What is Girls on the Run of NOVA?
Girls on the Run® is a life-changing learning program for girls in grades 3-8. The program combines training for a 3.1 mile running event with self-esteem enhancing, uplifting workouts. The goal of the program is to encourage positive emotional, social, mental, spiritual, and physical development.

The Girls on the Run® approach encourages its preteen participants to talk with their parents/caretakers, with their same-sex peers, and within themselves. The six to twelve week programs use physical activity (running) and experiential learning to teach very specific and well-defined social and personal (character development) skills. Pre- and post-tests are used to measure participant attitudinal changes.

The curriculum addresses and attempts to change the girl's budding notions that:

• How a person looks is more important than who she is
   
• Good girls don't show anger or stand up for themselves
   
• Gossip is an acceptable behavior
   
• Adults' views are uncool and outdated

Program Structure
Girls on the Run programs, led by a certified Girls on the Run® coach, meet, in groups of up to twenty participants, twice weekly at large fields or tracks for one hour sessions to prepare for and complete a 3.1 mile running event. An innovative, challenging 24 lesson plan curriculum (there are two sets of 24 lesson plans currently available with more in the works) designed exclusively for pre-teen girls, addresses specific life skills through the use of games, warm-ups and workouts.

Topics covered during the program are based on the work of psychologists Mario Fantini and Gerald Weinstein. The individual girl's identity and personal connections with others, as well as her potential feelings of powerlessness within herself and her community are addressed.

Program participants explore the importance of being physically, mentally and emotionally healthy. They examine their own core values and uniqueness. They also examine body image issues, stereotyping and discriminatory behaviors, as well as the importance of maintaining a realistic and healthy view of themselves.

Girls take from the program a better understanding of how to process the cultural and social messages they receive through media and other institutions. They see a stronger place for themselves within their community.

Lesson Format
The Girls on the Run® curriculum is based on activities with specific functions to enhance the learning process.

• Each meeting begins with a getting-on-board and a warm-up activity that brings the girls' focus onto the day's topic.
• The warm-up is followed by a stretching routine that allows for a 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 a team goal.
   
• Afterwards, cool-down stretching is then combined with participant asked and answered questions.
   
• Each session closes with a snack and positive words from the girls' coach regarding individual and group behaviors.

Click here for a sample lesson.

Program Location
Dedicated adults that are knowledgeable about and value physical fitness become Girls on the Run® coaches. CPR and basic first aid skills are requested. A proven user-friendly curriculum is provided for all coaches as a guide.

Girls on the Run® programs are available to any entity that provides a gathering place. Locations for hosting the Girls on the Run® program include, but are not limited to, YMCA's, public and private schools, Jewish Community Centers, churches, and community recreation centers. Programs are held at large fields or tracks. In the event of inclement weather, an indoor facility is used.

Program History
Molly Barker, a four-time Hawaii Ironman Triathlete, established the program in August of 1996 to celebrate the gifts of girlhood and to address what she calls "Girl-Box" issues. She is a former high school teacher and track coach. She has also worked as a college counselor at a small private college addressing the needs of women with eating disorders, alcohol and substance abuse problems and depression.

The product of Molly's experience, Girls on the Run® is one way to provide pre-adolescent girls with enabling tools to embrace their girlhood gifts as they enter middle and high school, and then on into adulthood.

Girls on the Run of NOVA was established in 2001 as a non-profit organization, and has grown from 2 initial sites with 27 girls to 42 sites with well over 650 girls (as of Fall 2005). On a National level, the program has expanded to over 110 councils across the country and into Canada.

Frequently Asked Questions

What do Girls say about Girls on the Run?

"I learned that teamwork makes whatever you're doing better."

"[One thing I like about myself is] that I'm a helpful, strong, nice, healthy girl!!"

"I feel good about myself and don't worry about what kind of things other [people] have."

"[I learned that] you're beautiful no matter what."

"I learned that running can help you with many things [in life]."

"I loved it!  Seriously!"

"[I learned that] I can be one of the slowest [runners] and still have fun."

"I LOVE THE COACHES!!!"