Going for the gold: Girl Scout to host health, fitness open house
By:
Jamie Hult, Staff writer
Girl Scout and Brandon Valley High School dance team member Stephanie Kessler is earning her Gold Award by hosting the Fit ‘n Fun Fest from 1-4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 15 at Celebration United Methodist Church in Brandon. Jill Meier/Journal file photo
Stephanie Kessler is passionate about fitness and health.
So when the time came for the 17-year-old to pick a project for her Girl Scout Gold Award, her interests helped narrow down the choices to a free community event dedicated to health.
Keswsler is hosting Brandon’s first Fit ‘n Fun Fest, set for 1-4 p.m. Dec. 15 at Celebration United Methodist Church.
“I think people will remember this,” she said. “It’ll be fun and educational. I think everyone will get a lot out of it, no matter what age, and learn something new.”
The Brandon Valley High School senior has invested more than 80 hours into her Gold Award project – the highest honor bestowed in Girl Scouts – building a website, planning activities for the fitness fest, crafting posters, picking out prizes for the various activities and lining up vendors.
The Fit ‘n Fun Fest will offer six, 30-minute fitness classes and a variety of activities and games for all ages on topics like fitness, nutrition, illnesses, injuries and product safety.
Kessler has some interesting surprises in store for attendees on some of the products they may use.
“A lot of brands like to present their products as healthy, but they don’t tell you about the hidden ingredients,” she said.
Kessler has been a Girl Scout since kindergarten, and she’s been taking dance classes at Allison’s Dance Academy since she was 5. She’s a member of Brandon Valley High’s competitive dance team, too.
Free fitness classes will include pilates from 1-1:30 p.m., dance fitness from 1:30-2 p.m., hip hop from 2-2:30 p.m., martial arts from 2:30-3 p.m., general fitness from 3-3:30 p.m. and yoga from 3:30-4 p.m.
Circuit Fitness and Allison’s Dance Academy will lead classes, and Beauty Counter and DoTerra Essential Oils are lined up to offer product info, too.
Kids’ activities will include face painting and temporary tattoos, and there will be information on healthy apps and products to try.
“I think my health is pretty important to me,” Kessler said. “I’m pretty passionate about it.”
To learn more about the Fit ‘n Fun Fest, visit Healthy You on Facebook @ health.fitfun.
