Girls on the Run

Girls on the Run is our program for girls starting in 3rd grade that encourages girls to recognize their individual strengths and celebrate connections with others. Each season, girls gain a better understanding of who they are and what’s important to them, the value of teamwork and healthy relationships and how they can have a positive impact on the world. 

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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

Fall 2024 Season Details

Fall 2024 Program Registration will open in August

Lottery Registration: Open 5am August 12th through 11:59pm August 15th

For Lottery Registration: Your payment will be processed at the time of registration. If your girl cannot be placed on a team, a refund will be made. Additional details below. 

Lottery Run (Team Placement): August 16th

First Come, First Served Registration: Opens 3pm August 16th

Season begins week of September 16th

Join us for our GOTR 5K, presented by Orthopedic Associates of Lancaster hosted at Millersville on SUNDAY, November 24, 2024.

 

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WHAT WE DO
WHY IT MATTERS

 

At Girls on the Run of Lancaster & Lebanon we inspire girls to recognize their inner strength and celebrate what makes them one of a kind. Trained coaches lead small teams through our research-based curricula which includes dynamic discussions, activities and running games. Over the course of the ten-week program, girls in 3rd-8th grade develop essential skills to help them navigate their worlds and establish a lifetime appreciation for health and fitness. The program culminates with girls positively impacting their communities through a service project and being physically and emotionally prepared to complete a celebratory 5K event.

GOTR Lancaster & Lebanon is dedicated to creating a world where every girl knows and activates her limitless potential and is free to boldly pursue her dreams.

WHY IT MATTERS

WHYITMATTERS

WHY IT MATTERS


Girls face social pressures and conflicting messages about how they should act and who they should be. Studies show that by adolescence, girls’ confidence drops about twice as much as boys’. Friendships become more complicated and challenging, girls’ perception of their academic ability declines, the likelihood of anxiety and depression increases and participation in physical activity plummets.

It doesn’t have to be this way.

We believe that every girl is inherently full of power and potential. By knowing they are the leaders of their lives, these are the girls who will change the world.

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  • August 12th - August 15th

    Online Lottery Registration

  • February 23rd

    Lottery is run in the morning. Learn more about our lottery process below.

  • February 23rd - March 15th

    Registration opens back up to first come first served for remaining spots on each team. Registration closes for the season at midnight on March 15th 

  • Week of March 11th

    Practices begin

  • May 4, 2024

    GOTR 5K, Presented by OAL at Franklin and Marshall College

Program Fee Includes

WHAT DOES THE PROGRAM FEE INCLUDE

Building confidence and setting young girls down the path of 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 1,800 girls in the Lancaster & Lebanon area each year. Registration includes:

  • 20 ninety-minute sessions conducted by certified and trained GOTR volunteer coaches
  • Curriculum and lesson materials, take-home journal with activities
  • Official GOTR season T-shirt and gift each season
  • 5K registration, t-shirt, and medal
  • The gift of CONFIDENCE that is the best investment we can make in our collective futures.

At Girls on the Run of Lancaster and Lebanon we are committed to seeing our program is available to all girls in the areas we serve. That is, we do not want finances to be a barrier that prevents any girl from being a member of a team in her community. Therefore, to make the program accessible to all families across Lancaster & Lebanon, we have several financial assistance and payment options to consider.

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE

Families: pay what you can afford!
At Girls on the Run we want to ensure our program is accessible and inclusive of all girls. There are no questions to answer or forms to be completed. Partial and full assistance is based on household income and current financial needs and is available to every girl (minimum fee $10). Please use our sliding scale below as a guideline by applying your current financial status.  We never want money to be a reason not to join GOTR. All financial information is kept confidential. 

GOTR SLIDING SCALE  
$0 - $19,999 $10
$20,000 - $24,999 $25
$25,000 - $34,999 $50
$35,000 - $49,999 $75
$50,000 - $64,999 $105
$65,000 - $74,999 $155
$75,000 - $94,999 $180
$95,000 - $124,999 $205
$125,000+ $230

 

INVESTMENT

As an investment guide, the GOTR life-changing experience, if inclined to pay the full $230 can be viewed as: two payments of $115, or $23 per week, or $11.50 per lesson.

Our actual cost to the GOTR council to run the program is $380 per participant which includes curriculum books, coach training, staff support, t-shirts for girls and coaches, coach background checks, school facility fees, insurance, GOTR international fees and more to ensure a positive and impactful experience for your girls.

Building confidence and setting young girls down the path of 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 2,000 girls in Lancaster and Lebanon each year.

Lottery Registration

No need to rush to the computer!  You have 4 days to register online during our lottery registration August 12th at 5am - August 15th at 11:59pm.

For Lottery Registration: Your payment will be processed at the time of registration. If your girl cannot be placed on a team, a refund will be made. Additional details below. 

On August 16th, our computer will run each team's lottery registration. This means it will fill all the available spaces with girls who have registered during the lottery dates. If more spaces than names are available, every girl will be placed on the team.  If there are more girls than space available, the computer will fill the spots and the remaining girls will be placed on a waiting list in the event space becomes available. After the lotteries are run, registration for available space on each team will be open on a first come, first serve basis until the team is full.

IF YOU ARE SELECTED IN THE LOTTERY:
You will receive an email that you have been selected on Friday, August 16th.

IF YOU ARE NOT SELECTED IN THE LOTTERY:
You will receive an email that you are on the waiting list. GOTR staff or the coach for the team will reach out with additional information about options or if a spot on the team becomes available. 

Why is there a lottery registration process? 

Teams are limited to 15-20 girls, depending on the number of volunter coaches at each practice. Many of our teams have more than 15-20 girls who want to participate so lottery registration period/process provides an opportunity for all interested girls to register. 

 

How does the lottery payment process work?

When you register your girl, you will be asked to submit a form of payment and you will be charged at the time of registration. However, if you are not selected for the lottery, your payment will be refunded within five days, or can be held until the start of the season for potential placement on a team. Girls on the Run Lancaster will work with you to try to find an alternate location or establish another team at the site if possible.

Attendance, Withdraw, and Refund Policy


Attendance

All girls must be able to commit to BOTH practice days and times in order to participate (excepting illness, appointments, and vacations).

Girls are not permitted to join GOTR and only attend one practice a week or leave early/come late to practices. Please make sure this is possible BEFORE registering.

If your school says “paper registration” girls will be able to pick a registration form up at the designated area when school begins.

Refund Policy

In the event that a program participant would like to cancel her registration for whatever reason, it is the responsibility of the parent/guardian to contact the GOTR office to withdraw from the program.  Notifying a coach is not sufficient.

Girls on the Run will issue a refund according to the guidelines below.

 

If a site is cancelled due to insufficient registrations or other reasons deemed appropriate by GOTR, the full registration fee will be refunded.

Please note: If your participant does not attend practices but you do not contact our office to cancel, you will still be held responsible for paying any outstanding program fees.

  • Girls on the Run of Lancaster and Lebanon will refund the registration fee (minus $10 online service charge) if requested prior to the start of the GOTR season.
  • 75% of the paid registration fee will be refunded if requested after the start of the season and prior to the 3rd lesson of a Girls on the Run program.
  • No refunds will be issued for any terminations after the 3rd lesson.
  • In the event that an unforeseen illness or health issue arises after the 2nd lesson, such instances will be handled on a case by case basis.
  • If a site is canceled due to insufficient registration or other circumstances deemed appropriate by Girls on the Run of Lancaster and Lebanon, the full registration fee will be refunded.
NON-REGISTERED ADULTS and CHILDREN


For liability and the safety of all involved, children and adults who are not registered with Girls on the Run may not be present or participate in the Girls on the Run sessions.

Pick-up and Release Policy

Privacy Policy

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

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?

Though our cost per particpant is over $350, through generous donors we're able to offer the 10-week, 20-lesson program for $230. Your program registration fee includes all lesson materials, including GOTR curriculum, activity sheets, lap counters and more, a GOTR t-shirt, a bib entry into the season-ending 5K, a finisher's medal, and a GOTR gift.

We can't afford the program registration fee, but our child would love to participate. How does the financial assistance 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 particpate! Thanks to generous donors and community supporters, program financial assistance are available to any family who needs it, and we can also provide appropriate running shoes and attire if necessary. Please take a look at our sliding scale and find the fee that is right for your family. No forms or proof of income are required.

When does the 10-week season begin?

Practices will begin in the week of September 16th. The culminating event will be the 5K at Millersville University on Sunday, November 24th at 2:30.  More information will be shared by the GOTR staff and by your girl's coaches once the season begins.

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

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

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  program scholarships for families in need.