It’s back to school time! The final weeks of summer are a bustling transition time that can be equal parts exciting and nerve-wracking, not to mention stressful. And like any new chapter, challenge, or journey, the on-ramp to a new school year requires confidence and essential life skills. No matter how amped up your girl is about heading back to school, one thing is for sure: a strong start begins with confidence.
That’s where the power of Girls on the Run comes into play!
More than 12 million girls ages 8 to 13 live in the US. Girls on the Run helps girls in this very age demographic build empowering life skills such as managing emotions, embracing differences, practicing healthy habits, and standing up for ourselves and others. These skills are not only valuable during the entire school year, but also for the rest of their lives. In a recent end-of-season survey with 8,090 caregivers, 96% of caregivers agreed that GOTR was a valuable experience for their child!
Check out these seven reasons to register your daughter for GOTR!
They build confidence
Girls on the Run believes girls are born with potential, power, and purpose. The program inspires participants to know and activate that potential, not just for the length of our season but long into adulthood. A variety of data, along with the voices of our community members, shows us that the need for confidence-building opportunities for girls has never been greater.
Girls on the Run addresses this need through a fun and motivating combination of physical movement, learning activities, and group discussion on relevant topics. Additionally, at the end of the season, the team completes a 5K together, showcasing their new, well-rounded skills and the vital role they played in building their confidence. All season long, the team works toward the goal of completing a 5K. In this process, participants become more competent and feel capable of fulfilling this achievement. Crossing the finish line creates a strong sense of accomplishment, and that accomplishment fuels their confidence, which transfers to all other domains in girls’ lives.
They nurture their mental health
Our program is intentionally designed to support positive mental health outcomes in girls. With lessons on managing emotions, empathy, and healthy habits, participants learn how to nurture their mental health and be compassionate toward others. Stressors related to isolation, pandemic trauma, societal pressures, and outdated gender stereotypes are negatively impacting girls. They need a program that makes them feel accepted, inspired, and motivated. And while every participant who registers for a season of GOTR has a unique outcome, a recent end-of-season survey showed that 92% of girls said they learned things at GOTR to help them deal with strong emotions, and 86% of caregivers agreed that GOTR helped their child gain skills to handle stress.
According to a recent Pew Research Center survey, mental health topped the list of worries that US parents expressed about their kids’ well-being. Unlike any other out there, our dynamic program offers a meaningful opportunity for girls to learn how to nurture their mental health with tactical takeaways and lessons that last.
They join a community of belonging
The need to belong is a vital human emotion. That’s why Girls on the Run created programs that foster a warm and welcoming environment for all, setting an ideal example for the start of a new school year. The activities and discussions in GOTR’s research-based curriculum allow participants to feel like they can be themselves, celebrate one another’s differences, and find strength in their connectedness. Additionally, participants learn how to create spaces of belonging and make others feel good about who they are. From the first moments of practice, caring coaches create a sense of community and encourage teamwork. Girls learn to support each other; they build mutual respect and trust.
The 2023 US advisory reported that loneliness and social isolation cause mental health struggles. Still, fortunately, at GOTR, girls can boldly show up as themselves more fully and authentically and learn how to form connections. And not only at practice but at school, home, and beyond. These feelings of belonging inspire them to make new friends and enter their new classroom with their heads held high!
They discover how to find joy (and their happy pace) in movement
At Girls on the Run, we know kids NEED to move! Why? Because movement enriches children’s lives in countless ways. It helps them process big emotions, feel confident in themselves, and brings them joy. The key is to make movement feel like play rather than exhausting, overly competitive exercise. When kids associate physical activity with fun, they’re more likely to stay active and enjoy it. Girls on the Run uses a research-based curriculum creatively combining movement with confidence-building lessons and activities. No matter how girls move – run, roll, walk, push – we welcome, encourage, and include all forms of movement.
The Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, 2nd edition recommends that children and adolescents ages 6 to 17 do 60 minutes or more of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity daily. Proving the value of GOTR’s movement-based activities and their impact on participants, an independent study conducted by Dr. Maureen R. Weiss found that girls who were the least active at the start of the season increased their physical activity level by 40% from pre- to post-season and maintained this increased level beyond the end of the season. So, if you are looking for a program that encourages healthy habits such as staying active, GOTR’s the place for your girl!
They develop life skills
An after-school program that’s bursting with fun, movement, and new skills that prepare girls for the future? Yes, Girls on the Run has it all! Our tested curriculum, trained coaches, and a top-tier commitment to equipping all girls with life skills (that ultimately fill their ‘GOTR Toolbox’) set us apart from other after-school programs. Every season, GOTR touches on topics that impact girls the most, such as being a good friend/choosing good friends, resolving conflict, using positive self-talk, coming together as a team, and knowing how to process strong emotions. Participants develop a new GOTR Toolbox with fresh skills and perspectives each season. Back-to-school time, or during any significant change or event, is always an excellent opportunity for girls to crack open their GOTR Toolbox and revisit all that they discovered and accomplished in the past.
They are mentored by trained, compassionate coaches
One person’s positive actions can change a child’s life forever. In communities from coast to coast, GOTR coaches are those very people. In fact, more than 34,000 GOTR volunteer coaches complete training and lead teams throughout North America every year. The relationships between team members and volunteer coaches create a bond that allows participants to embrace each lesson and activity wholeheartedly and even celebrate their mistakes. , In fact, trying new things and taking healthy risks when pursuing goals is a part of our program. As such, our coaches intentionally establish an environment where kids feel safe to mess up and learn throughout the process – the ups, downs, and everything in between.
In a Youth Truth survey of 200,000 students in 20 states, only 55% of elementary school students (in grades 3rd to 5th) said they have an adult at school they can talk to when they feel upset. The survey also showed that 42% of middle schoolers don’t feel they have an adult to turn to either. Girls need and deserve mentorship figures who believe in them, cheer them on from the sidelines, and support their goals, no matter what. Girls on the Run ensures every coach is properly trained so they are equipped to meet the unique needs of today’s youth and become role models who make girls feel seen, heard, and supported.
They learn the value of supporting their communities
Toward the end of every GOTR season, participants plan, create, and implement a Community Impact Project. As girls work together on their Community Impact Project, they witness first-hand what happens when you come together, open your heart, and work diligently to complete a team goal. The sooner girls engage in helpful acts and employ the life skills they learned at GOTR, the sooner they can connect closer to their community, recognize its assets, and become leaders who set a positive example. Teaching kids the importance of caring for your community benefits the causes they help and plays a crucial role in their development, helping them grow into compassionate, responsible, and well-rounded individuals.
Don’t miss your chance to register your Superstar for the upcoming season!