(Chelsea Update would like to thank Matt Pegouskie for the information in this story.)
A partnership between 5 Healthy Towns Foundation (5HF), Chelsea School District (CSD), Chelsea Wellness Center (CWC) and Lake Trust Credit Union plans to do something about the frequently asked question “What is there to do?”
And, four Chelsea High School students are working with CWC staff to develop a new wellness program for youth, by youth. They are freshman Sarah Tillman, sophomore Charleye Perry, junior Robert Stump, and senior Ben Zivask, and they are tasked with building wellness programs for youth ages 12-18.
The project will allow students to connect with their peers in a non-classroom setting, and provide physical and mental health enhancing programs to a wide array of students.
These four students (and those who follow them in the future) will take full responsibility for building the youth-focused programs at Chelsea Wellness Center. They will also be responsible for project governance, determining youth program needs, business planning, sustainability, marketing, implementation and evaluation.
The students will learn valuable, future-enhancing skills and teach those around them how we can best empower students.
Funds from Lake Trust Credit Union were granted to support a school advisor for this project and Matt Pedlow is serving in that role. CWC Fitness Manager Kari Goorhouse will oversee the project from within CWC.
“Lake Trust reached out to us and offered to fund a health/youth related project,” said Amy Heydlauff, CEO of 5HF in a press release.
“It’s been on our mind to build more youth focused programming for some time. But we wanted students to do it. The Lake Trust offer was perfect for such a project. Now that we’re underway, it’s affirming to watch these capable students think it all through,” she said.
According to the students, the wellness center is giving them a lot of freedom to decide what they’ll do. “We already took a survey of the girls in the high school to determine their interests,” said Charleye Perry.
In response to their survey, the students will begin high school Women’s Yoga class, starting Feb. 26. The class, held on Wednesdays at 3:30 pm, will be drop in and will cost students $5 per session. Bonnie Bairley will lead the sessions.
The students are also planning a fundraising pool party for high school juniors in February or March. They will make additional recommendations to 5HF after the kick-off activities take place.
