Girls on the Run Vermont New Program Information Girls on the Run Vermont, 22 Browne Court, Suite 103 B, Brattleboro, VT 05301, 802-246-1476
Thank you for your interest in starting a Girls on the Run program! The purpose of this document is to provide an overview of Girls on the Run, and the responsibilities of program sites. We hope that once you have had ample time to read this information, you will consider joining our extended Girls on the Run Vermont family by submitting a New Site Application. About Girls on the Run Our Mission: We inspire girls to be joyful, healthy and confident using a fun, experience- based curriculum which creatively integrates running. Our Program: Girls on the Run is a transformational physical activity based positive youth development program for girls in 3rd- 8th grade. We teach life skills through dynamic, interactive lessons and running games. The program culminates with the girls being physically and emotionally prepared to complete a celebratory 5k run/walk event. The goal of the program is to unleash confidence through accomplishment while establishing a lifetime appreciation of health and fitness. Our Organization: Girls on the Run was established in 1996 in Charlotte, North Carolina. The Girls on the Run curricula, the heart of the program, provides pre- adolescent girls with the necessary tools to embrace their individual strengths and successfully navigate life experiences. The earliest version of the 24- - lesson curriculum was piloted in 1996 with the help of thirteen brave girls. Twenty- six girls came the next season, then seventy- five. In 2000, Girls on the Run International, a 501c3 organization was born. With the help of over 120,000 volunteers, the Girls on the Run program is now serving over 150,000 girls in 200+ cities across North America each year. In 2013, Girls on the Run hosted 258 end- of- season 5k events across the United States and Canada. Our Council: Girls on the Run Vermont was establish in 1999 by Nancy Heydinger. As Executive Director, Nancy has helped inspire over 28,000 girls across Vermont. In 2014, she was joined by over 700 volunteer coaches servicing 140 locations at elementary and middle schools, recreation departments, after school programs, and other organizations throughout the state.
Girls on the Run Vermont is Expanding! We are pleased to announce that an increase in staff will allow our organization to expand our reach, allowing for continued growth in keeping up with of the demand of our Girls on the Run and Girls on Track programs. In 2014, programs were hosted at the following locations: Academy School Enosburg Falls Elementary School Milton Elementary School Albert Bridge School Fair Haven Grade School Monkton Central School Alburgh Community Education Center Fairfield Center School Montgomery Elementary Arlington Girls on Track Fayston Elementary Monument Elementary Bakersfield Elementary Middle School Ferrisburgh Central School Moretown School Barnet School Fisher Elementary Mount Holly School Barre City Elementary Middle School Flood Brook Union School Neshobe Elementary Barstow Memorial School Founders Memorial School NewBrook Elementary Bellows Falls Middle School Georgia Elementary Middle School Newbury Elementary/STYLES Bellows Free Academy-Fairfax Grafton Elementary Newport City Elementary School Bennington Elementary School Grammar School, The (Putney) Northfield Elementary Berkshire Elementary School Green Street School Norwich Girls on the Run Berlin Elementary Hartford Memorial Middle School Oak Grove School Bethel Elementary /E.X.C.E.L Hartland Elementary Orwell Village School Bishop John A. Marshall School Hiawatha School Ottauquechee School Black River Middle/High School Highgate Public Library Poultney Elementary Bradford Elementary/STYLES Hilltop Montessori School Pownal Elementary Brewster Pierce School Hinesburg Community School Putney Central School C.P. Smith Elementary School Jamaica Village School Randolph Elementary Calais Elementary Jericho Elementary School Richford Castleton Elementary School Killington Elementary Robinson Elementary School Central Elementary Lamoille Union Middle School Rumney Memorial School Chamberlin School Lincoln Community School Rutland Town School Charlotte Central School Long Trail School RVTC-Riverside Middle School Chesterfield School (NH) Main Street Middle/Montpelier Rec Salisbury Community School Christ the King - Burlington Malletts Bay School Saxtons River Elementary Christ the King School/Rutland Manchester Elementary/Middle School School of Sacred Heart Currier Memorial School Maple Street School Shaftsbury Elementary Danville School Marion W Cross School Sharon Elementary School Dorset School Marlboro Elementary Shelburne Community School Dothan Brook School Mary Hogan School Sheldon Elementary Doty Memorial School Mater Christi School Shrewsbury Mountain School Dover Elementary School Mettawee Community School St. Albans City School Dummerston School Middletown Springs Elementary St.Johnsbury School
East Montpelier Elementary Mill River Union High School Stockbridge Central School Sunderland Elementary Underhill I.D. Elementary School Wells Village School Sustainability Academy Lawrence Barnes Union Elementary/Montpelier Rec West Rutland School Sutton Village School Union Street School Westford Elementary School Swanton School Upper Valley Waldorf School Westminster Center School Thatcher Brook Primary/Waterbury Vernon Elementary White River School The Ray School (NH) Village School of North Bennington Whiting & Sudbury Schools Thetford Elementary Waits River Valley School/STYLES Williamstown Elementary Thomas Fleming School Waitsfield Elementary Williston Central School Tunbridge Central School/One Planet Walden School Winchester School (NH) Twin Valley Elementary Wallingford Elementary Windsor Rec Underhill Central School Warren School Woodstock Elementary School Our council is currently represented in 13 of the 14 counties in the state including some grassroots locations in bordering New Hampshire. We look forward to welcoming your school or community based program to our GOTR VT family! Length of a GOTR Season Girls on the Run Vermont conducts it sessions in the spring. Consideration for a fall program is extended to established sites on request. The spring season begins in March and ends in late May or early June. The span of the GOTRVT season is largely dependent on which of the three culminating 5k events the group chooses to attend. Once the program begins, girls meet twice a week after school for 90 minutes each session over a span of 10-12 weeks. The GOTR curriculums are designed for 12- week programs, however, due to our climate, Vermont groups can meet for 10 weeks allowing for snow melt and warmer outdoor temperatures; we encourage longer programs whenever possible. Contractually, our council is obligated to conduct a minimum of 20 sessions to remain in compliance with Girls on the Run International. Consider building in make- up sessions when setting your calendar, as cancellation is not recommended and snow days are possible in the month of March! Hosting a program at your site in the spring requires pre- planning beginning in late fall and continues through December. Coach training and participant registration will follow in January and February respectively.
Curricula & Group Girls on the Run is the name of our organization, but we offer two programs each designed with their own physical, emotional and age appropriate curricula: Girls on the Run (GOTR) for 3 rd - 5 th grade girls and Girls on Track (GOT) for girls in 6 th - 8 th grade. Group size is determined on the amount of girls participating with consideration for the number of adults registered with the Volunteer Coach Team. Groups comprised of 8-15 girls require a minimum of 2 Coaches; groups expanding to a maximum of 20 participants require a minimum of 3 Coaches Team members. Multiple groups can exist at a single location. For example, a site can have two GOTR groups and a GOT. The minimum number of girls required to host a group is 8. If you cannot meet the minimum number of participating girls, please call your regional Program Coordinator to explore other possible options. Coach Team GOTRI (Girls on the Run International) and our liability insurance provider require that a minimum number of adults be present for each group at every session. This regulation is not negotiable and non- compliance could jeopardize our license. Groups of up to 15 girls are required to have a minimum of two adults where groups of 16-20 girls require three. An additional volunteer coach for your group is strongly recommended. Not only will she/he provide support at regular sessions with girls that may need a little extra attention; it also provides flexibility in the event of a planned or emergency absence of a coach team member. One additional coach team member will help keep your team in compliance with the minimum rule and eliminated the need to cancel a session. Site Involvement Girls on the Run provides the necessary materials required to run a successful program. The site has the following responsibilities: Obtain the necessary approval from the school, district or facility to host a GOTR program.
Provide a safe place for running. This does not have to be a track, a field or playground area is satisfactory. Provide a rainy day site (classroom, gym or other indoor area). In most cases, teams will eventually run outside, but there must be an indoor space for safety. Sites may choose to secure an indoor space for the length of the season, providing a consistent meeting/pick up location, as well as a safe place to hold the participants personal belongings during the session. Choose two days per week for the program to meet (90 minutes for each session). When choosing the days, take into consideration school scheduled events such as in- service days, class trips and other competing activities such as the school play. Allow for make- up sessions in the event school is cancelled on a scheduled meeting day. A minimum of two coaches to be trained by GOTR (online and in- person sessions required). Promote the program to girls and parents/guardians. This may include the distribution of the information flyer, display of advertising poster, mention through daily announcements, and all school assembly or in the weekly newsletter. Girls on the Run will provide the informational flyer and poster for advertising purposes. Program Fees and Scholarships The actual cost of providing the program is $130 per participant. GOTRVT subsidizes each girl $50, reducing the program fee to $80 per girl. We have always had a policy to charge parents as little as possible and do all we can to ensure that no girl is ever turned away due to inability to pay. For this reason, we reduced our fee to $80 (which is only $4 per session) and are also committed to providing scholarships both full and partial whenever we can, for those families who need it. We are able to do this thanks to many generous individuals and businesses around the state who contribute to Girls on the Run Vermont every year. These donations help to defray the costs of the Girls on the Run program, which include everything from the girls activities supplies, coaches training, background checks and curriculum manuals to 5k event expenses and minimal overhead costs. Many schools or child- centered health/education organizations have made funds available (21 st Century grant, MAC Fund, obesity and tobacco prevention, NFL Play 60, etc.) which allow the girls to participate at an even more reduced fee or at no cost. We encourage sites to identify further sources of financial assistance. Contact your regional Program Coordinator for more information about further subsidizing the participation fee for your site. A supplemental document titled
Program Fees and Funding is available on our website if you wish to learn more about the funding opportunities that may be available for your site. Coach Team Volunteers All volunteers should understand and believe in the GOTR mission. Since Girls on the Run is more than a running program, coaches do not need to be runners themselves. If you want to coach a competitive running team, this is not a good fit. However, if you want to help girls become their best selves, you ve come to the right place. A GOTRVT coach team member is a volunteer position that facilitates and supports the GOTR curriculum and its program. The position entails approximately 3-5 hours per week, usually afterschool, for 10-12 weeks with the additional commitment of an online training (approx. 90 minutes) and in- person training session (3 hours), attendance at the 5k event (3-4 hours), and end of season celebration outside of the required 20 sessions. Each site will have a coach team comprised of at least 2 to 3 coaches dependent on group size with consideration for one additional coach team member. A coach team must include a Lead Coach and an Assistant Coach, or two Co- Lead Coaches. Coach teams may also include a Site Liaison, Group Volunteer and a Junior Coach. All adult volunteers, regardless of their role within the volunteer coach team are required to complete an online registration with Girls on the Run Vermont and be background checked. Girls on the Run Vermont absorbs the cost of the background check. This applies even when you have a current background check on file with your employer. GOTRVT is required to obtain its own record as part of the liability insurance requirement. It is also required that a coach team member with Adult CPR and FIRST AID certification be present at every session. The cost of certification is the responsibility of the volunteer coach. The position descriptions are as follows: Lead Coach: An adult volunteer who leads the group and facilitates the lessons. A lead coach must be at least 21 years of age. Primary Responsibilities in addition to previous mentioned requirements: Responsible for establishing the structure of their volunteer coach team and ensuring the coach team understands their role and responsibility throughout the season Recruiting new coach team members when needed Reporting requisite information to council/program Coordinator in a timely fashion (ie: registration information, group enrollment, etc.) Absorb the responsibility of Site Liaison (see description below) when one is not appointed
Ensure that the site remains in compliance with required number of adults present at each session and that one coach team member present is certified in Adult CPR and First Aid. Prepare, organize and lead program participants through each lesson Encourage your girls to put forth their best effort in to every activity Arrive 15 minutes prior to each session and remain on site until every participant has been picked up Serve as primary point of contact for parents/guardians Organize end of season celebration out of the 10-12 week program schedule. Ensure each girl receives a unique award certificate as part of the culmination of the program. Maintain program materials as well as safely store left over materials and curriculum between seasons. Qualifications and Experience: o Experience working with pre- teen girls in a positive environment o Excellent communication and organizational skills o The ability to be flexible and to improvise when needed o Ability to inspire and motivate others to believe in themselves and to embrace the GOTR mission o Conflict resolution skills o The capacity to work in a partnership in collaboration with coach team members and Program Coordinator o Serve as role model and mentor o Exercise patience and empathy with girls that are having a difficult time Assistant Coach: A volunteer who assists the lead coach with the group. An assistant must be at least 18 years of age, and must be able to work collaboratively with the lead coach. This is a supportive role requiring the same qualifications and experience as a Lead Coach and may present lessons if 21 years of age and accomplished the training requirements. Group Volunteer: An adult volunteer who assists the coaches with group dynamics and the flow of the session. A group volunteer may also act as an aide for a specific participant or participants. A Group Volunteer is required to participate in the online portion of the coach training but does not facilitate or lead the curriculum lessons. This is merely a support position whose sole purpose is to champion the Girls on the Run program to further enhance the experience for the girls while providing adult support to the coaches where needed.
Additionally some teams offer these positions: Site Liaison: An adult volunteer whose main role is administrative; submitting Site Application, obtaining approval of principal/authority to host the program, identify and secure indoor and outdoor meeting space, organize registration event, assist in the recruitment of coaches, advertise program and other logistics the coach team requires assistance. This person is responsible for maintaining, and disseminating all communications in a timely manner. This position is usually necessary when a program is offered under the umbrella of an after- school program or park and recreation department. The onsite program coordinator or director of the organization assumes this role. This position is not required as part of the Volunteer Coach Team but can be very helpful when the coach team members are not employed by the school or when an adult wants to be involved but is unable to oblige with the time commitment of a coach. No training is required for this position; however it is necessary that they be registered with GOTR VT, background checked and able to work closely and collaboratively with the Volunteer Coach Team and Girls on the Run Program Coordinator. Junior Coach: A student volunteer whose primary role is that of group cheerleader and positive role model. A junior coach must be at least 2-3 years older than the oldest participant in the group, and will be under the supervision of the lead coach. This role is optional and at the discretion of the Lead Coach. Mentoring older girls is an additional responsibility and is not required. A minimum of 2 Junior Coaches per group will be allowed. Junior coaches must complete an online application that requires a parent/guardian signature allowing for participation and release of liability. The 5k Events The highlight of the program is the opportunity for the girls to participate in one of three culminating GOTR VT 5k run/walk events. Southern - Brattleboro Union High School Central - Rutland State Fairgrounds Northern - Champlain Valley Expo (Essex) Saturday, May 16, 2015 Saturday, May 30, 2015 Saturday, June 6, 2015 These celebratory, non- competitive events are much anticipated by the girls and coaches. We encourage family and friends to support the girls by participating in the 5k (registration is required to participate) or by coming to cheer them on!
Getting Signed Up! To begin the process of starting a new site with Girls on the Run Vermont please contact your regional Program Coordinator for more information and visit our website for the New Site Application. Southern Coordinator Cara Melbourne Counties served: Windham and New Hampshire border sites cara@girlsontherunvermont.org (802) 246-1476 Central Coordinator Robyn Bashaw Counties served: Bennington, Rutland, and Windsor robyn@girlsontherunvermont.org (802) 246-1476 Northern Coordinator Rachel Desautels Counties served: Addison, Caledonia, Chittenden, Franklin, Grand Isle, Lamoille, Orange, Orleans, and Washington rachel@girlsontherunvermont.org (802) 503-7097 Thank you again for your interest in starting a Girls on the Run or Girls on Track program at your school or site. We look forward to working with you!