An afterschool running program for girls in third, fourth and fifth grades will return next Tuesday, after two years off during the pandemic.
The program, Girls on the Run, is geared to help girls build confidence and learn life skills, in addition to exercise, said site liaison Sara Chapell.
“It’s a pretty neat program. It’s different than showing up to learn a sport. It’s much more about learning communication skills and all the stuff that goes into growing up to be a cool, confident girl,” Chapell said.
The program will last eight weeks and involves two sessions each week, on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:15 to 4:30. It culminates with a 5K fun run in May.
Practices begin and end with group conversations that encourage positivity, self-confidence and compassion. The amount of time devoted to running in each session will gradually increase over the course of the program, Chapell said.
“It is about running but less about your time and your physical accomplishments and more about feeling good about yourself at the end of the day,” Chapell said, adding that there’s a place in the program even for girls who don’t view themselves as athletes.
Girls on the Run is a nationwide nonprofit organization with local initiatives from Palm Beach, Florida, to Nome. The Haines program, which is supported by the Juneau-based nonprofit AWARE, started more than a decade ago and is run by volunteers, Chapell said.
Parents can learn more and register at https://www.gotrgreateralaska.org. The registration fee is $80 but half or full scholarships are available to all participants. Shoes, water bottles and snacks are provided. Questions can be addressed to Chapell at 314-3074.