Scarborough Wellness

The mission of Scarborough Wellness is to promote good health among Scarborough citizens by (1) raising awareness about the importance of healthy eating and physical activity, and (2) undertaking specific activities that promote these activities across the community in order to improve the health of the town and prevent the onset of disease.

Background / Brief History

Scarborough Wellness was founded in 2004 as a voluntary effort of local citizens with an interest in promoting health in the town by increasing physical activity and healthy eating. The group works in partnership with Communities Promoting Health, a local Healthy Maine Partnership, and with Scarborough Community Services as well as several other key community partners, though it is a voluntary effort of citizens distinct from town government. Scarborough Wellness has undertaken a series of specific events and ongoing activities that aim to improve health in the town using a community-wide approach, and bringing in all types of individuals, including both young and old. Activities are offered at no cost and include an emphasis on the role of the family in improving health through a wide range of events, with a particular interest in school health. The effort builds on existing health improvement efforts in the town, most notably Community Service activities, and aims for actions that are fun, fast, and easy.

Scarborough Wellness Events and Activities

Since initiation in 2004, Scarborough Wellness has successfully conducted several town-wide events promoting physical activity for people of all ages:

o Summerfest (August 2004 ‚Äì 2006)

Each year, Scarborough Wellness has participated in the town‚Äôs ‚ÄúSummerfest‚Äù activities, sharing information about the Wellness initiative, and sponsoring interactive activities to promote health. At Summerfest 2006, Scarborough Wellness hosted an interactive exhibit of ‚ÄúDance Dance Revolution‚Äù, a fast-paced dance game that uses video technology to engage youth in physical activity.

o 1^st Annual Bridge to Health Walk (October 2004)

Attracting over 100 people and conducted in partnership with the Eastern Trail Alliance, the Walk was the initial ‚Äúkick-off‚Äù event for Scarborough Wellness, promoting physical activity and celebrating the opening of the Eastern Trail Bridge over the Scarborough Marsh.

o Winter Wellness Festival (January 2005)

An interactive, daylong event was held at Camp Ketcha, featuring a series of lectures and demonstrations on health-related topics and an exhibit hall with information from health-related local vendors. With over 200 people in attendance, the event also served as the initial fund raising event, raising approximately $2000 to support future activities of the group.

o Spring Into Wellness Workout (April 2005)

The group led a 2-hour community workout featuring four different types of physical activity (aerobics, ‚ÄùZumba‚Äù, yoga, and Tai Chi) for all ages; the group also partnered with Hannaford to promote their ‚ÄúSpring into Wellness‚Äù health fair held at the store later that day.

o 2^nd Annual Bridge to Health Walk (October 2005)

The Walk was again held on the Eastern Trail over the Scarborough Marsh, and (despite bad weather!) brought out approximately 80 people of all ages to walk across the Marsh and promote physical activity in the community.

o 1^st Annual Wellness (‚ÄúWellie‚Äù) Award (January 2006)

In its efforts to promote health in the town, Scarborough Wellness created the ‚ÄúWellie‚Äù, an annual award to an organization or individual that has made a significant contribution to promoting health in the town over the previous year. The first Wellie Award was presented to the Blue Point School for their leadership, education, and ongoing contributions to the health of students and families at the school over the past year.

o Wellness Week (April 2006)

The Scarborough Public Library partnered with Scarborough Wellness to conduct a series of educational presentations and demonstrations offered to the public for ‚ÄúWellness Week‚Äù.

o Greater Portland MS Walk (April 2006)

Scarborough Wellness partnered with local organizers to promote the Greater Portland MS Walk held in Scarborough. The Scarborough Wellness team enjoyed the 6.8-mile walk to promote good health and a good cause.

o Summer "Healthy Kids" Program (Summer 2005, 2006)
In collaboration with the Scarborough Public Library's Summer Reading
Program, Scarborough Wellness produced weekly activity sheets featuring safety items, physical activity ideas, and nutrition suggestions that kids could check off as they tried them. Over 140 activity sheets were returned during the most recent 9-week program with physical activity prizes awarded randomly to one participant each week.

o 2^nd Annual Bridge to Health Walk (October 2006)

The Walk was again held on the Eastern Trail over the Scarborough Marsh, and despite another round of less-than-ideal weather, brought out people of all ages to walk across the Marsh and promote physical activity in the community.

o School Wellness Policy (2006)

Members of Scarborough Wellness were actively involved in the development of the School Wellness Policy that was adopted by the School Board in January 2006, and the associated Wellness Policy Regulations. This policy and the regulations represent a very positive step in making our schools healthier, and will result in a comprehensive set of recommendations that will promote healthier schools and students.

Scarborough Wellness also supports a range of ongoing activities, including contributing a monthly wellness article in a local paper, presenting educational seminars and posting educational wellness displays at the public library, offering educational health seminars, and being actively involved in the development of the local school wellness policy.


	*About Scarborough Wellness*
	The mission of Scarborough Wellness is to promote good health among Scarborough citizens by (1) raising awareness about the importance of healthy eating and physical activity, and (2) undertaking specific activities that promote these activities across the community in order to improve the health of the town and prevent the onset of disease. Background / Brief History Scarborough Wellness was founded in 2004 as a voluntary effort of local citizens with an interest in promoting health in the town by increasing physical activity and healthy eating. The group works in partnership with Communities Promoting Health, a local Healthy Maine Partnership, and with Scarborough Community Services as well as several other key community partners, though it is a voluntary effort of citizens distinct from town government. Scarborough Wellness has undertaken a series of specific events and ongoing activities that aim to improve health in the town using a community-wide approach, and bringing in all types of individuals, including both young and old. Activities are offered at no cost and include an emphasis on the role of the family in improving health through a wide range of events, with a particular interest in school health. The effort builds on existing health improvement efforts in the town, most notably Community Service activities, and aims for actions that are fun, fast, and easy. Scarborough Wellness Events and Activities Since initiation in 2004, Scarborough Wellness has successfully conducted several town-wide events promoting physical activity for people of all ages: o Summerfest (August 2004 ‚Äì 2006) Each year, Scarborough Wellness has participated in the town‚Äôs ‚ÄúSummerfest‚Äù activities, sharing information about the Wellness initiative, and sponsoring interactive activities to promote health. At Summerfest 2006, Scarborough Wellness hosted an interactive exhibit of ‚ÄúDance Dance Revolution‚Äù, a fast-paced dance game that uses video technology to engage youth in physical activity. o 1^st Annual Bridge to Health Walk (October 2004) Attracting over 100 people and conducted in partnership with the Eastern Trail Alliance, the Walk was the initial ‚Äúkick-off‚Äù event for Scarborough Wellness, promoting physical activity and celebrating the opening of the Eastern Trail Bridge over the Scarborough Marsh. o Winter Wellness Festival (January 2005) An interactive, daylong event was held at Camp Ketcha, featuring a series of lectures and demonstrations on health-related topics and an exhibit hall with information from health-related local vendors. With over 200 people in attendance, the event also served as the initial fund raising event, raising approximately $2000 to support future activities of the group. o Spring Into Wellness Workout (April 2005) The group led a 2-hour community workout featuring four different types of physical activity (aerobics, ‚ÄùZumba‚Äù, yoga, and Tai Chi) for all ages; the group also partnered with Hannaford to promote their ‚ÄúSpring into Wellness‚Äù health fair held at the store later that day. o 2^nd Annual Bridge to Health Walk (October 2005) The Walk was again held on the Eastern Trail over the Scarborough Marsh, and (despite bad weather!) brought out approximately 80 people of all ages to walk across the Marsh and promote physical activity in the community. o 1^st Annual Wellness (‚ÄúWellie‚Äù) Award (January 2006) In its efforts to promote health in the town, Scarborough Wellness created the ‚ÄúWellie‚Äù, an annual award to an organization or individual that has made a significant contribution to promoting health in the town over the previous year. The first Wellie Award was presented to the Blue Point School for their leadership, education, and ongoing contributions to the health of students and families at the school over the past year. o Wellness Week (April 2006) The Scarborough Public Library partnered with Scarborough Wellness to conduct a series of educational presentations and demonstrations offered to the public for ‚ÄúWellness Week‚Äù. o Greater Portland MS Walk (April 2006) Scarborough Wellness partnered with local organizers to promote the Greater Portland MS Walk held in Scarborough. The Scarborough Wellness team enjoyed the 6.8-mile walk to promote good health and a good cause. o Summer "Healthy Kids" Program (Summer 2005, 2006) In collaboration with the Scarborough Public Library's Summer Reading Program, Scarborough Wellness produced weekly activity sheets featuring safety items, physical activity ideas, and nutrition suggestions that kids could check off as they tried them. Over 140 activity sheets were returned during the most recent 9-week program with physical activity prizes awarded randomly to one participant each week. o 2^nd Annual Bridge to Health Walk (October 2006) The Walk was again held on the Eastern Trail over the Scarborough Marsh, and despite another round of less-than-ideal weather, brought out people of all ages to walk across the Marsh and promote physical activity in the community. o School Wellness Policy (2006) Members of Scarborough Wellness were actively involved in the development of the School Wellness Policy that was adopted by the School Board in January 2006, and the associated Wellness Policy Regulations. This policy and the regulations represent a very positive step in making our schools healthier, and will result in a comprehensive set of recommendations that will promote healthier schools and students. Scarborough Wellness also supports a range of ongoing activities, including contributing a monthly wellness article in a local paper, presenting educational seminars and posting educational wellness displays at the public library, offering educational health seminars, and being actively involved in the development of the local school wellness policy.