Overview
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Lollipop Run
Sample Lesson
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The fall 2008 season begins in September and ends in December.

Girls on the Run is a life-changing, experiential learning program for girls ages 8 to 13. The programs combine training for a 5K or 1-mile community running event with healthy living education. Our curriculum-based programs instill self-esteem and strong values through health education, life skills development, mentoring relationships, and physical training.

We offer 10-week programs during the fall and spring seasons. Volunteer coaches engage the girls in games and running-based workouts that encourage emotional, social, psychological and physical development. The girls meet twice each week after school for a total of 20 one-hour sessions.

Girls on the Run offers unique programs for different age groups. The "Girls on the Run" curriculum was developed specifically for 3rd -5th graders, while the "Girls on Track" curriculum was created to address issues affecting 6th -8th graders. 

The curriculum encompasses the following three 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 9-10: Community Begins with Me...Learning About Community and Designing Our Own Community Project

Each session focuses on a particular lesson, such as "Valuing What's Really Important," "Learning to Listen," and "Standing Up for Myself" and is structured as follows:

• Each session begins with a warm-up activity that introduces the girls to the day's topic.
  
• The warm-up is followed by a stretching routine that allows for a topic-related question and answer dialogue.
  
• 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 a review and discussion of the day's lesson that encourages participant questions.
  
• Each session closes with positive words from the girls' coaches regarding individual and group behaviors.

As the final element of the program, girls participate in a 5K or 1-mile community run, the Lollipop Family Fun Run.

Chinese Education Center - Downtown San Francisco

While all the Girls on the Run programs face the challenge of effectively communicating with the girls, Coaches Kirsten Owen and Catherine Kendrick and assistant Coach Liz Oh faced a particularly unique situation when they agreed to coach San Francisco's Chinese Ed Center this season. Surprising to Kirsten, Catherine, and Liz the 16 enthusiastic girls who signed up for Girls on The Run were not only new to the program, but they were new to America as well. Undeterred by the apparent language barrier (the girls are learning English); the coaches used the power of fitness and cooperation to establish common ground. Now, weeks into the program, Kirsten, Catherine, and Liz are proud to report a thriving program where the girls have learned to trust and respect each other and communicate as a team while enjoying improved self-confidence. Kirsten and Catherine have learned how truly amazing young girls can be if they put their mind to it. This mirrors their lifestyles -- the coaches themselves are fitness buffs at heart ( training for and regularly competing in triathlons).

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