KIMBERLY, Wis. — Surrounded by excited third- and fourth-grade girls, Marta Statz handed out colorful hair ties to expectant hands.
“Every time a girl runs and completes a lap, you get one,” said Statz.
The students from Kimberly’s Westside Elementary School belong to Girls on the Run, a national organization focused on teaching a healthy mind-body approach to life. They took laps around their playground and cheered each other on.
“I love the philosophy of the program, empowering girls, building one another up, as well as movement and the importance of exercise and physical activity,” said Statz.
The 10-week program culminates in a 5K celebration run at the end of the session.
“It’s the last week of the season and just a chance to celebrate. All the girls earn a medal and come together and support one another. It’s a pretty exciting day,” said Statz.
Statz noted that the girls improve physically during a session, but as a former teacher, she sees other benefits.
“I just know the importance of social-emotional learning and learning these skills at a young age and just really building one another up,” said Statz.
Olivia Webster decided to help as a volunteer when her two daughters joined Girls on the Run.
“I just want them to know they can do anything,” explained Webster. “The goals that they set, they can achieve them, and if not, it’s okay, we just try again.”
The program is open to girls in grades third through fifth. A similar program called Heart & Sole is available for grades sixth through eighth.
This Westside group of girls gathers inside before and after each running session.
“We keep our teams at 16 or less so the girls feel connected,” explained Statz. “Where they feel like they have the chance to share, be heard and to feel supported.”
They discussed topics such as how feelings affect performance — lessons not always heard on team sports.
“This looks different than a lot of teams that some of these girls have been on where there’s a lot of pressure to be the best. Although we want girls to do well and have success, we’re instilling in them just that pride of encouraging one another and being happy for others as well,” said Statz.
At the end of practice, girls and volunteers chanted, “Girls on the Run is so much fun.”
They appear to be on track to accept the physical, mental and emotional challenges of their upcoming 5K run.