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By Becky Corson, Administrative
Assistant - Mid-Valley Hospital
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Cultures
United Through Kids' Health Fair
 Three
cultures united to promote children’s’ health through
the “Healthy Kids Having Fun” Health Fair held on
Saturday, July 19th from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the
American Legion Park in Okanogan, Washington, in
conjunction with the local Farmer’s Market. The Colville
Tribe, Latino culture, and the local American culture
converged to encourage healthy lifestyles by presenting
health information through games, dance, and other
activities. Several organizations throughout the area
set up booths covering such topics as water safety,
nutrition, exercise, chemical abuse prevention, car-seat
safety (which included free testing), dental care, early
intervention and well-child screening, proper hygiene
and hand-washing, identifying poisonous plants and
insects, and screening media entertainment for damaging
influences. Local physicians were on hand to meet kids
in a Tiki hut to provide a non-threatening place for the
kids to get to know them.
At the welcoming ceremony,
Carlene Anderson and Andy Joseph, on behalf of the
Colville Tribes, addressed the significance of this
event for the overall health of the community, citing
statistics regarding obesity and diabetes, among others.
After registration, the kids received a health fair
passport which was stamped at each booth they visited.
Along the way they received stickers, prizes, juice,
water, and all kinds of information. From pediatrician
Dr. Grace Yelland, kids learned about health concerns
they faced, such as diabetes, obesity, and the need to
exercise, and from nutritionist Melissa Bardsley, they
learned about nutrition with her presentation, “What is
on your plate?” Moving to the beat, they danced Hip Hop
with Serena Fiacco, participated in a variety of tribal
dances presented by Colville Tribes, stepped to Mexican
Folklore dances with “Fuerza Latina” dancers, boogied
with Lorrie Fraley Wilson’s School of Dance, and learned
some moves with the Omak School of Karate. After filling
up their passport with twelve stamps from various
booths, they could turn it in to receive a veggie $1 to
spend at the Farmer’s Market. It was amazing what they
could buy with a veggie dollar! – a watermelon or a bag
full of tomatoes, cherries, berries, or vegetables.
 The
overarching goal of the “Healthy Kids Having Fun” fair
was to teach children to be responsible for their own
health and well-being. With exercise an essential part
of a healthy lifestyle, the phrase, “Keep Moving”, was
often repeated while kids were taught various kinds of
activities at the events and booths to promote staying
active. Some highlights of the games and activities at
various booths included a fishing maze, food pyramid
bean bag toss, hoola hoops, playing in a tee-pee, a
Twister game identifying poisonous plants, and handling
a life-size lung to see how smoke affects it.
Event planner, Nancy Nash-Méndez,
outreach manager at Mid-Valley Hospital, stated that
many organizations were responsible for the success of
the Health Fair. They included Okanogan Behavioral
Health, Family Health Centers, Mid-Valley Hospital, DSHS,
Community Action, Red Cross, Subway, Okanogan Family
Planning, US Army Corps of Engineers-Chief Joseph Dam,
Okanogan Safe Kids Child Passenger Safety, Aging and
Adult Care, Community Choice sponsor SHIBA Healthiest
State Campaign, Support Center, Master Gardeners,
Diabetes Collaborative, Allied Medical, and Gear-Up
Students. Many others volunteered their time as
“vendors,” like Steve Goodmiller with his fantastic
insect collection, and coordinated, planned, acquired
and prepared materials and activities, set up, manned
booths, coordinated events, contributed various items,
and cleaned up after the event, all to help kids in the
community to establish healthy lifestyles.
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