Girls On The Run Northeast Ohio

GIRLS ON THE RUN INSPIRES GIRLS TO BE JOYFUL, HEALTHY AND CONFIDENT USING A RESEARCH-BASED CURRICULUM WHICH CREATIVELY INTEGRATES RUNNING. IN SMALL GROUPS LED BY TRAINED VOLUNTEERS, GIRLS LEARN LIFE SKILLS THAT ENHANCE THEIR EMOTIONAL, SOCIAL, MENTAL AND PHYSICAL HEALTH, PLAN AND EXECUTE A COMMUNITY SERVICE PROJECT, AND TRAIN FOR THE CULMINATING EVENT OF THE CURRICULUM, THE 5K, THE COMPLETION OF WHICH ALLOWS GIRLS TO EXPERIENCE THE CONFIDENCE THAT COMES THROUGH ACCOMPLISHMENT.

GIRLS ON THE RUN IS A PHYSICAL ACTIVITY BASED YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM WHICH USES A RESEARCH-BASED CURRICULUM, RUNNING AND OTHER EXERCISE TO TEACH LIFE SKILLS AND ENCOURAGE REGULAR PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND HEALTHY LIFESTYLES. THE GIRLS ON THE RUN CURRICULUM IS IMPLEMENTED BY TRAINED VOLUNTEERS WHO FOSTER A CARING AND SAFE ENVIRONMENT AND DEVELOP MEANINGFUL RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE GIRLS. THE RESEARCH-BASED GIRLS ON THE RUN CURRICULUM TEACHES LIFE SKILLS THROUGH LESSONS PROMOTING COMPETENCE, CONFIDENCE, CONNECTION, CHARACTER AND CONTRIBUTION TO ONE'S COMMUNITY, THE CRITICAL COMPONENTS OF A POSITIVE YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM. GIRLS ON THE RUN GENERALLY ROTATES BETWEEN 3 CURRICULUMS IN ORDER TO KEEP CONTENT FRESH FOR GIRLS WHO HAVE PARTICIPATED A NUMBER OF SEASONS, ALTHOUGH THIS IS NOT A REQUIREMENT. IF WE ARE IN A POSITION DUE TO AN UNUSUALLY LARGE SEASON OR FUNDING RESTRICTIONS DEPENDING ON NEEDS THAT HAVE ARISEN DURING THE YEAR, THE SAME CURRICULUM MAY BE USED BACK TO BACK. THIS DOES NOT AT ALL TAKE AWAY FROM THE EXPERIENCE THE GIRLS WILL HAVE. WITH THE DYNAMICS OF THE GROUP ALWAYS CHANGING DUE TO NEW GIRLS AND DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES, THE CONTENT IS ALWAYS ENGAGING AND PERTINENT. BY THE END OF EACH SEASON, GIRLS DEVELOP AND IMPROVE COMPETENCE AND STRENGTH OF CHARACTER, DEMONSTRATE GREATER SELF-CONFIDENCE, TREAT THEMSELVES AND OTHERS WITH CARE AND COMPASSION, AND LEARN THE POWER OF HELPING OTHERS THROUGH THEIR COMPLETION OF A SERVICE PROJECT. THE PHYSICAL EXERCISE COMPONENT OF EACH LESSON PREPARES ALL GIRLS TO RUN OR WALK THE GIRLS ON THE RUN 5K, WHICH SERVES AS THE CULMINATING EVENT OF THE 10 WEEK PROGRAM. CROSSING THE FINISH LINE BUILDS A VERY REAL SENSE OF COMPETENCE AS GIRLS EXPERIENCE THE CONFIDENCE WITH COMES THROUGH ACCOMPLISHMENT. COMBINED TOGETHER, THESE SKILLS POSITION GIRLS TO AVOID UNHEALTHY HABITS AND RISKY BEHAVIORS, AND LEAD THEM TO BEING HEALTHY - PHYSICALLY, MENTALLY AND SOCIALLY. GIRLS ON THE RUN IS EFFECTIVE AND APPROPRIATE FOR GIRLS OF ALL RACES, ETHNICITIES, SOCIAL STANDING, FITNESS LEVEL, FAMILY OR ECONOMIC SITUATION. THE FORMAT OF THE PROGRAM AFFORDS ALL GIRLS THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE SUCCESSFUL AND WE ARE ABLE TO ENGAGE GIRLS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS. DURING THE LAST THREE SCHOOL YEARS, GIRLS WITH BLINDNESS, AUTISM, DOWN'S SYNDROME AND PHYSICAL DISABILITIES PARTICIPATED. TEAMS OFTEN INCLUDE GIRLS WITH SPECIAL PHYSICAL AND/OR EMOTIONAL DISABILITIES. THE TARGET POPULATION FOR GIRLS ON THE RUN IS GIRLS IN 3RD-8TH GRADES. A CALENDAR YEAR CONSISTS OF TWO SEASONS (FALL AND SPRING) AND EXTENDS FOR TWO, TEN WEEK SESSIONS, ON TWO AFTERNOONS A WEEK ALTHOUGH A HANDFUL OF SITES OFFER THE PROGRAM AS PART OF THE SCHOOL DAY. SITES HAVE THE ABILITY TO OFFER THE PROGRAM AT THE TIME THAT IS MOST CONVENIENT FOR THE VOLUNTEER COACHES AND WHEN SPACE IS AVAILABLE, INCLUDING EVENINGS, WEEKENDS, DURING THE SCHOOL DAY OR BEFORE SCHOOL STARTS. DURING THE FALL 2020 AND SPRING 2021 GIRLS ON THE RUN WAS STILL NAVIGATING THE PANDEMIC. THE PROGRAM REMAINED RELEVANT, HOWEVER SCHOOL CLOSURES AND GATHERING RESTRICTIONS SIGNIFICANTLY IMPACTED OUR REGISTRATION NUMBERS AND THE ABILITY TO RECRUIT VOLUNTEERS. DURING THIS TIME GIRLS ON THE RUN SERVED A TOTAL OF 710 GIRLS WHICH WAS 40% OF THE GIRLS WE WOULD HAVE SERVED HAD WE NOT BEEN NAVIGATING THE PANDEMIC. THE ABILITY TO SERVE ANY GIRL IS A TESTIMONY TO HOW IMPORTANT IT WAS FOR GIRLS TO HAVE SOCIAL AND PHYSICAL OPPORTUNITIES DURING A TIME THEY WERE EITHER NOT IN SCHOOL OR UNABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN OUT OF SCHOOL ACTIVITIES. 49% OF THESE GIRLS CAME FROM FAMILIES WHO WERE NOT ABLE TO PAY ALL OR A PORTION OF THE PROGRAM FEES. BECAUSE OF THE SUPPORT GIRLS ON THE RUN RECEIVES FROM FOUNDATIONS, CORPORATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS, THE FINANCIAL BARRIER WAS ELIMINATED ALLOWING EACH GIRL TO PARTICIPATE REGARDLESS OF THEIR FINANCIAL SITUATION. ALL GIRLS ON THE RUN COUNCILS CHARGE A PROGRAM FEE FOR GIRLS TO PARTICIPATE, AND THE REVENUES GENERATED HELP PAY FOR ALL SUPPLY, PROGRAM AND CURRICULUM COSTS, INCENTIVES AND HEALTHY SNACKS FOR GIRLS, THE COSTS FOR HOLDING THE SEMI-ANNUAL 5K RUN, THE RECRUITMENT, SCREENING AND TRAINING OF VOLUNTEERS, AND PROFESSIONAL STAFF TO ENSURE THE QUALITY OF THE PROGRAM AND PROPER OVERSIGHT OF ALL PARTICIPANTS. THE PROGRAM FEE IS 165.00, YET THE COSTS PER GIRL OF OFFERING THE PROGRAM ARE HIGHER. THIS FEE AMOUNT IS USED TO MAKE THE PROGRAM AFFORDABLE TO FAMILIES. WE NO LONGER OFFER A SLIDING SCALE. GIRLS ON THE RUN REGISTRATION FEES ARE BASED ON THE HONOR SYSTEM. GIRLS WHO NEED SHOES ARE NO LONGER PROVIDED A VOUCHER. THE COUNCIL WILL PURCHASE SHOES AT A DISCOUNT TO ENSURE ANY GIRL WHO IS IN NEED OF ATHLETIC SHOES RECEIVES THEM. HEALTHY SNACKS - FRUIT, VEGETABLES, PRETZELS, AIR-POPPED POPCORN, LOW-FAT CHEESE - ARE PROVIDED TO ALL GIRLS AT EVERY LESSON TO NOT ONLY NOURISH THEM AFTER SCHOOL BUT ALSO TO TEACH THEM THE IMPORTANCE OF USING GOOD NUTRITION TO PROPERLY FUEL THEIR BODIES. HAD THE SEASON BEEN NORMAL, THE COUNCIL WOULD HAVE PROVIDED OVER 23,000 SNACKS. ADDITIONALLY, EACH GIRL IS GIVEN A WATER BOTTLE AND INSTRUCTED TO BRING IT, FILLED WITH WATER, TO EACH LESSON SO THEY CAN STAY PROPERLY HYDRATED. THE 5K IS THE FINAL, CELEBRATORY EVENT OF THE 10 WEEK PROGRAM. ALL GIRLS, THE PROGRAM VOLUNTEERS, FAMILY MEMBERS AND FRIENDS OF GIRLS ON THE RUN WILL RUN OR WALK THE UNTIMED, FAMILY-FRIENDLY 5K. EVERY GIRL WEARS A RACE BIB WITH "1" ON IT AND RECEIVES A MEDAL WHEN SHE CROSSES THE FINISH LINE. THE FALL AND SPRING IN PERSON 5K'S WERE CANCELED DUE TO GATHERING RESTRICTIONS. EACH SITE HOSTING GIRLS ON THE RUN WAS GIVEN A 5K IN A BOX. SITES HOSTED THEIR OWN 5K AT THEIR LOCATION OR A LOCATION NEARBY. PARTICIPANTS WERE GIVEN BIBS, MEDALS AND OTHER SUPPLIES TO ENSURE THE EVENT WAS CELEBRATORY AND FUN. GIRLS ON THE RUN SEEKS TO ENGAGE THE PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS OF PARTICIPANTS AS WELL. TO ASSIST FAMILIES IN REINFORCING THE LESSONS LEARNED AT GIRLS ON THE RUN, PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS ARE PRESENTED WITH A "GROWN UP GUIDE." THIS GUIDE PROVIDES A SUMMARY OF EACH LESSON TOPIC AND SUGGESTED QUESTIONS AND CONVERSATION STARTERS TO FACILITATE DISCUSSION BETWEEN ADULT AND CHILD. ALSO INCLUDED IN THE GUIDES ARE 5 DIFFERENT PLANS FOR PARENTS OR CAREGIVERS AT EVERY FITNESS LEVEL TO TRAIN TO WALK OR RUN THE 5K ALONGSIDE THEIR DAUGHTER. FOR MANY PARENTS AND SIBLINGS, THE GIRLS ON THE RUN 5K ALSO SERVES AS THEIR FIRST EXPERIENCE OF COMPLETING A FITNESS EVENT AND INSPIRES THE FAMILY TO COMMIT TO LIVING HEALTHIER LIFESTYLES.