community news Making good choices
Fitness, youth substance awareness, scholarships, parent support THERESA BAER
TAKE THE 5210+ CHALLENGE THIS MONTH The Healthy Kids 5210+ Challenge is an annual program held every February where students, school staff and parents keep track of their activity minutes and other 5210 healthy habits. Prize money is awarded to schools with the highest percentage of participants. This year, the Challenge goes online and participants will choose between printing logs to complete by hand or using a fillable PDF log to keep track of their 5210+ health habits on their computer. Participants achieving the minimum number of checkmarks will receive a free 5210+ Challenge t-shirt. Look to information from your school or learn more online at www.healthykidsclub.org. S.N.A.P.P! SPRING SESSION CONNECTS TEEN GIRLS WITH THEIR PEERS S.N.A.P.P! which stands Strength, Navigate, Advocacy, Purpose and Perseverance, provides a safe space for teenage girls in grades 7–12 to interact with their peers, ask questions while learning about the serious topics affecting teens today, and learn effective coping skills to deal with those challenges. Two 12-week sessions begin Monday, February 8 and Tuesday, February 9 and will take place in person from 7:15pm–8:45pm at 204 Walnut Street in Fort Collins. These sessions are free, but donations are accepted. Learn more and apply online to participate at www. snapp4teens.org. YOUTH SUBSTANCE ABUSE AWARENESS & DECISION-MAKING Give your kids the skills to stop and think. Brainwise: The Ten Wise Ways is an hour-long session to learn the 14
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effects and impact of substances on young brains and discuss ways to avoid problems and make good decisions. Offered by Partners, these online sessions were designed for children aged 7–17 in conjunction with their parents or caregivers. These online sessions will be held via Zoom on Monday, February 8 and Tuesday, March 9 from 4–5pm. RSVP online at https://forms.gle/Z2EqLNhJ4NJUDJwa9 for the date of your choice to receive the appropriate Zoom meeting link. For further information, contact Katherine Chu of Partners at kchu@poweredbypartners.org. FREE VIRTUAL FITNESS CLASSES FROM GREELEY REC Last month, City of Greeley Recreation announced free virtual group fitness classes in an effort to “provide ways for the community to engage in behaviors that will benefit them both physically and emotionally… with little to no barriers.” Delivered via Zoom, these 45-minute (or less) classes do not require a Greeley Recreation membership, allowing anyone in the community, and from all fitness levels and abilities,
to participate from home. Certified Greeley Recreation instructors will lead a variety of cardio and strength training classes including the popular yoga, Zumba, SilverSneaker Circuit and others. For a schedule of virtual fitness classes, visit https://greeleyrec. com/fitness-wellness/group-fitness. To enroll, email fitness@greeleygov. com for a weekly email that includes a Zoom link and information about the upcoming week’s classes. SUPPORT FOR WELD COUNTY FOSTER, KINSHIP AND ADOPTIVE PARENTS The Weld County Department of Human Services offers monthly opportunities to “connect with other foster parents, kinship caregivers, adoptive parents and childcare providers to share parenting strategies, successes and struggles with those who can relate.” Known as The Parent Café, these online support groups are available from 9am until noon on the third Wednesday of every month through June including: February 17, March 17, April 21, May 19 and June 16. Learn more and RSVP at www.weldgov. com/departments/human_services/ family_resource/parent_cafe. If you do
