Ohio Ace Education Marketplace

Girls on the Run Northeast Ohio (GOTRNEO) uses physical activity as a platform for teaching life skills and promoting positive social, emotional, and holistic health outcomes through developmentally appropriate lessons for 8- to 15-year-old girls. Girls learn critical life skills and behaviors such as how to manage emotions, help others, make intentional decisions, and resolve conflict that they can use long after the program’s conclusion. Social-emotional learning has been shown to provide short- and long-term benefits to children such as positive social behavior, less emotional stress, fewer behavioral problems, and academic success. Girls on the Run International (GOTRI) National Coach Training Program prepares coaches to build relationships with girls, create a positive, inclusive supportive environment (including providing an inclusive experience for girls with different abilities), support individual improvement, create trauma-sensitive spaces, and deliver the research-based curriculum as intended. Additionally, the program promotes the resiliency of adolescent girls by giving them the tools they need - such as coping skills, positive self-image, and positive self-talk - to navigate life's difficult situations. Girls on the Run has an intentional focus on social-emotional learning in each of the 20 lessons participants work through, as the organization recognizes the critical role social-emotional learning (SEL) plays in promoting positive mental health among youth. No participant is ever turned away due to financial need. Program scholarships are provided to either partially or fully cover the cost of registration fees based on self-identification of need in the registration packet. We offer 2 ten week programs, one in the spring and one in the fall. Girls on the Run is for girls ages 8-11 and Heart & Sole is for girls ages 12-15. The program is curriculum based. Lessons topics include, How to Manage Emotions, How to Eat Healthy, How to Show Gratitude, How to Manage Stress, to name a few. Each lesson includes physical activity and a healthy snack. The culminating event is the Girls on the Run celebratory 5k. All participants come together at one location to complete a non-competitive running/walking event. All participants cross the finish line and receive a medal. The program is for ALL girls including those with special social or emotional needs.