Boarding Schools for Girls

Some parents worry that, when the proverbial going gets tough, their children will run away from lifes difficulties. In North Carolina, groups of young girls are learning that running can actually empower them to solve some of the more pressing problems they will encounter.

In a Nov. 15 article on the website BlueRidgeNow.com, writer Beth Beasley described the local impact of two national programs:

Girls at four elementary schools in Henderson County are racing side by side in Girls on the Run and girls at one middle school are competing in Girls on Track. The after-school programs aim to prepare girls for the bumpy road of adolescence.

Girls on the Run trains girls in third through fifth grade to complete a 5K (3.1 mile) run and helps them develop skills they can use to resist peer pressure: effective communication, team building and how to make healthy lifestyle choices.

In addition to training for the 5K run, Girls on Track addresses more complex issues, such as dating, the dangers of drugs and alcohol, obesity, depression and promiscuity.

"We get girls from all walks of life; some never have run before and some have been on teams," says Audrey McElwain, executive director of Girls on the Run of Western North Carolina. "We're definitely filling a void -- there's such a high demand."

Labels: athletics, sports

Posted By: Aspen/CRC