New program for girls coming to Vernon

VERNON — The Girls on the Run program will be coming to Vernon in the spring.

Girls on the Run is an after-school program that combines curriculum with sports aimed at building self-esteem and confidence in young girls between third and fifth grade. Throughout the 10-week season, the girls will discuss such topics such as body image, popularity, gossiping, choosing our friends, conflict resolution and much more.

The girls will develop and improve competence, feel confidence in who they are, create positive connections with peers and adults and make a meaningful contribution to their community.

The curriculum also is combined with the sport of running. The running activities are used as a medium for teaching life skills and promoting healthy outcomes, while coming together as a team to support one another. At the conclusion of the program, the girls will join other teams to celebrate their accomplishments with a 5k.

Girls on the Run serves more than 60,000 girls annually across the United States and Canada. The local chapter, Girls on the Run New Jersey North, was founded three years ago and has grown to serve Sussex, Bergen, Passaic and Hudson County.

Thanks to the support of Advocare Vernon Pediatrics, the Vernon site will register with a reduced rate. �"We are very excited that GOTR will now be available for girls in Vernon," Dr. Gurmit Salja said. "We look forward to our relationship with GOTR in promoting healthy minds and bodies by using education and exercise to emphasize prevention."

The Vernon site will be held at St Francis Church on Mondays and Thursdays. The season will begin March 3 and will conclude May 17 with a 5K.

For more information, visit: gotrnjn.org or email info@gotrnjn.org. The group also is on Facebook under Girls on the run New Jersey North.