INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — Gifford Middle School has two teams made up of 23 girls, participating this season in Girls on the Run of the Treasure Coast. This season was made possible by a grant from the Future Leaders Professional Advisors Council. Girard Equipment also provided scholarships for both teams in Gifford. The group is so grateful for the community’s support of its girls.
Fourteen girls at Southport Middle School made history when they met for the first session of Girls on Track in St. Lucie County. Girls on the Run of the Treasure Coast is very excited to be expanding into St. Lucie county with their awesome team led by trained volunteer coaches.
The first session was all about getting to know each other, focusing on what it means to be a “Girl on Track.” After the session, one girl said “I feel like I can be myself here.”
“I have a passion for running and a passion for leading girls toward physical and emotional health,” said Coach Kimberly Nicholas. “In Girls on Track, I see an opportunity to build young girls’ self-esteem, teaching them to know and value themselves.”
The Girls on Track program, for girls in 6th through 8th grade, uses an experience-based curriculum which integrates running to inspire girls to be joyful, healthy and confident. The interactive curriculum is fun and challenging, covering meaningful topics such as self-awareness, building healthy relationships, and developing personal strengths while engaging in physical activities. The teams will also design and implement a community service project.
The curriculum ends with a celebratory 5K. Both schools will meet for the final 5K which will be held on May 9 at John Carroll High School. Each girl will complete the race with a running buddy and volunteers are needed.
To learn more about the program, start a site, sponsor, or find out how to volunteer, please visit www.girlsontheruntc.org. It is not necessary to be a runner to get involved, volunteers just need to enjoy physical activity and empowering young girls.
