Last spring, Porter County Parks and Recreation teamed up with Girls on the Run of Northwest Indiana to offer an empowering program for girls in third through fifth grades.
They met each week at Sunset Hill Farm County Park to train for a 5K, while also addressing a wide range of issues that the girls faced on a daily basis. The curriculum focused not only on physical fitness, but also emotional, mental, social and spiritual well-being.
The response was so positive, that Girls on the Run will once again be offered at Sunset Hill Farm County Park beginning August 20. The program has also expanded to offer Girls on Track, which is designed for sixth- through eighth-graders and addresses challenges and issues specific to that age group.
Both groups will meet at Sunset Hill Farm County Park every Monday from 4 to 5:30 p.m. They will train in preparation for a 5K race that will take place in LaPorte on Nov. 10. But running is just a portion of what will be offered.
Jenna Martin coached the Sunset Hill Farm Girls on the Run team last spring, and is back to coach the fall team as well. She recently discusses the impact this amazing program has on not only the girls who participate, but on their families, and on the coaches.
To register or for more information, call 219-465-3586 or e-mail goconnor@porterco.org.
To register or for more information, call 219-465-3586 or e-mail goconnor@porterco.org.
Q: How long have you been involved with Girls on the Run?
A: This is my third season with Girls on the Run. My first was assisting in LaPorte. This past spring I had my own site, as I do again this fall at Sunset Hill Farm County Park.
Q: What was the response from the girls who participated in the spring Girls on the Run program at Sunset Hill Farm County Park?
The response from the girls was amazing. I had hoped it to be but you never know. I don't think they had any idea what to expect. The first couple weeks were acquainting ourselves to one another and the format that we would follow. They also soon realized that they were part of a very important group. A place where they could be themselves, to trust and to open up to each other. Every week I saw changes in their relationships to each other, and to me. There was a sense of calm even with a group of 9- to 11-year-olds, which is not an easy task!
I truly was amazed at the desire to let loose of their feelings, positive and negative. They were impressed with the words that came from each girl. Some a bit more reserved, some I couldn't get a word in edgewise! Either way, it was amazing.
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| The Sunset Hill Farm Girls on the Run Team prepares to run a 5K. |
A: Halfway through, I started receiving emails and text messages from parents. They were so happy with the program and wanted me to know that their daughter was so happy to be a part of Girls on the Run. They talked about the changes in the girls, their willingness to discuss the topics we covered. This program not only benefited the girls, but their families as well!
I can’t even begin to tell you what it did for me, how the girls impacted my life. When a parent takes the time to stop by and offer a hug of thanks, or writes an email and sends a text message, you know that they are happy and thankful that their daughter was fortunate enough to be a part of this. I know I would feel the same way.
Q: What makes this program so positive for girls in the target age group?
A: This target age, 9 to 11, is so important and vital for these young ladies to realize in their pre-teen years that they have tools to make decisions that will impact them for the rest of their lives. Society’s unhealthy views that are passed down to these children are detrimental to their overall well-being. I want them to live outside the box, to form their own opinions, to know that they have choices and are in control to make those choices. It’s vital that they learn about their strong sense of identity, greater self-confidence, a healthier body image and better knowledge of what it means to be a member of a team and a community.
We address many aspects of girls' development - their physical, emotional, mental and social well-being. These lessons provide girls with the tools to make positive decisions and to avoid risky adolescent behaviors.
We adhere to a formal structure that combines physical activities with experiential learning activities. Unlike traditional athletic programs, the Girls on the Run curricula couple physical activity with a whole-person philosophy to provide the positive benefits of physical activity without increasing the risk of unhealthy attitudes about body image and eating. Most importantly, Girls on the Run inspires them to recognize and honor their individual strengths and talents and to celebrate their inner selves.
Q: What have you gained from leading this program?
A: I sometimes think I had more to gain than did the girls. Having raised three daughters, I know the issues that these young girls will face. The philosophy of Girls on the Run was the reason I wanted to be involved in this amazing program. It follows the same principles that I used when raising my daughters. To have such an impact on young women today is an honor. I wanted the opportunity to be involved with young girls and to have an opportunity to improve their well-being. I'm hoping one day that they will remember what I tried to teach them, to reinforce all the things that make them wonderful and that they will be a better person for it.
Q: What makes Sunset Hill Farm County Park such a great place to host Girls on the Run?
A: Sunset Hill Farm was the perfect location for my group. Having our county parks involved in an activity like this says a lot about what the park feels is important to the community. They provided us with the perfect venue, from an indoor room and equipment, to outdoor access throughout the entire park. We had access to restroom, water, help from the maintenance department, and park supervisors were right next door. I never needed to ask for a thing. It was always waiting for me.
Some of the girls preferred the straight run of the grassy fields while others preferred the rugged trails. Either way, we had the opportunity to encompass every aspect of the activities every week because of what the park offered. I am so thrilled that I will have my site at Sunset Hill Farm again this fall! Our parks are underutilized and yet they have so much so offer. It is a beautiful location to have access to and we are all so lucky it is virtually in our back yards!
Q: What are some ways you saw the girls grow during the spring program?
Our first meeting was a bit awkward for the girls. Only two girls out of 15 knew one another. All the others were strangers. We had a few chatty girls who loved to tell stories and a few that were quiet as a mouse. But they truly all had something to offer. Having come into the group alone and a bit unsure was obvious. What I wasn't prepared for was how quickly they united and became a family. There wasn't any 'me', 'I', or 'myself'. It was about the sum of 15 little girls and their desires to be a part of something bigger.
Their resilience amazes me and their kindness to one another brought tears to my eyes. I went home at night thinking about what the day’s activities had accomplished and how each of the girls responded. Tears every night and plenty of stories to tell my husband every week. The smile on my face was a dead giveaway that I was getting as much, if not more, benefits from them than they were me.
So, did the girls grow during their time with me? More ways than I can describe. What started out as 15 little girls with desires, fears, questions, needs, and contributions, ended 12 weeks later with 15 not-so-little girls with bigger desires, deeper questions, different needs and more contributions. And all of this they realized while training for a 5K race!
So, did the girls grow during their time with me? More ways than I can describe. What started out as 15 little girls with desires, fears, questions, needs, and contributions, ended 12 weeks later with 15 not-so-little girls with bigger desires, deeper questions, different needs and more contributions. And all of this they realized while training for a 5K race!
Q: How did they react as they crossed the finish line of the 5K on May 19?
A: You see, Girls on the Run is not a “running program.” Girls on the Run inspires girls to be joyful, healthy and confident, using a fun, experience-based curriculum which creatively integrates running. This opportunity allows the girls to participate in a non-competitive 5K running event. For most of the girls, this is the first time that they have ever attempted a physical goal of this magnitude, and completion of a 5K provides an incredible feeling of strength and a real sense of accomplishment. When my little girls stood at the starting line, the nerves and doubt were minimal. Excitement, joy, pride and self-worth were written on 15 little faces! They had worked hard. Short distance at first, then longer. Speed training was not high on the list of favorites! We pushed them a bit and gave them their space to find their own pace.
As the race neared, the nerves increased as well. Most had no idea that there would be 1,000 people gathered in a park to offer support and cheer for them as they ran 3.1 miles in the hot and humid sun. And run they did! Everyone of them had a smile on their face. They were dripping with sweat and exhausted as many kicked it up and sprinted the last 100 yards! Then, medals waiting to be hung around their necks like badges of honor. But that is exactly what they were and the girls knew it. They earned those medals, every single one of them with hard work, dedication and a desire to be the best they could be! It doesn't get much better than this!
