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Portneuf District Library
Bannock, ID
Portneuf District Library’s Get Real, Get Fit! Health Fairs revolutionized library services for teens and thier families in Bannock County, ID
If attendance is the indicator for winning library services, the Portneuf District Library’s Get Real, Get Fit! program was a slam-dunk. On average, 100 teens and their caregivers attended each of five teen health fairs held across a year. With information booths, activity stations and plenty of free hand-outs, the award winning fairs were among the most popular library programs of the year. “When I’ve asked parents what made them come, they all said it was the free stuff,” said Director Jeanne Farnworth. Teens walked away with a variety of health related incentives, including books, pedometers, pool passes, dental kits, and tee shirts, plus free snacks and activities at the events themselves. In addition to donating most of the goodies, community partners also provided content and experts to staff booths, where youth could try out low impact aerobics, weight resistance training, and power walks with pedometers. Other tables discussed nutrition, substance abuse, pregnancy prevention, and health literacy. Sessions were so popular that some teens tried to sign up multiple times. Rather than turn them away, Farnworth invited them to volunteer. “They got a boost in confidence, and we gained volunteer support staff!” In a community where 1 in 5 teens is obese, this strong turnout is a real triumph for the Library. “It’s just changed everything,” remarked Farnworth, who is finding ways to incorporate physical activity and health into all her programs, where teen participation is, consequently, way up. |
A Portneuf Family Engages in Weight Resistance Training at the Portneuf District Library
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To read about more successful Get Real, Get Fit! and Fit for Life programs, visit the Library Showcase Archives by clicking here! |
