The South Peninsula Haven House in Homer, Alaska, is looking for volunteer coaches and participants for their program, Girls on the Run. The nonprofit’s aim is to support people impacted by domestic violence, sexual assault, and child abuse through providing them safe shelter, crisis intervention, prevention and victim advocacy. They have taken part in the international running program, Girls on the Run, for almost a decade.
The Girls on the Run program coordinator, Marcee Gray, says that their aim is to help girls grades 3-5 learn confidence and leadership skills, as well as learn about the connection between healthy bodies and minds.
Gray stated, “We get out and we bring girls together, We have a fun environment in which we inspire girls to be joyful, healthy and confident using a fun experience-based curriculum, which creatively integrates running and physical education into it. What’s amazing to me these days is how much kids have going on in their lives, Wow. It’s a lot to compete with, between violin lessons and ballet lessons and all the different things kids are doing. Having a twice a week commitment for 10 weeks is a huge accomplishment.”
She added that they are hoping to help teach the girls to understand and speak up for themselves as well as teach them about healthy relationships.
The season this year begins on February 27th and has set practices on Mondays and Wednesdays after school at West Homer Elementary gym from 3p.m.-4:30 p.m. Mid-way through the season the girls will be able to practice a marathon. While at the end of the program they will run a 5k with their family and friends. So far, over 2 million girls have taken part in the Girls on the Run program in the United States and Canada.
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