Girls on the Run NJ EastBurlington, Essex, Mercer, Morris, and Union Counties

NEW SITE INFORMATION PACKETFALL OR SPRING PROGRAM

A Non-Pro!t After School Youth Development Program

Girls on The Run 3-5th Grade Elementary School GirlsHeart & Sole 6-8th Grade Middle School Girls

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Our Spring and Fall Programs are being delivered in:

Burlington, Essex, Mercer, Morris, and Union Counties

GIRLS ON THE RUN!e Girls on the Run mission is to inspire girls to be joyful, healthy and con"dent using a fun, experience-based curriculum which creatively integrates running. Girls on the Run is an after school youth development program for girls 3–8th grade. !e 10 week curriculum inventively weaves training for a 5k run with lessons that empower girls to celebrate their bodies, honor their voices and embrace their gifts.

Running is used to inspire and motivate girls, encourage lifelong health and "tness, and build con"dence through accomplishment. Important social, psychological, and physical skills and abilities are developed and reinforced throughout the program. At each season’s conclusion, the girls and their running buddies com-plete a 5k running event which gives them a tangible sense of achievement as well as a framework for setting and achieving life goals.

OUR PROGRAMSWe currently o#er two programs with age-appropriate curriculums for each. • Girls on the Run is designed for girls in 3rd – 5th grade• Heart & Sole is designed for girls in 6th - 8th grade

OUR VISION• To provide life-changing, high quality programs for girls• To provide life-changing and high quality experiences to the women delivering the program• To promote and provide an environment that allows girls and women to reach their full potential• To positively transform how girls and women perceive themselves and their place in society

WHY GIRLS ON THE RUN?• We offer our program to ALL girls regardless of their ability to pay. We provide a confidential, family�

income scale that accommodates every girl who desires to participate.• Girls on the Run is supported in our community and has been offered for nearly 20 years in Essex and�

Union counties. Local foundations and businesses including the Nancy & Willis King Foundation and3� Seelaus & Co., Inc. have provided scholarships and funding to help expand our program.

• Our program aligns with The American Academy of Pediatrics Physical Fitness and Activity inSchools Report. We provide an extracurricular physical activity program and research based curricula�that emphasizes enjoyable participation and confidence needed to adopt and maintain a healthy lifestyle.

• Our 10 week program provides activities such as running, playing games and discussing important age�appropriate topics such as peer pressure and the importance of making healthy choices.

• The program concludes with all participants walking or running in a community 5, event. This involves�the family, friends, teachers and community at large.

• The program utilizes a whole-person approach to elevate emotional, social, mental and physical health.

We look forward to registering your school or community recreation center

www.girlsontherunnj.org

ABOUT OUR GIRLS ON THE RUN PROGRAM

ME + RELATIONSHIPS + COMMUNITYMeeting twice a week in small teams of 8-20 girls, we teach life skills through dynamic, interactive lessons and running games. !e 20-lesson curriculum is taught by certi"ed Girls on the Run coaches and includes three parts: understanding ourselves, valuing relationships and teamwork and understanding how we connect with and shape the world at large. Each 75 minute lesson is led by trained volunteer coaches.

Over the course of the program, girls will develop and improve competence, feel con"dence in who they are, develop strength of character, respond to others and oneself with care and compassion, create positive connections with peers and adults, and make a meaningful contribution to community and society.

POWER THROUGH SERVICEAcknowledging that accomplishment has many $avors, each team creates and executes a local community service project. !is experience demonstrates to girls the unimaginable strength that comes from helping others.

UP AND RUNNINGAt each season’s conclusion, the girls, each paired with a running buddy, complete a 5, running event. This is an inspiring gathering of friends and family. Completing a 5, gives the girls a tangible sense of achievement as well as a framework for setting and achieving life goals. !e results are the same—making the seemingly impossible, possible.

Simple, engaging and extraordinary. The result? Healthy, con!dent girls who can.

GIRLS ON THE RUN CURRICULAGirls on the Run is the name of the organization, but we o#er two programs: Girls on the Run for 3rd-5th grade girls and Heart & Sole for 6th-8th grade girls. !e principal philosophies and psychological research for both programs are the same, yet some topics and discussion questions vary for developmental reasons. !e Heart & Sole curriculum allows for deeper discussion on topics becoming more and more relevant as girls grow into middle school, providing a safe outlet for discussion at this crucial stage of development.

Each curriculum covers 20 lessons, and each lesson follows a general pattern incorporating lesson goals.

As the girls arrive and settle into a circle, the coach “checks in” with them, sees how each is feeling, gets a feel for the group’s dynamic for the day, and introduces the topic of the lesson. !is portion of the lesson will include an activity and discussion.

Next is a game - perhaps a short relay or some other brief activity. !e topic of the lesson is incorporated into the game. For instance, in one of the "rst lessons, the coach marks o# a short running course. !e girls stand at one spot and the coach calls out a “like statement” - “I like chocolate chip cookies,” or “I like math.” All those girls who agree with the statement run (or walk, or jog - they set their own pace) the course marked out by the coach. !ese statements continue, with contributions by the girls, until everyone has had a chance to run and warm up.

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With their muscles warmed up a bit, the coach leads the girls through a brief stretching session. During that time, the girls and the coach “process” the topic. In this example, they might discuss how people can have di#erent likes and dislikes and still be friends, or how our likes and dislikes develop, etc.

Next comes the “workout” portion of our lesson. !is involves more actual running. For instance, in the session on positive attitude, each girl may be asked to make a positive statement about herself to the coach each time she completes a lap. !e season starts with shorter periods of running and builds up as the coaches assess each girl’s ability and pace. Eventually, the workout will build up to a practice 5K to build the girls’ con"dence for participating in the actual 5K event.

After the workout, there is cool down and more processing. !e session always ends with a cheer.

!e curriculum is divided generally into three parts:1. !e "rst lessons in the curriculum are centered on the girls getting to know themselves, examining their

own values, their likes and dislikes, and who they envision themselves to be. As the girls get to knowthemselves, they are also sharing with each other.

2. !e next group of lessons concentrates on team building, being supportive, and learning to listen andcooperate.

3. !e last group of lessons relates to the world at large, including making a contribution to your world(family, school, etc.) and also the negative messages we can receive from the world (media awareness,negative peer pressure, etc.).

!e lessons conclude with participation in a 5K run. We partner with an existing race in our community in both the fall and spring. Please note: there is a fee charged for participation in this event. !ese are great events that celebrate participants in Girls on the Run!

Executive Director: Sydney Davis (862) 223-9054 • sydney@girlsontherunnj.org

Program Director: Anne Klein (973) 951-4266 • anne@girlsontherunnj.org

Director of Development: Colleen Ijalana (303) 884-6557 • colleen.ijalana@girlsontherun.org

Director of Burlington County: Melissa Neiheisel (609) 304-4607 • melissa.neiheisel@girlsontherun.org

Director of Essex County: 5FSSJ�%J.BSUJOJ�(SFFOMFF (���)���-���� • UFSSJ.EJNBSUJOJ�HSFFOMFF@girlsontherun.org

Director of Morris County: Kim Hammond (973) 945-5004 • kim.ciriaco@girlsontherun.org

Director of Union County: Jane Collins (908) 337-9703 • jane.collins@girlsontherun.org

Director of Community Relations: Lori Kapferer (717) 380-7312 • lori.kapferer@girlsontherun.org

Accounting Manager: Sarah Morrison (201) 486-0911 • sarah.morrison@girlsontherun.org

OUR STAFF

www.girlsontherunnj.org

GETTING GIRLS ON BOARD

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• Flyers can be customized by GOTRNJ and sent home�with girls via electronic backpacks OR hard copies

• Should your school or organization prefer registration�NOT online, we can work out a system with paper forms

• Girls are signed up on a first come, first served basis

• Sites must have a minimum of 8 girls and max of 20 girls�for the program

• Roster updates will be provided as girls register

GETTING COACHES ON BOARD

• GOTR recommends having 2-3 coaches per site, 1 head coach and 2 assistant coaches

• Reach out to potential parents or teachers at the school or in the community to assist in coaching

• GOTR can assist in providing additional coaches if necessary

• Coaches will be trained by Girls on the Run NJ at a 5 hour training prior to the season start.GOTR NJ will reimburse coaches to become CPR certi"ed

• GOTR provides the detailed 10 week curriculum and a “coach’s box” which will include all materials,game pieces, and props for lesson plans

All coaches need to !ll out the following forms:

• Volunteer Application

• Background Check Authorization

• Non-Compete Clause

www.girlsontherunnj.org

GETTING YOUR SITE ON BOARD

TIMING AND LENGTH OF SEASON

We currently have two seasons of Girls on the Run each year: Spring Season - begins in late March or early April, runs for 10 weeks meeting twice a week and ends in early June with our Girls on the Run 5k. To begin a session at your site in the spring, planning should ideally begin in the fall and be "nalized in January.

Fall Season – begins in mid September, runs for 10 weeks meeting twice a week and ends in early November with our Girls on the Run 5k. To begin a session at your site in the fall, planning should ideally take place during the school year prior to the fall season.

Sites can host our program both seasons, fall and spring, each academic year or select to host a program once/year.

SITE INVOLVEMENT

GOTR will provide materials, training and support to make your site successful. !e site has the following responsibilities:

• Provide a Site Liaison. Ideally this is a teacher, counselor, parent, or other involved person at the school.!is person assists with promoting Girls on the Run at their school, distributing registration informationalong with program and 5k information. !e site liaison communicates with the Girls on the Run NJand can set up a parent informational meeting to promote Girls on the Run prior to each season. !isperson can also be a coach for our program.

• Provide a space, if possible. !is does not have to be a track. A "eld, playground surface, rooftop area,nearby park, or parking lot can all work. If the outdoor space is a nearby park, it should be within a safe10-minute walk from the site.

• Provide a “rainy day” site. While a gym is preferred, this could also be a cafeteria, classroom or other safeindoor space with enough room for all girls to comfortably sit and participate in an activity.

• Choose two days a week for the program to meet (75 minutes each session). !is can include a Saturdayand schedule is based on coaches availability.

• Provide at least two coaches to be trained by Girls on the Run.

PARTICIPANT REGISTRATION

• Girls on the Run is open to girls in 3rd through 5th grades. Heart & Sole is our middle school program�for girls in 6th through 8th grade.

• Program sites are responsible for helping to promote Girls on the Run to girls and parents and for�distributing registration link or forms provided by the Girls on the Run staff.

• Registration opens prior to the start of the season and closes by the second week of the season.

• Families register participants online through the Girls on the Run website at girlsontherunnj.org.�Limited paper form registration is available, depending on your site.Spring Registration opens 'FCSVBSZ��� and Fall Registration opens August 1

www.girlsontherunnj.org

PROGRAM FEES AND SCHOLARSHIPS

Our program fee is currently $��9 per participant. This fee covers the cost of program supplies, curriculum, liability insurance, program shirt, water bottle, end of season gift, coach training, and staff support. There JT an additional fee to participate in the 5K event. As a nonprofit, we charge our cost-per-girl to deliver the program. Scholarships are available based on individual family need with a sliding scale. During the registration process, participants may choose a discounted fee based on their income level.

We also o#er a reduced rate program fee for sites that have a site-wide need for "nancial assistance. Our goal is to o#er our program to all girls, regardless of "nancial ability to pay for the program.

VOLUNTEER COACHES

Volunteer Coaches facilitate the curriculum at each program site. Coaches do not have to be runners; they only need to have the desire to serve as a role model for the girls by showing positive behavior, being interactive and listening attentively. !ese women or men can be faculty, sta#, parents or community members. Two coaches must be on site for teams of 8 to 15 girls, and three coaches must be on site for teams of 16 to 20 girls. Coach position descriptions can be found at www.girlsontherunnj.org.

While recruiting volunteer coaches can be a challenge when starting a new program site, we have found that program sites are most successful when coaches are a part of the community they serve. "erefore, we require that potential program sites assist in recruiting coaches. Girls on the Run can provide coach descriptions, recruitment posters, a sample newsletter article, and other materials to support new sites in recruiting coaches. Girls on the Run NJ also independently recruits coaches, and can assign one or more to your site based on need and coach availability. Girls on the Run NJ o#ers multiple New Coach Training sessions before the start of each season, along with reimbursements for CPR & First Aid Certi"cation.

GROUP SIZE

Each team should have between 8-20 girls. Because much of our curriculum is related to team building and group dynamics, fewer than 8 girls may make it di%cult to provide the experience we want to o#er to the girls. Additional girls above the maximum of 20 will be put on a wait list, and a second team will ideally be added if space and coaches are available to support a second team.

PARENT RESOURCES # GROWN UP GUIDE

We provide a Grown up Guide for both our Girls on the Run and Heart & Sole curricula. !e Guide contains questions and conversation starters you can use at home to reinforce the learning goals of the curriculum. By stimulating conversations that build upon each lesson topic, we hope to further weave the Girls on the Run mission into the daily lives of the girls and the adults who care for and love them.

Upon review of your application, we will reach out to you about visiting your site or school for a location review and for a discussion of next steps in hosting the program for the upcoming season.

We look forward to bringing Girls on the Run or Heart & Sole to your site next season!

www.girlsontherunnj.org