About GOTR

What is the mission?
To educate and prepare girls for a lifetime of self-respect and healthy living.

What are the program goals?

• Reduce the potential display of at-risk activities among participants, including eating disorders, teen pregnancy, substance abuse, and depression
• Provide positive, healthy images of girls and women through quality and life-changing programming
• Encourage physical as well as emotional, mental, and character development for participants
• Promote an environment that allows girls and women to reach their full potential

How is the curriculum structured?
The curriculum encompasses the following 3 concepts:

• Weeks 1 - 4: All About Me – Getting to know who I am and what I stand for
• Weeks 5 - 8: Building My Team - Understanding the importance of cooperation
• Weeks 9 -12: Community Begins with Me - Learning about community and developing a community project

Each training session is structured as followed:

• The session begins with a getting-on-board and warm-up activity that focuses on 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 utilize a game or a team goal.
• Afterwards, cool-down stretching is combined with participant asked and answered questions.
• Each session closes with positive words from the girls' coach regarding individual and group behaviors.

Click here to view a sample lesson.

How do the participants benefit?
Girls complete the program with a stronger sense of identity, a greater acceptance of themselves, a healthier body image, and an understanding of what it means to be part of a team. They also benefit from support provided by a positive peer group and role models.

Pre- and post-program academic evaluations conducted in 2001 and 2005 found that the GOTR curriculum improved self-esteem, body size satisfaction, and physical activity behaviors to a statistically significant extent.