An Inside Scoop on F&M WLax’s Trip to LtN Panama
My name is Helen, and I am a recent graduate of Franklin & Marshall College, where I played on the women’s lacrosse team. In June, four of my F&M teammates and I got the opportunity to travel to Bocas for a week of service with LtN. I loved it so much, I even decided to push my flight and stay a few extra days. Here’s a look into how incredible our week was…
We landed on Sunday morning and spent the first two days getting to know Bocas and the LtN team. We explored the beach at Isla Carenero and took an excursion to Cayos Zapatilla on Monday, where we tried ‘deep boarding’ behind a boat and snorkeling in the nearby coral reefs. We saw tons of beautiful marine life, with the highlights being two nurse sharks and a stingray!
On Tuesday, we started our service project at the school on Isla Solarte. The school was in need of a new paint job on the surrounding fence and wall. We sanded down the rusted fence and painted throughout the morning, playing music and even getting to play a few games of soccer with the neighborhood kids. That afternoon, we had our first LtN lacrosse practice. It was amazing to meet the LtN kids, show them some of our own college drills, and play alongside them in practice.
Left to Right: Mary Pat, Helen, Sydney, Ally, and Sarah
We continued our service project at Isla Solarte on Wednesday and Thursday. When we finished, seeing the newly painted fence and walls was very rewarding and we were grateful to have made a difference for the school and its students. The school’s facelift brought a lot of smiles to the students and a revived feeling to the community.
That Thursday afternoon, we headed back to the main island for our final LtN lacrosse practice and watched in awe as a plane took off from the airstrip right next door, flying over our heads as we continued playing in the drills with the youth players.
On Friday, we visited the Wasteless World Recycling Center and learned about their work and mission to creatively combat waste issues on the island. We even got to try using some of their new machines! Throughout the week we took advantage of our free time by scheduling a group surf lesson and a scuba dive as well as trying local restaurants. We had a blast exploring the great waves and beautiful oceans surrounding the archipelago of Bocas del Toro.
Ally, Sarah, & Helen on their dive!
In my extra few days, I had the opportunity to help run English and P.E. classes at the elementary school since the students’ were fortunately back from vacation, as well as work on my newfound surfing skills and explore a jungle hike to a remote beach on Isla Bastimentos.
All in all, the five of us left Bocas with new friends, great experiences, and a deep connection to the Bocas del Toro community. We are so grateful for the opportunity to visit such a beautiful place and to support the important work of Lacrosse the Nations, and we want to thank the LtN Team for organizing this once in a lifetime trip and for showing us all that Bocas has to offer! We are looking forward to continuing to build a partnership between LtN and F&M Lacrosse and returning to Bocas in the future!
F&M girls with our LtN Panama staff and the principal of Escuela Solarte
Celebrate National Physical Fitness & Sports Month!
National Physical Fitness and Sports Month is an opportunity to celebrate and promote physical activity and the benefits of participating in sports. Physical activity is key to maintaining health and well-being. Getting active can improve fitness, reduce stress, reduce the risk for many chronic diseases, and ease symptoms of anxiety and depression while also improving sleep. Youth sports also help kids and teens get active and develop valuable life skills like leadership, time management, and relationship-building skills.
In honor of Physical Fitness and Sports Month, we want to encourage you to move each day, and get your family, friends, and classmates to join you! If daily movement isn’t already a part of your routine, consider starting your day with a walk around the neighborhood or trading in ‘around-the-corner’ drives for bike rides. If you’re working in an office, make a point to take a break from your desk and walk around throughout the day. If you are a student seeking out more ways to move, look into intramural or club sports teams. A few 5-10 minute activities throughout the day can add up! Even small amounts of physical activity can make a significant difference in your physical and mental health.
Perhaps there were some activities that you picked up at the start of the pandemic, that you may have drifted away from recently. Consider renewing some of those quarantine-time activities, especially with family and friends! We were once forced to find new and fun ways to stay active and we shouldn’t let them disappear. In whatever way you choose to participate in Physical Fitness and Sports Month, it will be sure to lead to a better and healthier well-being and life.
#MoveInMay #PhysicalFitnessAndSportsMonth
May is National Teen Self-Esteem Month!
Moises, 15
May is National Teen Self Esteem Month! This month, we want to help raise awareness of the importance of ensuring that our teens are self-aware and that they feel confident about themselves. Self-esteem is crucial to their physical and mental wellness and we want to make sure we are doing everything we can to support them in whatever way they need.
The teenage years are known for being a difficult time in a young person’s life. In addition to the given physical, hormonal, and emotional changes they are dealing with, teens often have the added pressures of social changes, new relationships, increased educational expectations, peer pressure, and pressure of societal standards thanks to media and oftentimes, parents. Checking in on teens and ensuring that they are being fully supported and nurtured is a great place to start, whether they are family or friends.
Siblings Silas, 13 & Xia, 14
Self-esteem is often easy to damage and difficult to repair. Due to the added difficulties that come with being a teen, it is highly understandable that teenagers can be particularly fragile. There are many ways that we can engage more positively with teenagers and there are some really simple ways that we can help promote positive self-esteem. If you are a parent, family member, or friend of someone who may be struggling with this, consider the following actions. You may notice, that these actions do not have to be limited just to teens, and can offer a path to more positive relationships with other people in your life as well.
The easiest place to start is leading by example by avoiding negative self-talk and criticism. Focus on having open lines of communication and ensure that you can be trusted. Give them space, listen to them, and take interest in their developing lives.