POTSDAM — Eighteen Lawrence Avenue Elementary and seven Colton-Pierrepont Elementary students are participating in Girls on the Run this spring.

Potsdam is holding its third season; Colton-Pierrepont added the program this spring. Girls on the Run is primarily a school-hosted, after-school, physical activity-based program designed to enhance girls’ social, psychological, and physical competencies to successfully navigate life experiences. The 10-week program uses running and other physical activities as a platform for promoting holistic health outcomes for girls in grades 3-5.

The mission of Girls on the Run is to inspire girls to be joyful, healthy, and confident using a fun, experience-based curriculum which creatively integrates running. It is accompanied by a vision and core values that accentuate empowering girls to achieve their goals, stand up for themselves and others, and develop healthy relationship connections.

Volunteer coaches lead participants through learning modules focused on healthy choices; positive self-talk; balance of work, life, and play; empathy; social connection; making, being, and choosing friends; strength; gratitude; cooperation; and communication. Providing this education helps the girls to face social pressures and conflicting messages about how they should act and who they should be. Girls on the Run encourages lifelong healthy habits and helps participants to see that they are powerful and have endless potential to lead fulfilling lives and change the world.

To celebrate the girls' achievement and bring the community together a 5k run is planned for June 10 at 10 a.m. behind Lawrence Avenue Elementary. Proceeds from the race will assist future participants with the cost of registration to ensure all interested girls may participate. Face painting, and music will be offered. Walk, run, or roll in sharing the girls’ accomplishments.

For event details, registration, or to donate to future program offerings, please visit https://www.pinwheel.us/register/index/3PDGMBIZUQDOWQJ.