Who Runs the World? Girls!

Girls on the Run is a positive youth development program that inspires girls from third through eighth grades to participate in physical activity and gain confidence. The program has served more than 6,000 girls at more than 75 sites including Shiawassee, Ingham, Clinton and Eaton counties.

Now the nonprofit is looking for volunteer coaches to facilitate the program. Coaches use a structured curriculum that provides fun and interactive lessons for twice weekly meetings with their teams over the course of roughly eight weeks. The program culminates with the girls competing in a physical challenge, 5K event or site-based 5K.

In these challenging times, the program needs engaged volunteer coaches more than ever. Coaches can help be a catalyst of change and a confidence boost that will transform lives. The experience often turns out to be as meaningful for coaches as it is for the girls.

A Girls on the Run Mid-Michigan coach shared, “In that moment, on that very hot day, it was as if I had been taken back to that time, and I felt everything that little girl felt as she crossed the finish line. It was in that moment that I fell in love with this organization and knew I needed to be a part of it.”

Girls on the Run provides the online training and support needed to coach. Volunteers should be at least 18 years old to serve an assistant, or 21 to serve as a head coach. Background checks will be completed.

For more information, visit Girls on the Run Mid-Michigan at gotrmidmichigan.org/coach.