Girls Just Wanna Have Fun!

If that line from Robert Hazard’s song (made famous by Cyndi Lauper) is true, then the girls—and women—who are in Rehoboth Beach the weekend of April 11-14 came to the right place. Because that’s Women’s FEST—CAMP Rehoboth’s annual celebration of all-things-woman, featuring concerts, dances, sports, humor, books, art exhibits, lectures, and more!

There are pickleball and cornhole tournaments, a golf outing, and lots of other opportunities to enjoy the great outdoors—yoga on the beach, anyone? Or maybe a bike ride, or a walking tour of Rehoboth Beach? And who could ever forget the wonderful Broadwalk on the Boardwalk, which commemorates those lost to cancer, celebrates cancer survivors, and educates others?

Some—or all!—of those athletic endeavors will likely appeal to the 87 percent of women responding to CAMP Rehoboth’s October 2017 health-related survey—Assessing Our Community’s Needs—who reported having engaged in some recreational physical activity during the preceding 30 days. Nearly three-quarters of those 187 women (72 percent) reported being physically active three or more days per week—sounds like we’ve got some local contenders for those tournaments!

Other results from that survey helped bring something entirely new to this year’s Women’s FEST: A free Health Fair. From 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Friday, April 12, at the CAMP Rehoboth Community Center, staff from Beebe Healthcare will answer questions and administer tests such as blood sugar and cholesterol checks, blood pressure readings, calculation of body mass index (BMI), and more.

It’s not a coincidence that some of the conditions which turned up most often on the survey are among those for which testing is available at the health fair. For example, we asked if our respondents had been diagnosed with certain common medical conditions, such as heart disease, skin—or other—cancers, and diabetes. We learned that nine percent of women responding had been diagnosed with a heart attack, angina, or coronary artery disease. Many more—19 percent—had been diagnosed with skin cancer; 13 percent with a cancer other than skin cancer; and 10 percent with diabetes.

Invited to list any other chronic conditions with which they had been diagnosed, among the conditions women listed most often were hypertension (high blood pressure) and high cholesterol. Clearly, testing for blood sugar, hypertension, and high cholesterol are good places to start, as CAMP Rehoboth continues to promote—and works to sustain—our community’s health and wellness.

Of course—since this issue is just hitting the streets on April 12—the inaugural Health Fair might already be history by the time you read this. If so—pencil it in for next year!
The Health Fair is a great example of how CAMP Rehoboth works to address the health-related needs of our community. But there are lots more. Here’s a list of many of our other health- and wellness-related programs and services—come give them a try!

Upcoming Health & Wellness Programs

(All held at CAMP Rehoboth Community Center unless otherwise noted).

Tai Chi: All ages and fitness levels welcome at these sessions devoted to the practice of the ancient Chinese system of mind-body-spirit health. Classes taught by certified Tai Chi teachers and free of charge; free will giving is encouraged. Meets Wednesdays at 1:00 p.m. Call Salvatore (320-227-5620) for more information.

Women’s Coffee Talk: Looking for a positive, non-judgmental (and free!) place to share thoughts and perspectives on a topic? Come to Coffee Talk—first and third Saturdays of each month, starting at 10:00 a.m. Next meet-up: April 20; topic: Hat Trick. Come and be part of the community!

Smoking Cessation: This series of four free, weekly classes offers support and skills aimed at enabling your success. Next series starts Thursday, April 18, at 7 p.m. Registration required; call Salvatore (302-227-5620) to register. 

Recovery Groups at CAMP Rehoboth: Meeting space is provided for a variety of recovery groups: Alcoholics Anonymous—Sundays at 9 a.m. and Thursdays at noon; Young People’s Alcoholics Anonymous—Tuesdays at 8:00 p.m.

Health & Wellness-related Groups

Grief Group: Looking for a safe and welcoming space as you confront grief and loss—no matter where you are on your grief journey? This supportive group is lead by Kevin Bliss, a certified End-of-Life and Grief Coach, and meets monthly. Next meets: April 18; 3:00 p.m. For more information, email Kevin or call 302-754-1954.

Alzheimer’s (or Other Dementia) Caregivers Support Group: Caring for someone with a cognitive disorder? This group offers a safe place to discuss challenges, share information, and support one another. Professionally moderated. Next meets: April 17; 6:30 p.m. For more information, contact Ruth Pryor.

Free HIV Testing: Whenever you need it! Testing is available at multiple sites—and at convenient hours—in Sussex County. Contact Salvatore at CAMP Rehoboth to make an appointment.▼