Fall Fun at Indy Parks

The end of summer is upon us, and that means the return of school supplies, pumpkin spice and cooler weather. It also means that some favorite fall programs are back at Indy Parks! From September through December, Indy Parks facilities will offer more than 180 programs for park visitors of all ages, focused on fitness, nature, sports, arts and more.

Here’s a sampling of some of our favorite fall programs:

• Broad Ripple Park: Gingerbread House Making, Moonlight Egg Hunt, Wizard Expo

• Eagle Creek Park: Books and Boots, Hike and Seek, Owl Fest

Autumn Art Fair, Día de Muertos, Family Art Night

Center: Indy in Motion, Paws and Claus, Pickleball

Critter Chat, Early Morning Photography, Jungle Tales • Holliday Park: Beastly Brunch, Friday Night Campfire, Yoga

• Riverside Park: Archery, Christmas Celebration, Line Dancing

• Southeastway Park: Hayrides, Homeschool Nature Programs

With free, creative, and affordable programming through Indy Parks, now is the perfect time to try out a new skill or sport, and we promise that no matter where your interests lie, there is a class or program for you at Indy Parks this fall. You can check out our Fall 2021 Program Guide and sign up for programs at parks. indy.gov.

Even if you don’t partake in one of our programs this fall, our parks are always available for you to embrace the dropping temperatures, enjoy the changing leaves, and get outside with your family and friends. Our parks are open from dawn until dusk all year long.

All of us at Indy Parks are so excited to welcome you into our facilities and our park spaces this fall!

Many factors can influence your breast cancer risk. And although you can’t change genetics, you can help lower your risk of breast cancer by taking care of your health. Here’s what you need to know to help your family be proactive about your breast health.

You’ve probably heard, “You are what you eat.” We all know that line and it also rings true for breast cancer prevention, says Erica Giblin, MD, medical director of breast care services at Ascension St. Vincent.

“General lifestyle changes are much more important in preventing breast cancer than most people know,” Giblin says. “A diet low in processed foods and sugar, as well as regular exercise, have been associated with a 20% to 25% reduction in hormone positive breast cancer risk.” The Mediterranean diet, which focuses on lean proteins and vegetables, is associated with a decreased cancer risk. For a tip that’s easy to remember, eat the rainbow! “A diet low in fat and full of colorful, whole fruits and vegetables is the best primary cancer prevention,” says Lauren M. Harry, MD, IU Health radiologist specializing in breast radiology. Focusing on plant-based sources of protein including beans and legumes is a great way to lower your risk for breast cancer, as well as other cancers and heart disease — the leading cause of death for women in the United States. “As a bonus, it’s affordable and great for the environment.” Additionally, experts say to limit alcohol intake — or avoid it altogether — and to stop smoking for your overall health, but also to reduce your risk of developing breast cancer.

Maintaining a healthy body weight and staying physically active is another important step to stave off breast and other cancers. This includes decreasing body fat content. “Fat makes estrogen, and we know that 80% of breast cancers feed on estrogen,” Giblin says. Lower body fat content leads to less estrogen running through the body, decreasing a person’s risk of developing breast cancer. “Both aerobic exercise, such as biking or walking, and strength exercises help decrease body fat content.”

Making daily physical activity a priority will help reduce your risk of developing breast cancer. Adults should get 150 to 300 minutes of moderate or 75 to 100 minutes of vigorous aerobic activity a week. Experts recommend you add muscle strengthening at least two days a week, as well as balance training activities. Doing these activities as a family can help your kids also learn healthy habits that they can carry into adulthood!

Research suggests that low vitamin D levels are associated with increased breast cancer risk. “Taking vitamin D supplements can help maintain healthy levels,” Giblin says. She also warns against hormone replacement therapy, for anti-aging or other purposes, which can actually increase breast cancer risk. “There are things available other than hormones that can be used successfully to maintain good strong bones and heart health,” she says. “Women should only take hormone replacement therapy if they have symptoms that are not alleviated with other medicines.”

Conduct regular self breast exams a week after menstruation — this is when the breast tissue is at its best time for a reliable exam. The American College of Radiology and the Society for Breast Imaging recommend annual screening mammography beginning at age 40. “Women should get screening mammograms yearly, as long as they remain in good health,” Harry says. Tomosynthesis, or 3-D mammography, is widely available and helps radiologists to detect subtle cancers, leading to early diagnosis and treatment. “Additionally, tomosynthesis allows breast imaging specialists to call back fewer women for additional imaging after screening mammography,” Harry adds. Multiple studies have shown that getting both a yearly mammogram and yearly MRI significantly increase the detection of breast cancer.

High-risk individuals may have a strong family history of breast cancer; genetic counseling and testing can help you learn more about your body and find out if you carry a breast cancer gene. Additionally, if you have ever had a breast biopsy that had 'atypia' (abnormal cells), you are considered high risk. If you are formally screened and are identified as high-risk, insurance should pay for annual breast MRI in addition to mammography. Experts recommend having a formal risk assessment and discussing options for risk modification: lifestyle changes, chemoprophylaxis and possibly surgery.

Finally, make sure the men in your life are aware that they, too, can develop breast cancer; approximately 1% of breast cancer diagnoses in the U.S. are in men. If any person feels or sees a change in breast shape or size, in the axilla (underarm area), notices nipple discharge, or just feels that something isn’t right, they should talk to their doctor.

ow that your child is in preschool, you might be thinking about enrolling them in activities that go beyond what they’re learning at school. That’s where enrichment activities come in.

The options for preschool enrichment classes are endless: dance, music, art, nature, sports… the list goes on. So, where should you start? With so many options, how do you know what will be the best fit for your child, and your family as a whole?

Here’s the good news. With so many wonderful enrichment options in Indianapolis and the surrounding areas, there are lots of places that would be a great fit. What it boils down to is: What are you looking for in an enrichment program? What are your priorities and needs? Hopefully after you are able to figure those out, the rest will fall into place.

To help get you started on your journey to picking a quality enrichment program, here are some things to be on the lookout for.

If your child gravitates toward a particular activity — like exploring nature, creating art or playing sports — then a good place to start is with their area of interest. Many times, though, preschoolers aren’t sure what they like! The great thing about preschool enrichment classes is that there are lots of different programs available that your child can explore. They’ll get a chance to grow and discover something new.

Preschoolers learn best when they’re playing. For preschoolers, playtime isn’t just a time to be silly and have fun with peers, playtime is actually incredibly important for learning. Find a program with reasonable expectations for preschoolers, with classes where the learning is fun and playful.

The staff should be highly experienced in the topic that they are teaching, and also have a love for working with young children. They should also have realistic expectations of skills for preschool-aged children. A good way to see the staff in action is to observe a class. Ask to

Different programs will have varying rules on class size. Some may offer more students with an instructor and helper, and others might have smaller classes with just one instructor. Find out the child to staff ratio when looking into programs, and keep in mind whether your child would do better in a class with fewer children.

What is the enrichment program’s reputation in the community? Do other people recommend it? Word-of-mouth recommendations from friends and family can be great resources for possible programs to investigate, especially if you don’t know where to start.

It might take a few sessions before you know whether you’ve found a good match between your preschooler and the enrichment program. But if your preschooler seems engaged in what they’re doing, wants to go back and is learning new skills, chances are you have found a good fit.