Would you like to make an announcement through News to Use? Email Molly at mlo@propeople.org. MYAN will include appropriate announcements when the timing of issues allows.

    *Call For Stories
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    Inspire others throughout the state by sharing your story of how you are making positive change in Maine. We're interested in what you are doing in your community. Tell us your success stories and accomplishments and we will highlight them in our newsletter!

    Next month's topic will be Bullying & Youth Suicide Prevention . To submit YOUR story, contact Derek!

    Youth whose stories are published in News to Use will receive a $10 stipend!

    Deadline for submissions: Monday, April 16th!

    *Join the Network: Register Your Group
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    The Maine Youth Action Network is expanding its network of individuals and groups around Maine who are making a difference! This will result in MYAN having an improved capacity to support you and to connect you to the ideas and experiences of other groups doing similar work and to new resources & tools.

    Whether you’re a long-time MYAN participant or a program that wants to get involved, we need you to fill out our survey. Fill out the survey TODAY and pass it on to others who will benefit!

    Disclaimer: Please note providing information from other organizations does not constitute endorsement of their publications, nor is the Maine Youth Action Network, Department of Health and Human Services, the Muskie Institute or the People’s Regional Opportunity Program responsible for the content or materials highlighted from other organizations in our e-newsletter or information posted on any of these organizations' web sites.

     

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