OUR PROGRAM

What Is Girls on the Run?
Girls on the Run® of Greater Sacramento (GOTRGS) is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping young girls in grades 3 to 8 to make choices for healthy living and community responsibility. Our after-school running programs utilize an innovative curriculum to focus on building self-esteem and improving physical and emotional well-being during the most challenging years of adolescence.

We have two GOTR programs in school sites in Greater Sacramento. Girls on the Run is for girls in grades 3 to 5, while Girls on Track is for girls in grades 6 to 8. Both programs are built on the same philosophies and goals, but the curriculums are designed to be age appropriate. For example, the Girls on Track curriculum goes into greater depth and targets age-appropriate discussions about issues such as eating disorders, tobacco and alcohol use, personal/internet safety, and harassment. These issues may be touched upon in Girls on the Run, but the discussions may be a bit more vague. Of course, both programs include lots of running to build a sense of individual self-esteem and team accomplishment.

How Long is the Program?
Our Fall season is 10 weeks long, and Spring seasons run for 12 weeks.  The girls meet twice a week for one hour after school, and each session is filled with fun activities to develop running and life skills.

What's the Goal? By the end of the 10 or 12-week session the girls will have chosen and participated in a community service project. Each girl will also complete a 3.1 mile (5k) running event with her team members!

Why Should My Daughter Be A Part of GOTR?
We challenge each girl to celebrate her mind, body and spirit by being her goofy, unique-spirited self. We believe that you can find your inner strength by running, skipping, sprinting, hopping, dashing, leaping, gliding, rolling, or cart-wheeling all the way to the finish line!

What Will My Daughter Learn?
The curriculum that our coaches use provides a forum for girls to discuss and make choices about physical fitness, good eating habits, saying "no" to drugs, values, positive communication, and community service. We teach this curriculum by focusing on these three broad areas:

• Understanding ourselves and setting personal goals
• Learning skills to get along in a group
• Examining our responsibility and voice in the community

Click here to see a sample Girls on the Run lesson plan.

Who Will Be My Daughter's Coach?
Our dedicated coaches have been specially trained to facilitate learning sessions, mentor girls and build a team of girls who believe in themselves. Coaches are also certified in CPR and First Aid and have undergone Department of Justice fingerprinting and background checks.

How Many Girls Can Participate?
Each program has room for up to 15 girls. Each group will have at least one coach and an assistant coach.

How Much Does It Cost?
The cost for each girl is $130.00 per season. Please ask about scholarship opportunities! Each season includes:

• 24 after-school meetings for 12 weeks
• A T-shirt
• A water bottle
• A nutritious snack at practice
• Entry fees for a community run at the end of the session
• Community service experience