Girls On The Run Southeast Washington

GIRLS ON THE RUN INSPIRES INDIVIDUALS OF ALL ABILITIES TO DISCOVER, BUILD, AND GROW THEIR SELF-CONFIDENCE. TOGETHER, THEY EXPERIENCE A SENSE OF BELONGING AND CONNECTION AS A TEAM. VOLUNTEER COACHES FACILITATE LESSONS THAT BLEND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY WITH LIFE SKILL DEVELOPMENT, INCLUDING MANAGING EMOTIONS, FOSTERING FRIENDSHIPS, AND EXPRESSING EMPATHY. AT THE END OF THE SEASON, THE TEAM COMPLETES A COMMUNITY IMPACT PROJECT AND A 5K TOGETHER, WHICH PROVIDES A TANGIBLE SENSE OF ACCOMPLISHMENT AND SETS A CONFIDENT MINDSET INTO MOTION. WE SERVED 270 GIRLS IN GRADES 3-8 IN SE WA DURING OUR 2022-23. GIRLS ON THE RUN (GOTR) IS A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO EMPOWERING YOUNG GIRLS THROUGH A CURRICULUM THAT COMBINES PHYSICAL ACTIVITY, SUCH AS RUNNING, WITH LESSONS ON CONFIDENCE, SELF-ESTEEM, AND LIFE SKILLS. THE PROGRAM OFFERS NUMEROUS BENEFITS FOR PARTICIPANTS: 1. PHYSICAL HEALTH: GOTR ENCOURAGES GIRLS TO ENGAGE IN REGULAR PHYSICAL ACTIVITY THROUGH TRAINING FOR A 5K RUN. REGULAR EXERCISE HELPS IMPROVE CARDIOVASCULAR HEALTH, STRENGTH, AND OVERALL PHYSICAL FITNESS. 2. EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING: THE PROGRAM FOCUSES ON BUILDING GIRLS' SELF-CONFIDENCE, RESILIENCE, AND EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE. THROUGH POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT AND SUPPORTIVE COACHING, GIRLS DEVELOP A STRONGER SENSE OF SELF-WORTH AND LEARN HEALTHY WAYS TO COPE WITH STRESS AND CHALLENGES. 3. SOCIAL SKILLS: GOTR PROVIDES A SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT FOR GIRLS TO INTERACT WITH PEERS AND ADULT MENTORS. THEY LEARN VALUABLE SOCIAL SKILLS SUCH AS TEAMWORK, COMMUNICATION, AND CONFLICT RESOLUTION, FOSTERING POSITIVE RELATIONSHIPS AND A SENSE OF BELONGING. 4. GOAL SETTING: TRAINING FOR AND COMPLETING A 5K RUN TEACHES GIRLS THE IMPORTANCE OF SETTING AND WORKING TOWARDS GOALS. THIS EXPERIENCE INSTILLS A SENSE OF ACHIEVEMENT AND PERSEVERANCE, EMPOWERING GIRLS TO PURSUE THEIR ASPIRATIONS BOTH WITHIN AND OUTSIDE THE PROGRAM. 5. BODY POSITIVITY: GOTR PROMOTES A HEALTHY BODY IMAGE BY EMPHASIZING THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING ACTIVE AND STRONG RATHER THAN FOCUSING SOLELY ON APPEARANCE. GIRLS LEARN TO APPRECIATE AND RESPECT THEIR BODIES, FOSTERING A POSITIVE RELATIONSHIP WITH PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND SELF CARE. 6. LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT: THROUGH VARIOUS ACTIVITIES AND DISCUSSIONS, GIRLS ARE ENCOURAGED TO EXPRESS THEIR IDEAS, TAKE ON LEADERSHIP ROLES, AND ADVOCATE FOR THEMSELVES AND OTHERS. GOTR CULTIVATES FUTURE LEADERS WHO ARE CONFIDENT, COMPASSIONATE, AND EMPOWERED TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THEIR COMMUNITIES. 7. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT: GOTR ENCOURAGES GIRLS TO GIVE BACK TO THEIR COMMUNITIES THROUGH SERVICE PROJECTS AND VOLUNTEERISM. THIS FOSTERS A SENSE OF CIVIC RESPONSIBILITY AND INSTILLS VALUES OF EMPATHY AND COMPASSION. 8. RESEARCH HAS SHOWN THAT PARTICIPATION IN PROGRAMS LIKE GOTR CAN HAVE LASTING POSITIVE EFFECTS ON GIRLS' PHYSICAL, EMOTIONAL, AND SOCIAL WELL-BEING WELL BEYOND THEIR TIME IN THE PROGRAM. OVERALL, GOTR PROVIDES A HOLISTIC APPROACH TO GIRLS' EMPOWERMENT, EQUIPPING THEM WITH THE SKILLS, CONFIDENCE, AND SUPPORT SYSTEM THEY NEED TO NAVIGATE THE CHALLENGES OF ADOLESCENCE AND BEYOND.