ReNEW: Revitalizing Native Energy & Wellness just 2 WEEKS AWAY!!!

JOIN US on June 6th, 2010 from 10AM-4PM at Admiral Baker Field for ReNEW: Revitalizing Native Energy & Wellness, A Community Celebration of Health & Fitness. ReNEW is this year's youth conference, and is breaking the barriers of what defines a "conference" by taking place outdoors and incorporating activities for the entire family! Come and participate in the myriad of sports activities, traditional arts/crafts, dancing, fun games (like tug-o-war and health bingo), and of course FOOD FOOD FOOD! Healthy options will be available, and since ReNEW is a community celebration, potluck items are welcomed and encouraged! For more information, click to enlarge the flyer above, or leave a comment and we'll respond in due time. Feel free to pass the word along and we hope to see you come out for a day of good food, good people, and good fun!

When Health Circle becomes an impromptu dance party...

Our Health Circle topic today was "Understanding Physical Fitness: Finding Your Muscles." After learning about different muscle groups and exercises for them (those groups and corresponding exercises are listed on "Alex," whom Daniella is smiling with to the left), we decided to work out by having an impromptu dance party! We started with the hokey pokey, then moved on to the cha cha slide, achy breaky heart, electric slide, and other dances (including whatever Rachel, Gio, Alejandra and Michelle are doing in the pic at right). Check out more impromptu dance party pics in our photo album.

Healthy, tasty summer snacks.

Today, we made easy snacks that youth can make with minimal adult assistance. They are healthy and delicious alternatives that take almost no time and effort! Youth Counselor Erica Charley, Lissette, Daniella, Bella, and Youth Center Program Coordinator Dr. Cain pose in front of smoothies (with strawberries, blueberries, pineapple, and...spinach!), crudités (fancy word for "cut up vegetables"), cheese & crackers, and a chicken salad (similar to this recipe, except with regular yogurt and the addition of craisins and piñons). Try these and other ideas at home!

Lunchtime fun with fellow staff.

Staff from all departments of the San Diego American Indian Health Center--Medical, Dental, Fiscal, Administrative, Behavioral Health and the Youth Center--joined together for a deli lunch, accentuated by Prince and other 80s phenoms playing on the speakers in the background.  We're hoping that these fun, total-Center staff get-togethers become a more regular thing!

May 2010: "Spring Time!/Getting Ready for Summer!"

Our theme for this fifth (5th) month of the year is "Spring Time!/Getting Ready for Summer!" This means--pending rain and that occasional cold spell--we'll be going outside for various activities more often to acclimate ourselves before the summer heat hits.

Among the spring-type things we'll be partaking in are our weekly boot camps and walks, as well as activities focusing on summer safety and healthy summer snacks you can prepare before outings to the beach, powwows, camping, etc. We will also be watching "warm weather" movies, including Avatar and Disney's Earth during our Friday movies & discussion. Check out the Monthly Calendar for more information.