ISTA members launch second year of running club
09/02/2016
Shannon Walmoth and Emily Clem are ISTA members at Reagan Elementary School in Brownsburg. Last year, with a grant from the Brownsburg Education Foundation, they started the Reagan on the Run club for fourth and fifth grade students at the school to encourage an active lifestyle – they had 120 participants. Below, Walmoth and Clem describe how the club started and what the second year will bring.
Q: How did the Reagan on the Run club begin?
A: We noticed that a lot of our students were not involved in extra-curricular activities outside of school. Running is an activity that does not take a specific skill. We figured that it would create an opportunity for more students to participate in an extracurricular activity.
Q: What do you hope the club provides for students?
A: We hope that this club provides an opportunity for students to get moving. We want students to feel like they have a strong support system in and outside of the classroom. Our ultimate hope is that these students can feel like they are a part of something much bigger than themselves. We hope that this club gives students a chance to build their confidence by setting goals and achieving them. This club is not just for physical well-being, but also emotional and social well-being.
Q: Why do you think young people are interested in the club?
A: We feel like there are a variety of reasons that students come out for this after-school club. Some are trying to build their endurance and stamina for other sports. Some students want a chance to get active that doesn’t require a lot of skill. Some students are there in order to have something else to do rather than sit on the couch at home. For whatever reason students come out and join the club, they are really good about staying with it.
Q: Do you plan on applying for another grant from Brownsburg Education Foundation? If you are awarded the grant, how do you plan to use the funds?
A: Luckily, we applied for another grant through our Brownsburg Education Foundation, and we received funding again for this upcoming year. The funds help to keep the program free to all students. The grant pays for a T-shirt for each runner and healthy snacks after each practice for all runners. The funds also help to get some running gear for runners who need it. We make sure that everyone has a good water bottle and proper running shoes.
Q: Are both of you runners, too? What was your interest in facilitating the club?
A: Yes, both of us have been running for years. We both ran in middle school and high school and it continues to be a hobby. Running makes us feel great about ourselves, so we figured that running could positively impact younger runners who are starting to find their identity.