Why the young age?
Studies show that girls between the ages of eight and twelve are still receptive to adult influence, while beginning to feel peer pressure. It's an age psychologists call the latency period of development when girls begin to confront important life and relationship issues. As a prevention program, Girls on the Run initiates healthy decision making about difficult issues and really talking to their parents/caretakers before it's too late.
In addition, learning healthy exercise habits early in life increases the chances that participants will value their own physical fitness as adults. Recent studies show that only those who develop exercise habits in their teen years or earlier are likely to maintain those habits for life. It's well documented that regular, moderate exercise improves cardiovascular functioning, and reduces the risk of developing breast cancer, osteoporosis (brittle bones), and obesity. In addition, girls of this age are more open to the positive peer influences, positive adult role models and the confidence enhancing which are all parts of the GOTR experience.
Do you have scholarships?
Yes! We are dedicated to making the program available to all girls, regardless of financial situation. Scholarship recipients must complete an application, scholarships are based on a sliding scale, however we also take into account extenuating circumstances. Please see scholarship request for more information.
What do the fees include?
- a well-developed curriculum
- lessons conducted by a certified GOTR® Coach
- a water bottle
- an official Girls on the Run T-shirt
- participation in a 5K event
Can my daughter repeat the program?
Absolutely! Each of our curricula was designed to be used over and over again with girls new to the program and with girls repeating the program. As education theory attests (and as most experienced teachers or coaches soon discover), children learn from repetition, and lessons repeated sink deeper and have more lasting effects than single shot experiences. Despite the popular cultural demand for novelty, if you really want to get a concept across to a kid, you need to give them a chance to go it once, then do it again, and again. And with each repetition, the level of learning increases. A variation of the Girls on the Run program - Girls on Track - has proven positive with middle school participants.
What about a program for boys?
Why only girls? We know that boys are in as much crisis as girls. We are currently piloting a Boys on the Run program in Charlotte , NC - the headquarters for Girls on the Run International. The program is in its infancy stages (as of 2/04) and will probably not be available to the general public for at least one year.
Who are your coaches?
Our coaches are a team of dynamic and diverse women from the community passionate about healthy living and dedicated to helping girls stay out of the girl box. Coaches are trained by GOTR to implement the program, and are CPR and First Aid certified. At lease one head and one assistant coach lead each site of 8-15 girls. |
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