Purpose: To educate Cadette & Senior Girl Scouts about osteoporosis, including risk factors, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment.
Requirements: Complete 8 activities, including the 4 with a single asterisk (*), and 2 with a double asterisk (**).
We take many things for granted in life. For instance, have you ever thought about your bones? Bones are the framework of your body. Strong bones will help you look and feel your best. Osteoporosis, or porous bones, is a gradual loss of bone mass that causes bones to become brittle and susceptible to fracture. You can prevent osteoporosis from happening to you when you get older by building strong bones now.
To get the best experience from this interest project you will need a mentor
(someone to offer advice and guidance). This project should be done as a troop/group project.
To obtain your patch, you must complete a Best Bones Pre-project Questionnaire
before starting the project and a Post-project Questionnaire after finishing the project.
You may download the Best Bones Patch Booklet to print
out for each girl. It includes the requirements, Pre-project and Post-project Questionnaires, Risk
Assessment, Exercise Log and Calcium Intake Worksheet.
Complete the Pre-Project Questionnaire before continuing with badge requirements. Revisit the questionnaire after completion and discuss what you have learned.
* Learn about osteoporosis. How it is diagnosed, treated and prevented? Discuss your findings with your mentors and peers.
* Complete the Risk Assessment Tool to find out your risk of developing osteoporosis. Have another person fill out the Risk Assessment Tool, such as your mother, grandmother or other family member. Compare your answers. Discuss with your peers which factors you can control and those you cannot.
* Learn about the role of calcium in osteoporosis, and how to ensure you're getting the recommended amount of calcium. Have your troop/group, including yourself, complete the Calcium Worksheet and evaluate your current calcium intake. Based on the results, have each person develop a plan to increase calcium in her diet, if needed.
* Learn about weight-bearing exercise and how it relates to osteoporosis. Keep an Exercise Log for one week. Calculate the time you spent in weight-bearing exercise. Develop a plan to increase your weight-bearing activities, if needed.
Learn about densitometry and other ways of diagnosing osteoporosis. Discuss the diagnosis of osteoporosis with your troop/group.
Learn about health professionals who work with osteoporosis.
Learn more about one of the following topics: Bone remodeling, weightlessness and astronauts, or current treatments for osteoporosis. Share this information with your troop/peers.
Communicate with your legislators about the importance of osteoporosis as a woman's health issue.
Do one of the following activities only after you have completed activities #1, #2, #3 and #4.
** Plan and present an educational program on osteoporosis to middle-aged adults.
** Compile a directory of osteoporosis services provided in your area. Review the directory with your mentor. Develop a list of agencies and individuals with whom you can share the directory, and distribute the directory to them.
Evaluate the safety of your own home, or the home of your grandmother, other elderly relative, or elderly friend using a home safety guide. Discuss your findings with your mentor. Develop a plan with recommendations for changes to ensure a safe environment.
Plan a health fair for your community.
Develop a public service announcement (P.S.A.) to distribute information about osteoporosis.
