EL girls step up to plate in GROW program

BY PAT FARNELLI

Elk Lake sixth grade girls got a chance to act up in a positive way Friday night, during a GROW Spring Fling night at the Elk Lake schools.

GROW, which stands for Girls Realizing their Own Worth, is a program begun by Lindsey Escandel as a way of encouraging sixth grade girls on the threshold of junior high, to develop their self-worth and learn to rely on each other.

According to a program description by Escandel, the objective is “to give girls a sense of worth, help them develop high self esteem, encourage them to go for their dreams, give them an understanding of how to take care of themselves (face, body, hair, etc.) develop friendships, provide knowledge of self defense, and help them get ready for high school.”

 

The program began in 2006-7, with the girls who now comprise the junior class ofElkLakeHigh School.

A number of senior class girls volunteered for the evening, which lasted from3 p.m.school dismissal time until11:30 p.m.

In previous years, it has been an overnight activity.

Some of the activities included a self-defense class with Sensei John Filer from High Energy Fitness and Karate in Tunkhannock, spring fling games in the gym, water aerobics and relay races in the Elk Lake pool, a sundae party, scrapbooking, T-shirt designing and skits on teen issues.

They included timely issues of peer pressure, and staying true to who you are, cosmetology and skin care, and teamwork strategies.

The girls seemed to participate in the activities, especially the self-defense skills, with infectious gusto. There were six teams with seven girls each, defined by the color of their shirts. With each team were two adult leaders and one senior girl volunteer.

 By the end of the night, friendships were cemented, memories were scrapbooked, and schemes for success were explored.