HI

 

Another update- Seeing as I want this event to be free of cost for the students, I will have to be creative with ways on which to fundraise to help support this idea!

I have been in contact with a local store who would be willing to make a bulk order of custom shirts that I can sell in order to help support the fundings that will be needed in order to help this vision come true!

I have designed a t-shirt that is simple and embodies the message I want to spread. This is the design below, FINGERS CROSSED if this idea gets approved, then I would love if anyone contacted me with regards to showing their support

 

(GET ON BOARD EMPOWERING YOUTH)

 

 

HI

 

Another update- Seeing as I want this event to be free of cost for the students, I will have to be creative with ways on which to fundraise to help support this idea!

I have been in contact with a local store who would be willing to make a bulk order of custom shirts that I can sell in order to help support the fundings that will be needed in order to help this vision come true!

I have designed a t-shirt that is simple and embodies the message I want to spread. This is the design below, FINGERS CROSSED if this idea gets approved, then I would love if anyone contacted me with regards to showing their support

 

(GET ON BOARD EMPOWERING YOUTH)

 

 

“The enhancement of physical and mental development of children is certainly the most important contribution of sports for children. “

 

I thought I should write a blog post explaining WHY I am wanting to create an event for students/ children/ honestly anyone- encouraging physical activity, and the importance of it! I was reading an article about the “Novak Djokovic Foundation” and it listed off so many great reasons as to why sport/ physical activity is important for children. I have placed the link at the end so please to check it out!

This article I was reading says it best that sport is “a powerful tool that breaks down all the barriers and helps us feel good about ourselves, both physically and mentally.”

Being a part of an organization, creates relationships. You become friends with individuals you may never have singled out before to form a bond with,  and it allows children to become comfortable with people of various ages (coaches, team-mates parents/ siblings etc…) This helps with children’s development of social behaviour, and brings together people from all over the world through a common interest.

https://novakdjokovicfoundation.org/the-importance-of-sports-for-children/

“The enhancement of physical and mental development of children is certainly the most important contribution of sports for children. “

 

I thought I should write a blog post explaining WHY I am wanting to create an event for students/ children/ honestly anyone- encouraging physical activity, and the importance of it! I was reading an article about the “Novak Djokovic Foundation” and it listed off so many great reasons as to why sport/ physical activity is important for children. I have placed the link at the end so please to check it out!

This article I was reading says it best that sport is “a powerful tool that breaks down all the barriers and helps us feel good about ourselves, both physically and mentally.”

Being a part of an organization, creates relationships. You become friends with individuals you may never have singled out before to form a bond with,  and it allows children to become comfortable with people of various ages (coaches, team-mates parents/ siblings etc…) This helps with children’s development of social behaviour, and brings together people from all over the world through a common interest.

https://novakdjokovicfoundation.org/the-importance-of-sports-for-children/

 

I have been in contact with the founders of “get on board” from Ahousaht to see if they would be willing to “get on board” / team up to create an event to encourage physical activity in the community through surfing and skateboarding etc… in the local Sooke school district. My vision for this is to utilize the amazing resource that the people in the Sooke community have with the ocean being so close, to help promote physical activity for students.

I want students to get the opportunity to see what sport does for a community, and for not only physical health, but mental health as well. Sport reduces stress, and helps build positive self- esteem in children that is crucial to helping a student in school and in life.

I have been trying to contact a lot of Local artists on the Island who are passionate about positive imaging and empowering youth, to get involved in documenting this event as well as promoting it.

I have been talking with Local photographer Bryanna Bradley from Tofino who is a well known surf photographer, who says she would be interested in photographing this event if it happens, as well, she was willing to let me use some of her photographs to help promote this project. Some of her work is posted below.

The aim of this project is for it to be fully “non profit” so that the focus can be all about the children, so fortunately I have also contacted a media company who said that they would love to come and document the event free of charge (YAY!)

During my time at my practicum school, I have developed great relationships with my students, as well as some of my coworkers, especially with my Vice principal (soon to be principal) because of our mutual love for surfing. Him and I have been talking and collaborating ideas of how to involve students in the surf community to help youth build greater self-esteem, and a sense of community throughout the school.

My original inquiry project was focusing on girls, and empowering them in confidence and self-esteem, but I feel as though I could take this further and develop this confidence in all students, in all youth.

I have been reading this website/ movement created in Ahousaht called “Get On Board” and this is their summary of what their mission statement is all about:

Get on Board – Empowering youth one board at a time

“Get on Board is a registered non-profit organization which uses board sports-surf/skate/snow to develop social skills, self confidence and goal setting in youth. The very nature of board sports: physicality, creativity, courage, and self discipline help youth develop life skills.
To improve as a boarder you will fall many times. As in life when you fall you have to get back up. The resilience you learn in developing skills as encouraged by our mentors will help you gain the confidence and self esteem you need to overcome many obstacles.
Get on Board helps youth connect to their schools and community through provision of organized teaching/learning programs, advocacy and outreach.”

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I love this idea of using surfing as a way to encourage physicality, creativity, courage and self discipline in youth to help them develop life skills, and is something I look forward to collaborating my ideas for this with my vice principal too!

 

For my first blog, I wanted to post a video to capture my idea and my passion for this inquiry project. My goal is to develop a greater understanding of how to empower young women in schools, to build their confidence, and to educate them on powerful women in history.