Our Program

Girls on the Run is a life-changing character development program for girls ages 8-12 that uses running to teach values and a sense of self. The program combines training to participate in a non-competitive 3.1 mile running event with self-esteem enhancing, uplifting workouts and a community service project. The goal of the program is to encourage positive emotional, social, mental, spiritual and physical development. Furthermore, we encourage participants to talk with their parents/caretakers, with their peers, and within themselves. The 24-lesson-plan curriculum attempts to change a girl's budding notion that how she looks is more important than who she is.

Program Design

The Girls on the Run curriculum is based on experiential learning activities designed to teach participants about topics related to self-respect and healthy living.

Each meeting begins with a getting-on-board and warm up activity that brings the girl's focus onto the day's topic.
The warm-up is followed by a stretching routine that allows for topic-related question and answer time.
Then, during the workout period, the girls participate in a variety of running activities that are camouflaged in a game or team goal.
Afterwards, cool-down stretching is then combined with participant asked and answered questions.

The three-part curriculum is taught by certified Girls on the Run coaches.

Part 1: Understanding themselves and setting personal goals.
Part 2: Learning skills to get along in a group.
Part 3: Examining their responsibility to the community.