KINGFIELD — Girls on the Run [GOTR] International, a program serving over 2 million girls across North America, has had a positive impact on communities. Within Kingfield, the local chapter of Girls on the Run has been instrumental in nurturing young girls, with a focus on empowerment and life skills development. The program caters to third to fifth-grade girls, offering a curriculum tailored to their needs.
According to Erica Luce, 2nd grade teacher at Kingfield Elementary School [KES], “The curriculum is set for this age group and is not supposed to be changed. I do occasionally change time amounts to suit the needs of the girls we have in the program that year.” Luce works alongside a handful of volunteer assistant coaches over the course of 10 weeks, closely engaging with participating girls in the program twice a week after school.
During the designated meet-up times, the girls work on developing life skills. Luce said the whole curriculum is all about building their “star power” and finding ways to build each other up. “The girls work out of journals that are given to them to work through during the program and to keep once the program is over, with all of the tools for their Girls on the Run toolbox to help support their “star power,” Luce said.
“We talk about all different types of “clouds” that can form and cover our “star power” and ways to make those gray clouds go away.” At Kingfield, the program currently enrolls 10 girls, with an aver.
