Girls on the Run

Be in the know with this season’s details for 3rd-5th graders and register today!

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Girls on the Logo
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Two Girls on the Run participants smile at the camera while running at an outdoor practice in yellow shirts

Spring 2024 Girls on the Run (3rd-5th grade) Details

Thank you for your interest in Girls on the Run programming. 

Online Lottery Registration will open February 2!

Overview-Shared

Overview
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  • The lottery registration period will be February 2-February 16 at 10 AM
  • Teams with remaining spots available will reopen the afternoon of February 16 until teams are filled.
  • Our Spring 2024 season will begin the week of March 25
  • Practices will run until May 17
  • The end-of-season 5K will be May 19
  • Our standard schedule is to practice 2x a week for 75 minutes; days/times will vary by team
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Fin-Aid - GOTR

Program Description

Meeting in small teams twice per week, trained volunteer coaches inspire 3rd-5th graders to build confidence and other important life skills through dynamic, interactive lessons and physical activity. Lessons focus on building social, emotional and physical skills while encouraging healthy habits. 

Our research-based curriculum includes three parts:

  • Understanding ourselves
  • Valuing relationships and teamwork
  • Recognizing how we can shape the world at large

Each season comes to an end with a fun, non-competitive 5K (3.1 mile) event. This culmination gives participants a tangible sense of accomplishment and the confidence to be the author of her own story.

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  • February 2-February 16

    The lottery registration period is open. During this period, anyone who signs up will be entered into the lottery. For best chance to get a spot on your desired team, register anytime during this window.

  • February 16

    Registration temporarily closes so the lottery selection may take place. 

    If a team is over capacity on February 16, girls will be randomly selected and placed on the team. Remaining girls will be placed on the team's waitlist.

    If a team is under capacity on February 16, all girls will be placed on the team.

    The payment method will only be charged if your child has a place on the team.

    Registration will reopen for teams with spots still available.

  • Week of March 25

    Season begins!

  • May 19 at 10 AM

    End-of-Season 5K Celebration at the State Capitol Complex

Reg fees - SHARED

Registration Fees

Building confidence and setting young girls up a path for a healthy lifestyle is PRICELESS! However, there are real costs associated with operating a non-profit organization and delivering the Girls on the Run program to approximately 1,500 girls in the Central Iowa area each year. Registration is $150 per girl and includes:

  • Lessons 2X/week for 75-minutes, led by certified GOTR volunteer coaches
  • Our research based curriculum and detailed lesson materials
  • Official GOTR T-shirt and water bottle
  • 5K Registration fee
  • 5K Medal
  • Post 5K celebration
Fee Structure-Sliding Scale

We'd love to have your child involved, and we are committed to making programming accessible to all participants. While the full registration fee is $150 per participant, we offer a sliding scale fee structure making financial assistance available to anyone.

The online registration form will provide guidance to find the fee that is right for your family. We list household income as a benchmark for approx. a family size of 4, but this is a guide, not a rule. Simply self-select the price point that best fits your needs, and the computer will adjust the fee accordingly. We do not verify income information.

 

Household Income Guidelines Sliding Scale Fee
Over $75,000 $150
$49,000-$75,000 $115
$25,000-$49,000 $75
Under $25,000 $25

 

Additional financial assistance is available. Call 515-410-9845 or email christa.vanderleest@girlsontherun.org for more information.

Program policies

Attendance Policy:
It is critically important to the experiential learning process, group dynamics and each child's program experience that girls participate in all sessions. Participants are not allowed to attend only one session per week. Kids who miss more than four (4) practices may lose their spot on the team. 

Respectful Behavior Policy:
Every participant is expected to behave in a respectful manner towards their coaches and teammates. Ongoing negativity, disruption, threatening behavior and bullying will not be tolerated. Girls on the Run reserves the right to remove from participation any child who exhibits this type of behavior. Parents/guardians and coaches agree to act in accordance with this policy as well.

Withdrawal and Refund Policy:
Girls on the Run of CIA will issue a refund for withdrawal from the program up to the start of the first session minus a $10 administrative fee, execpt in cases of medical emergencies with a doctor's note or documentation. No refunds will be issued after the program starts. No refunds will be issued for girls who have been asked to leave due to a violation of a policy. If a team is canceled due to insufficient registration, inadequate coach support, or other extenuating circumstances, the registration fee will be refunded, excluding the processing fee.

Late Guardian Policy:
Participants are expected to be picked up on time. Ongoing tardiness will not be tolerated. On the first occurrence parent/guardian will be verbally reminded of the tardiness policy. The second time, a verbal reminder and written email acknowledgement of the policy will be issued. Upon the third instance, the child may no longer be able to participate in programming.

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My child isn't a big runner; is this program for them? OR My child is already a skilled runner. Is this program for them?

Yes! We are much more than a running program, and every participant can benefit from the experience of building confidence through accomplishment while participating in our rich, curriculum-based, age-appropriate, interactive lessons. Expect lots of games, talking, laughing and processing in addition to running at each practice. And know that when we say run, we mean run, walk, skip, roll or push, just as long as you are moving foward!

What does the program fee include?

Your program registration fee includes all lesson materials (2x/week for 75-minutes), including GOTR curriculum, journal, lap counters and more, a GOTR t-shirt, a bib entry into the season-ending 5K, a finisher's medal and a GOTR water bottle.

We can't afford the program registration fee, but our child would love to participate. How does the scholarship program work?

Don't let cost stop you from participating! We are committed to making Girls on the Run accessible to all who want to participate! Thanks to generous donors and community supporters, program scholarships are available to any family who needs it, and we can also provide appropriate running shoes and attire if necessary. The online registration form will walk you through a few questions to find the fee that is right for your family based on a sliding scale.

Do participants need to attend both days each week in order to register?

Yes! Since most of our teams fill up quickly, if your participant will be unable to attend all the sessions, please save room for one who can, and consider joining us in a future season when they can enjoy the entire program.

Why is there a lottery registration?

The lottery system provides every family an equal opportunity to register and equal access to participate in Girls on the Run. The first-come, first-served system can be problematic due to many issues including work conflicts, limited computer access and computer glitches. Lottery registration is already used by the majority of GOTR councils nationwide and is recommended by Girls on the Run International.

How does the lottery system work?

Lottery registration will be open from January 20 to February 3 at 10 AM. If more particpants are registered than the number of available spots on a team, the registration system will randomly select participants for that team. All additional particpants will remain in “lottery status” and be placed on the wait list for full teams. Teams that are not at capacity will include all particpants registered at that time. Registration will then re-open on February 4 and additional participants will be added on a first-come, first-served basis until capacity is reached for each team.

To learn more about the lottery system click here

Is there a way for me to sponsor a participant for a season?

Yes! As a mission-driven 501(c)3, Girls on the Run relies on generous donors in order to provide more than $30,000 in program scholarships for families in need. Click here to sponsor a participant this season.