Introduction:
Why is this an Important Program? 		Artiritis Foundation

 

Even though osteoporosis affects mostly "older" people, there are two major reasons why is this an important program for girls and young women:

  • Each person has a maximum bone mass she or he can obtain. It is important to realize this goal. Girl Scouts are growing! Now is the time for them to learn what they can do to promote the growth of a healthy skeleton and reach a maximum bone mass.
  • We all have older persons in our lives who are important to us. Osteoporosis is a disease that may affect them. As the Girl Scouts learn about osteoporosis, they will share this awareness with persons important to them, like their mothers and grandmothers. They also have an opportunity to involve these persons in their patch project.
This program provides these girls and young women an opportunity to make changes in their habits or lifestyle when it counts - at the time when their bodies are in the process of reaching their peak bone mass and when calcium and exercise can raise this peak. By the late teens, gains in bone mass are small. After age 24, gains in bone mass are minimal. By age 30 the peak bone mass has been established.

Most Girl Scouts recognize the connection between their actions and consequences. Bone Builders shows the scouts that actions now can have positive or negative consequences in the future.

Because the consequences for the Girl Scouts are far removed from their current actions, involvement of the Girl Scouts with other family members and friends brings relevance to the message that exercise is essential and calcium counts! Also, by teaching others about osteoporosis, the message to the Girl Scouts themselves is stronger.

Bone Builders offers scouts this opportunity in two ways. Older scouts can educate younger scouts by holding events such as the mini-camp. All scouts can promote osteoporosis awareness by telling other members of their families about the Bone Builders activities and involving them in the activities.

Next: Guiding Principles



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