Five Sweet Home girls finished the first Girls on the Run program with a 5K (3.1-mile) fun run/walk at Oregon State University’s Reser Stadium on May 31.
Audrey McLain, members services coordinator at the Boys and Girls Club of the Greater Santiam’s Lebanon clubhouse, said the 10-week program for third- through fifth-graders was “life-changing” for the young participants, Annabelle Coates, Casey Henerson, Celeste Lugo, Lauren Tabr and Alyssa Redfurn. They were mentored by coaches Pamela Anderson, Mara Edison and Emily Marshall as they worked through lessons dealing with self-awareness, healthy relationships, empowerment, peer pressure and learning about their community.
The coaches are from Comp Northwest medical school in Lebanon.
McLain said the curriculum emphasizes activity.
“They would spend a little classroom time focusing on one of the 23 lessons in the 10 weeks, then they’d go outside or into the gym for physical activity that tied into what they learned in the classroom.
She said that in addition to the five Sweet Home girls, 13 from Lebanon participated and six more participated in the Girls on Track curriculum for older, sixth- through eighth-graders.
McLain said the Girls on the Run program, which is used across the nation, worked out well.
“We are definitley going to do it again next year. I plan to coach as well as be site liaison next year.”
She said the young participants responded to the mentorship provided by the coaches.
“ I think it’s really important for girls. A lot of the girls don’t have a mother or father figure at home. They live with grandparents. The coaches were someone they could talk to. They got really close to them.