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Through meaningful collaborations and innovative programs, Intermountain Health St. Mary’s Regional Hospital is shaping the future of Mesa County’s health by nurturing confidence, resilience, and well-being in the next generation.
The hospital collaborated with the Western Slope chapter of Girls on the Run to provide health education to 26 girls aged 8-11 during their summer camp in early June at a local science museum.
The Girls on the Run program focuses on empowering girls to believe in themselves and their capabilities, both mentally and physically. Volunteer coaches facilitate lessons that blend physical activity with life skills development, including managing emotions, fostering friendships, and expressing empathy.
“Our overall mission to incorporate movement while learning about important life skills and social skills that can be from making friends, making good decisions, realizing that emotions are OK to have and how to handle those emotions in a safe and confident way,” said Brittany Markert, Girls on the Run camp leader.
In addition to sponsoring the week-long camp, St. Mary’s caregivers volunteered as coaches, engaging the girls in a different health topic each day. Topics ranged from the importance of wearing a helmet and looking both ways before crossing the road to learning about healthy eating and staying active.
“Teaching children healthy habits early plants seeds that take root and grow into lifelong well-being, shaping their physical, mental, and emotional health for years to come. What we instill in them at a young age becomes the foundation they build upon, enabling them to thrive and make mindful choices as they navigate life’s challenges,” said Victoria Grasmick, Community Health Program manager.
St. Mary’s chaplain Alan Amos taught a lesson on managing our emotions and used the popular movie, Inside Out, to illustrate and normalize the “rollercoaster of emotions” all humans experience.
“The whole group discussed feelings by learning to ask ‘Is what we’re feeling real? Is what we’re feeling true?’ and they were very enthusiastic,” Amos said.
The girls also participated in an exercise activity with physical therapist Keesah Matz and learned about the importance of healthy eating habits from clinical nutritionist Erika Forsman.
“I think it is an impactful program that is reaching girls at a very vulnerable age,” Grasmick said.
When asked what they loved or learned during camp week with Girls on the Run, many girls shouted, “making friends,” followed by enthusiastic endorsements of learning how to make slime in the Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math education.
St. Mary’s plans to provide Girls on the Run coaches with First Aid and CPR training this fall. They plan to host two camps in 2026.