After over a year of working, learning and playing indoors, local organizations are trying to get more kids outside. The last time Vermont published the results to a youth risk behavior survey was back in 2019. Female students were two times more likely than males to report feeling sad or hopeless when they stopped doing fun activities. The executive director of the nonprofit Girls on the Run says after organizing dozens of programs over the years, simple exercise and social interaction can make a world’s difference – especially during the pandemic.“For eight weeks after school for an hour and a half each session twice a week, the girls learn about all kinds of life lessons – gratitude, positive self-talk, friendship, how to be a good community member,” said Rachel Desautels, the executive director of Girls on the Run Vermont.The nonprofit, based out of Williston, typically serves around 2,500 girls in the thirdto eighth grades across the state, but after last year’s season was canceled, they’re back this spring with around 1,000.Another program aimed at helping Vermont children is the Camp Pocono Trails’ Video Game Addiction I program. Tony Sparber runs the program based out of Pennsylvania and sees hundreds of kids every summer from all over the country, including dozens from right here in Vermont.Sparber says registration has reached its 350-person capacity for the first half of summer and is almost full for the second half. “They’re gonna learn about things like self-regulation, self-moderation, learn about the damages and the side effects,” said Sparber.
After over a year of working, learning and playing indoors, local organizations are trying to get more kids outside.
The last time Vermont published the results to a youth risk behavior survey was back in 2019. Female students were two times more likely than males to report feeling sad or hopeless when they stopped doing fun activities.
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The executive director of the nonprofit Girls on the Run says after organizing dozens of programs over the years, simple exercise and social interaction can make a world’s difference – especially during the pandemic.
“For eight weeks after school for an hour and a half each session twice a week, the girls learn about all kinds of life lessons – gratitude, positive self-talk, friendship, how to be a good community member,” said Rachel Desautels, the executive director of Girls on the Run Vermont.
The nonprofit, based out of Williston, typically serves around 2,500 girls in the thirdto eighth grades across the state, but after last year’s season was canceled, they’re back this spring with around 1,000.
Another program aimed at helping Vermont children is the Camp Pocono Trails’ Video Game Addiction I program.
Tony Sparber runs the program based out of Pennsylvania and sees hundreds of kids every summer from all over the country, including dozens from right here in Vermont.
Sparber says registration has reached its 350-person capacity for the first half of summer and is almost full for the second half.
“They’re gonna learn about things like self-regulation, self-moderation, learn about the damages and the side effects,” said Sparber.
