Girls on the Run of the Southern Tier Kick-Off in Chemung County!

Girls on the Run of the Southern Tier, a community collaboration led by the Steuben Rural Health Network at the Institute for Human Services, Inc., is seeking girls in grades 3 thru 5 to participate in the Fall 2012 Kick-Off at Cohen Elementary School.

Girls on the Run® is a life-changing, experiential learning program that combines training for a 3.1 mile running event with self-esteem enhancing, uplifting workouts. The goals of this youth development program are to encourage positive emotional, social, mental, spiritual and physical development. Through such goals, Girls on the Run works to educate and empower girls at an early age in order to prevent the display of at-risk activities in the future, including substance/alcohol use, eating disorders, and sedentary lifestyle. The design of the program acts to do just that by first addressing numerous aspects of girls’ development—physical, emotional, mental, and social well-being—in the three-part core curriculum. The lessons are taught by certified Girls on the Run® coaches and include understanding ourselves, valuing teamwork, and recognizing how we connect with and shape the world at large. Then, the girls have the opportunity to choose and conduct a community service project to further develop the vision of every girl knowing and activating her limitless potential. Finally, at the conclusion of the program, the girls complete a 5k running event as a group.

Sessions begin Tuesday, August 14th from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. and will meet every Tuesday and Thursday until Thursday, October 18th. The celebratory noncompetitive 5k will occur on Sunday, October 21st, where the community will be invited to cheer on the girls as they finish the race, as well as observe the impact and success of this initial kick-off session and the benefits that Girls on the Run can bring to the Southern Tier.

Registration for this 10 week program will be held at Cohen Elementary School on Tuesday, July 31st from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. and is first come, first serve as only 12 girls can be accepted per site. The program is being offered at a reduced rate of $25 per girl due to the generous support of The Triangle Fund and the Chemung County Youth Bureau.

Visit the new website at www.gotrst.com for more information and ‘like’ the program’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/GirlsOnTheRunOfTheSouthernTier for updates and events.

Interested in becoming involved? Save the dates for the Coaches Training Programs:

• Steuben County: Friday, November 2nd, from 9 am - 4 pm at the Institute for Human Services, Bath, NY
• Chemung County: Friday, November 9th, from 9 am - 4 pm at the Community Room of the Harris Hill Soaring Museum, Elmira, NY
• Schuyler County: Friday, November 16th, from 9 am - 4 pm at the Schuyler County Public Health Department, Watkins Glen, NY

About the Steuben Rural Health Network
The Steuben Rural Health Network is a collaboration of over 45 health and human service organizations dedicated to improving community health and wellness in Steuben County.  It is program of the Institute for Human Services. For more information visit www.steubenrhn.org.

About The Institute for Human Services   
The Institute for Human Services is a non-profit management support organization founded in 1984. The Institute provides management support, information and referral, organizational development, research and technology services to planners, funders and providers serving the Southern Tier of New York State. For more information visit www.ihsnet.org.