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July is such an exciting time for BStrong Together as we mark the beginning of our third year. What a wonderful two years it has been!
In those two years, we have hosted hundreds of parents, educators, and community members at our BStrong Together Parent Coffees, Community Conversations, Speaker Events, and Workshops. We have delivered our message of the importance of living a healthy, positive lifestyle to thousands of students throughout the Barrington area and brought together families and community members at our annual Joe Kelsch Memorial Run/Walk & Family Fun Festivals.
With the generous support of the Barrington Area Community Foundation, we piloted the new BStrong Together Conversation Circles – ongoing, professionally facilitated conversation groups who came together monthly during the school year to talk about the joys and challenges of raising children and teens in today’s complex world. The Conversation Circles fostered support and connection among group members, as well as provided participants with helpful skills, techniques, and tools to implement within their own families.
Through our Time-2-Talk campaign, we shared the critical message to parents and other adults involved in the lives of our children throughout the community that it isn’t one, 60-minute conversation, but 60, one-minute conversations with our children about complex and sometimes difficult topics that make the difference.
As a community coalition organization, we have worked with dozens of organizations that share our mission and are honored to have the opportunity to partner with so many wonderful, talented, dedicated professionals working to support our community.
All of this would not have been possible without the tireless leadership of our founding Board President Melissa Buckley. BStrong Together would truly not be what it is today without her vision, dedication, leadership, and care. Thank you to Melissa for all that she has done to enhance the lives of our children, families, and community and for her dedication and passion for BStrong Together. Her impact on the health and wellness of our community's children can not be measured.
We would also like to thank founding Board Members Terri Longo, Anne Horwath, and Lisa Witek as they, too, step down as our second year comes to a close. Your commitment to our mission and your talents and passions have been integral to our success. Thank you for all that you have done!
And now we turn our sights on YEAR THREE!!
We are excited for the year to come under the leadership of our new Board President, Rita Rippentrop, and Vice-President, Cheryl Barcal, and welcome new Board Members Betsy Wintringer, Kim Rapach, and Dr. Chris Bibby as they join current Board Members Joann Johnson, Nicole Koviak, Rafael Malpica, Amy Winkelman, Gene Dawson, Jeanne Hanson, and Tony Au.
The BStrong Together Programming Committee is hard at work preparing for the wide variety of programs and events that we will bring to the community during the 2019-20 school year, including an expansion of the Conversation Circles to include two additional evening Circles to better meet the needs of working parents. The Marketing and Communications Committee is developing helpful informational and educational materials to be distributed throughout the Barrington area in support of our mission and the BStrong Together Run/Walk & Family Fun Festival Committee is putting the final touches on the 3rd Annual Joe Kelsch Memorial Run/Walk & Family Fun Festival to be held on Sunday, September 8th in Citizens Park.
Thank you for all of your support over the past two years and we look forward with gratitude and excitement for the year to come.
We hope you are enjoying a wonderful summer with time to connect and play with family and friends. Wishing you a very happy 4th of July!
Kyle Kick
Executive Director
BStrong Together
To learn more about BStrong Together, our mission and programs, or to volunteer, please visit www.bstrongtogether.org
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Join us in our mission to enhance the health and well-being of our community's children and youth in mind, body, and spirit by making a donation to BStrong Together.
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The Missing Wellness Ingredient is Community
"'I believe that community is both the missing link and the way forward. In fact, I think “ Community IS medicine.'"
Read about the 4 pieces of behavioral advice everyone needs:
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Doing Stuff with Your Kids (Not Giving Them Stuff) Will Make Them Happier
"What we experience together connects us. It builds our family units and become treasured memories far more than any toy or gadget."
Click here to learn more about the power of experiences. |
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10 Awesome Staycation Ideas for Families
"Are you staying at home this summer vacation—or planning a mini trip just outside of the city limits? You don't have to travel far to have fun. We've rounded up some awesome (and budget-friendly) ways to entertain the kids during your staycation."
Read more on how to plan some fun without breaking the bank or hitting the road!
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100+ Things for Teens to Do This Summer
"Summer has arrived, school is out, and the sun's hot and shining. You're a teenager and you've got tons of spare time, but you just don't know what to do with it. Summer can be a fun time, but it get boring when you run out of ideas.
Here are 100 things for teens to do over summer break."
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23 Nature Activities for Kids to Create, Explore & Learn
"These nature activities are ways to put the oomph in getting outside! Explore, find new things in nature, get creative in how you use it and just have fun!"
Check out these fun summer activities. |
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Today’s Parents Think They Lack the Time or Skill to Throw Dinner Parties. They’re Missing Out.
"Hardly a week goes by without an article about how Americans are isolated and lonely. One way this is manifesting itself, sociologists say, is the decline of the dinner party. 'We hear having dinner is the most important thing you can do for your kids, but the message is always what you do with your kids. It’s not tied to the community.'"
Read more on the simple art of modern day meal sharing.
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Barrington Farmer's Market Is Open!
Thursdays, 3:00 - 7:00 pm
June 13th - October 17th
Park Avenue & Cook Street
A wonderful family event, the Barrington Farmers' Market includes a wide array of locally grown fruits and vegetables, flowers and plants, artisanal products, entertainment, and more!
For more information, visit the Barrington Farmer's Market. |
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"Rachel Simmons has been researching young women for two decades, and her research plainly shows that girl competence does not equal girl confidence—nor does it equal happiness, resilience, or self-worth. Backed by vivid case studies, Simmons warns that we have raised a generation of young women so focused on achieving that they avoid healthy risks, overthink setbacks, and suffer from imposter syndrome, believing they are frauds. As they spend more time projecting an image of effortless perfection on social media, these girls are prone to withdraw from the essential relationships that offer solace and support and bolster self-esteem.
Enough As She Is offers a clear understanding of this devastating problem and provides practical parenting advice—including teaching girls self-compassion as an alternative to self-criticism, how to manage overthinking, resist the constant urge to compare themselves to peers, take healthy risks, navigate toxic elements of social media, prioritize self-care, and seek support when they need it. Enough As She Is sounds an alarm to parents and educators, arguing that young women can do more than survive adolescence. They can thrive. Enough As She Is shows us how."
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Find Help...If you or someone you know needs help, you’re in the right place. Healthy Barrington can help you find local mental health and substance abuse resources. The Healthier Barrington Coalition is a partnership of 25 organizations that work together to improve quality of life in our community.
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Click here to learn more about ways that you can be involved in BStrong Together!
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Click here for our BStrong Together Community Calendar
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Barrington Family Fitness Run
Wednesday, July 4th
7:00 am, Kids' Run Start Time
7:15 am, 5K and 10K Run Start Time
Corner of Park and Cook Streets
Barrington
Start off the July 4th festivities in downtown Barrington with this summer holiday tradition. Enjoy the challenging and scenic race courses and support the arts in Barrington. Proceeds benefit the Barrington Cultural Commission. Click here for more info. and to register for the Kids' Run, 5k or 10k race.
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Strong Together is pleased to partner with Advocate Good Shepherd Health and Fitness Center to host the Kids' Fun Run for children 10 and under before the start of the 10k run and 5k run/walk. We'll set up the course markers, cheer on the kids, and hand out medals at the finish line. Bring your cheering voices and pom poms to support our runners and BStrong Together.
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Meet & Greet with the SOUL Harbour Puppies!
July 11th & 27th
August 22nd
4:00 - 5:30 pm
Barrington Farmer's Market
Park Avenue & Cook Street
Join SOUL Harbour Ranch, Barrington Youth & Family Services, and BStrong Together as we host visits all summer with SOUL Harbour Ranch's ponies and puppies, learn more about SOUL Harbour Ranch and the SOUL Buddies Animal Therapy Club at Barrington High School, as well as the resources available from BStrong Together & Barrington Youth & Family Services. This wonderful family event is perfect for all ages! |
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National Night Out
Thursday, August 8th
6:00 – 8:30 pm
Cook & Station Streets
Barrington
Join BStrong Together at Barrington's National Night Out.
Hosted by the Barrington Police and Fire Departments, this fun, exciting, and educational night out is perfect for the entire family.
Kids can see (and climb into!) police and fire vehicles, receive a bike and helmet safety check, as well as digital fingerprinting and ID kits. Family games include a bingo and hula hoop contest, trackless train rides, face painting, and a watermelon eating contest.
National Night Out is designed to heighten crime and drug prevention awareness, generate support and participation in local anti-crime efforts, and strengthen neighborhood spirit and community relations.
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Harvesting & Learning with Smart Farm & BStrong Together
Saturday, August 10th
9:00 am – 12:00 pm
Smart Farm
400 W State Rt. Hwy 22
Join BStrong Together and Smart Farm of Barrington for a morning of family fun. Bring the whole family (all ages from 0-99 are welcome) and come get your hands dirty helping Smart Farm harvest the bounty from their growing season. Stay to make and eat an easy, healthy family snack and take home a list of late summer snack ideas.
Drop by for a bit or stay for the morning – come on over whenever you can! Please remember to dress for the weather and plan to get dirty!
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Run/Walk & Family Fun Festival
Sunday, September 8th
8:00 – 10:30 am
Citizens Park
Barrington
Join BStrong Together and Broncos Committed for this wonderful community event which includes 5k and 1-mile timed runs, place medal awards, community walk, kids' fun races, entertainment from Bob the DJ, games and crafts with Broncos Committed mentors from BHS, and fun for all ages to benefit BStrong Together.
Register by Aug. 25th for $5 off your run or walk registration fees!
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BAL Volunteer Days at Smart Farm
Teen Days: Thursday, July 11th & Tuesday, August 13th
Family Days: Thursday, July 18th & Thursday, August 8th
Help make the world and our community a greener place. Join Barrington Area Library as we host a morning of gardening at Smart Farm of Barrington. Register for teen or family days and dress for outdoor work.
Smart Farm of Barrington is a volunteer-run, non-profit organization whose mission is two-fold: to grow fresh produce for our neighbors in need and to be an educational resource on sustainable gardening practices and healthy eating.
If you’d like to make a difference in the Barrington community, need to serve service hours for a church or high school organization, or just have a love for gardening, please join us! Registration Required.
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Barrington Cruise Night
Every Thursday, May 30th - Aug 29th
6:30 pm
Harris Bank Parking Lot
South Cook Street (south of Lake-Cook Rd)
Barrington
Bring your family, friends, and neighbors to downtown Barrington every Thursday evening for the 16th season of the weekly car show, Cruise Night! The event is FREE. Each week there will be food and ice cream vendors, fantastic prizes, and entertainment. For more info, click here.
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What to do in Chicago in July
Check out this great list of the best things to do in Chicago this July, including, free, family-friendly, as well as nighttime activities, all updated for 2019.
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