Girls on the Run of Eastern Iowa Information

Girls on the Run is a life-changing physical activity based positive youth development program for girls in 3rd-8th grade. The program is designed to develop and enhance girls'​ social, psychological, and physical competencies to embrace their individual strengths and successfully navigate life experiences. We teach life skills through dynamic, interactive lessons and running games led by trained volunteers. The program culminates with the girls being physically and emotionally prepared to complete a celebratory 5k running event. Over the course of the program, girls develop and improve competence, unleash confidence through accomplishment, develop strength of character, respond to others and oneself with care and compassion, create positive connections with peers and adults, and make a meaningful contribution to community, all while establishing a lifetime appreciation of health and fitness. Our mission is to inspire girls to be joyful, healthy and confident using a fun, experience-based curriculum which creatively integrates running. We envision a world where every girl knows and activates her limitless potential and is free to boldly pursue her dreams. The objective is to educate and empower girls at an early age in order to prevent future risk behaviors by providing girls with tools to make healthy decisions and form positive self-images. Risk behaviors include substance/alcohol use, eating disorders, early onset of sexual activity, sedentary lifestyle, depression, suicide attempts and confrontations with the juvenile justice system. Girls on the Run of Eastern Iowa is an independent council of Girls on the Run International®, which has 226 councils across the United States and Canada. Girls on the Run of Eastern Iowa serves girls at schools throughout Johnson, Linn, Jefferson, Buchanan, Benton, Iowa, and Washington Counties. Find a program for your daughter or get involved as a volunteer! Visit our website at www.girlsontheruniowa.org to learn more.