“I have some great friends, and they really support me. But it’s different to have a friend that really knows what it’s like to grow up with a heart like mine. You don’t have to explain anything...they just know.” – KC, Youth Member

The Children’s Heart Network is proud to announce Vancouver Island’s own Hearts of Gold (VIHOG) Program.  Based in Victoria, VIHOG will help connect the youth living with heart disease in  Victoria and Vancouver Island.
The group has already enjoyed a Boston Pizza party, an IMAX show, a Salmon Kings hockey game, Go-kart racing, a day at the waterslides and two joint events with the Lower Mainland HOG group, Camp Summit and the Planetarium sleepover.
Krista is a graduate of the University of Victoria, Child and Youth Care program, 2003.  Krista is also a Certified Child Life Specialist.  Since graduating she has had some major life events happen.  These include traveling to New York, Dubai, India, South Africa, Fiji and New Zealand, getting married, and starting  her career working with children and youth. She enjoys hiking, surfing and camping.  Krista is looking forward to connecting with youth on Vancouver Island as well as the Hearts of Gold Youth in Vancouver.   

May 2006- Camp Summit
This past May the Hearts of Gold held their 2nd Annual Camp Summit retreat.  Seventeen youths from the Lower Mainland HOG group and Vancouver Island HOG group traveled to Squamish for two days of fun and adventure.  The weekend’s agenda included archery, a low ropes course, rock wall climbing, mountain biking, crazy games, a pool party, lots of eating and hanging out around the campfire.  Also included was lots of laughter and new friendships. Under the excellent leadership of the Camp Summit staff and HOG Youth Coordinator’s Lisa Herman and Krista Molia the weekend was a great success!  A special thank you to Jeremy Daniels, Sarah Corder and Mandy Johnson, for volunteering their time to help make this event possible.

June -2006 Planetarium Sleepover
The June event for the HOG and the VI HOG brought 15 youth together to enjoy a sleep over at the HR MacMillan Space Centre, also known as the Planetarium. 
The evening included a pizza party, a chance to look at Saturn through the observatory telescope, watching a short film on rockets, checking out a moon rock, lifting a meteorite (pure iron) and ‘landing a space craft’.  After learning about rockets, the youth created their own unique rockets from 2 litre pop bottles.  With sleeping bags and pillows in tow, the HOG group headed into the theatre to watch a Planetarium Show and end the day.  Lastly came sleep, well there was not much sleep at this “sleep over” but there sure was a lot of talking and laughter.
After breakfast the next morning the youth launched their rockets just outside the Planetarium.  Using air pressure to launch them, they went pretty high and it was impressive!  Adding water made them go even higher. 
           
A great big THANK YOU to Air Canada’s Jazz Cares for Kids Society and Arlene Hartley who covered the expenses of the entire event

For more information contact one of our Youth Coordinators:
Lower Mainland:
Lisa Herman - 1-877-833-1773
Email: hog@childrensheartnetwork.org

Vancouver Island:
Krista Molia – 1-250-598-2524
Email: vihog@childrensheartnetwork.org

Welcome aboard Krista!
Watch your mail for more exciting events as new Youth Coordinator, Krista Molia, takes over the helm of the Vancouver Island Hearts of Gold (VIHOG).
If you'd like your name added to the VIHOG mail/ email/ phone list, email Krista at: vihog@childrensheartnetwork.org

About Hearts of Gold:
The Hearts of Gold Youth Program is the youth program of the CHN. We are partnered with BC's Children's Hospital to bring you opportunities to meet, learn and have fun with other youth who have experienced growing up with heart disease. We know what it's like!

Some of the stuff we like to do:
- Sailing in English Bay
- Hang out at 'Electronic Arts'
  (the Nintendo place)
- Go see Canucks and Lions' games
- Spend weekends at Camp Summit
  in Squamish
- Have summer camps
  (our Theme Nights are a blast!)
- Play video games
- Go out to eat together
- Go to Theatre Sports downtown

Stuff we still plan to do:
- All Depends On YOU!!!

Opportunities for your Resume!
- Be a speaker for an education session or a conference presenter! Work with a team of youth to help educate hospital staff and parents about heart disease.
- Be a peer helper! Link with other youth or younger kids who are preparing for surgery, or who want to talk with experienced youth who have "been there".
- Be an email friend to someone in BC who is stuck at home after surgery, or someone who is unable to attend school because of their heart problem.
- Attend conferences for FREE! You may even meet a famous sports hero or inspirational speaker.
- Get linked with educational or career opportunities, some of them FREE!

For more information contact one of our Youth Coordinators: Lower Mainland: Lisa Herman - 1-877-833-1773 Email: hog@childrensheartnetwork.org Vancouver Island: Krista Molia – 1-250-598-2524 Email: vihog@childrensheartnetwork.org