Getting to Know: Natalie Hendren

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When 18-year-old Natalie Hendren was trying to come up with an idea for her Girl Scout Gold Award, she realized she could two things that she loves together - making videos and learning about health and fitness - and turn that into a project for her award.

“I have a personal interest in health and fitness,” Hendren said. “I find learning about health and fitness to be very interesting. I also think it is important to take good care of yourself so that you can live longer and be happier. In addition, I love making videos. I thought this project was a great idea because I could make videos and educate youth about health and fitness at the same time.”

In order to earn her Gold Award, Hendren, who lives just outside of Battle Ground near Daybreak School, decided to create a series of health and fitness videos that she released online and some on DVDs, which she gave to the Battle Ground School District. On Wed., July 10 and Wed., July 17, 1-3 p.m., she will hold Video Viewing Days in the big meeting room at the Battle Ground Community Library, 1207 SE 8th Way, Battle Ground.

In addition to showing her videos on these days, Hendren will also have a variety of activities available and a different guest speaker for each day. She said July 10 will be more focused on fitness and July 17 will be more focused on health.

Some of Hendren’s videos are focused on macronutrients like fats and proteins, while others talk about healthy food swaps people can make in their diet and how to read food labels. Hendren said there are also some interview videos about exercise and a couple of simple fitness how-to videos. During the viewing days, she said attendees will watch some of the videos and talk in more depth about easy ways to get involved in their health.

“I want people to realize being healthy doesn’t always have to be hard,” she said. “There are a lot of misconceptions about being healthy and what that means.”

Guest speakers will include Aaron Hendren, a certified personal trainer and nutritionist, who will talk about fitness and easy ways people can incorporate exercise into their daily lives. Jessica Drake, a teacher at Battle Ground High School, will come and talk about health and its importance and how children can get started working towards better health.



Through her Gold Award project, Hendren is hoping that she can bring awareness to youth as well as inspire them to make healthier choices.

“I want people to be aware of what the consequences of eating certain foods and not exercising are,” Hendren said. “Ideally, I hope to inspire people to make healthier choices and to be involved in the decisions that affect their health.”

As a part of this project, Hendren also incorporated the use of social media to help spread awareness. She created a Twitter account, @EatSmartNow; a Facebook page, Be Smart - Eat Smart; as well as a YouTube account, BSESHealthandFitness. She posts and releases videos and information through these media outlets.

Hendren graduated from Battle Ground High School in June and was also a Running Start student at Clark College. In the fall, she plans to attend Clark College for one more year so she can get her associate’s degree. She then plans to transfer to a four-year college in Washington, and she would like to major in video productions and communications.

For the past 12 years, Hendren has been involved with Girl Scouts and has participated in numerous community service activities. She has earned her Bronze Award and Silver Award and has worked as a program aid for the former Girl Scouts’ camp, Camp Julianna.

In addition to her involvement with Girl Scouts, Hendren has also been a part of goat 4-H for the past seven years and is currently the president of her 4-H club. She shows goats at the Clark County Fair every year. One of her other favorite hobbies is making videos. She has a group of friends she makes videos with and they enter various contests with their videos. Eventually, Hendren said she hopes to become a film director, as she loves movies and has always wanted to make one.

Hendren is the daughter of Aaron and Ramona Hendren and she has one brother, Kyle, who will turn 15 in August.