MINOT, N.D. (KXNET) — BIO Girls, a program focused on teaching young girls the importance of building and nurturing self-esteem, is returning to Minot for its seventh year.
BIO is an acronym that means beautiful inside and out. The group meets on Tuesdays at 6 p.m. at Reach Her Park in Minot and is open to girls from second grade through sixth grade.
During the meetings, participants learn life skills (such as how to prevent bullying and develop self-confidence), fill out a diary, and at the end of the program, train for a 5K run with the help of a mentor.
Throughout the history of BIO Girls, organizers say they have seen participants start in second grade, grow through sixth grade, and eventually return to mentor new girls joining the program. This allows them to apply what they have learned at different stages of their lives. And then come back to teach the same skills to others.
“We've been able to see the experiences and tools these girls go through for years,” said Lindsay Hawes, co-director of the program. “Many of those girls come back as junior mentors and continue to work with us. It's a very rewarding program that the girls enjoy and keep coming back.”
Registration for the BIO Girls program ends on Monday, May 20th, but there are still a few spots available.
To sign up, visit this page on the organization's website. The leaders also added that while BIO Girls is fully funded, partial scholarships are also available to help pay for the program.