Girls on the Run of South Central Wisconsin, an after-school program that gets girls running and inspires individuals of all abilities to recognize their unique strengths, has announced empowerment programming for the school year, along with a new community conversation event.
Starting on the week of Sept. 11, the new Girls on the Run curriculum will include dynamic discussions and fun running games that teach important life skills like positive self-talk and empathy, according to a press release from the non-profit organization. The season will culminate in a 5K run that brings together family, friends, and community members to celebrate the girls’ growth throughout the season. That 5K run is open to the public and will take place at the Waunakee Community Center on Saturday, Nov. 4.
“Girls on the Run is often assumed to be ‘just a running program,'” said Girls on the Run Executive Director Christine Benedict in a statement. “It is so much more than that. Our programming builds confidence in a positive and inclusive environment focused on meaningful relationships and personal progress.”
Program registration for the Fall 2023 season is open on a first-come first-serve basis at participating schools. Girls on the Run will also be hosting a conversation with community leaders in health care, mental health, public policy, and education with the hope of bringing people together as caregivers, educators, health care workers, and communities to disrupt the trends and foster change. The Community Conversation will be held on International Day of the Girl – Wednesday, Oct. 11 – at Goodman Community Center.
Girls on the Run of South Central Wisconsin will serve a record-breaking 800 participants, from the 3rd to 8th grades, at 65 sites in cities like Beloit, Cambria, Cross Plains, Deerfield, DeForest, Edgerton, Madison, McFarland, Middleton, Milton, Mineral Point, Monona, Oregon, Richland Center, Stoughton, Sun Prairie, and Verona.
