Girls on the Run is a life-changing character development program for girls grades 3-8 that uses running to teach values and a sense of self. The program combines training to participate in a non-competitive 1 or 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 a long in a group.
• Part 3: Examining their responsibility to the community.