BOONE, N.C. — As students head back to school, many parents are looking for after-school activities that provide a safe and structured space where children can learn skills and be physically active. Appalachian State University’s Girls on the Run of the High Country (GOTR-HC) — a program of the university’s Blue Cross NC Institute for Health and Human Services (IHHS) — offers this and much more.

A recent independent, national-level study conducted by Dr. Maureen Weiss, professor in the University of Minnesota’s School of Kinesiology, provides compelling evidence that the Girls on the Run (GOTR) program is highly effective at driving transformative and lasting change in the lives of third through fifth grade girls.

Of the study, Weiss said, “Girls on the Run participants scored higher in managing emotions, resolving conflict, helping others, and making intentional decisions than participants in organized sport or physical education.

“Being able to generalize skills learned in the program to other situations such as at school or at home is a distinguishing feature of Girls on the Run compared to traditional youth sports and school physical education, and suggests that the intentional life skills curriculum and coach-training program can serve as exemplars for other youth programs,” she added.

Appalachian’s GOTR-HC has inspired over 2,000 girls in Watauga, Ashe, Avery, Allegany and Wilkes counties for 22 seasons, and has impacted the lives of 400 volunteer coaches.

“We receive countless communications from girls, parents and coaches about how our program changes lives,” said Mary Sheryl Horine, associate director of IHHS and council director of GOTR-HC. “The study findings reinforce these personal stories and provide powerful evidence that participation in Girls on the Run leads to positive changes.”

The program’s intentional curriculum places an emphasis on developing competence, confidence, connection, character, caring and contribution in young girls through lessons that incorporate running and other physical activities. Additionally, the program combines research-based curriculum with trained coaches and a commitment to serve all girls.

Throughout the course of the 10-week program, girls learn critical life skills, including managing emotions, resolving conflict, helping others and making intentional decisions.

This season, GOTR-HC will be offered at nine locations. Each team will meet two times a week for 75–90 minutes either before or after school, and participate in research-based lessons that use discussions and running games to teach life skills. The season will culminate in a 5K event that brings together family, friends and community members to celebrate the girls’ growth throughout the season.

The program fee for the fall season is $100, and scholarship funding is available to those who qualify. The program fee includes registration for the end-of-season 5K, as well as a T-shirt, water bottle and goody bag.

To learn more about the program and how to register, as well as how to volunteer, visit https://gotr.appstate.edu.

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Girls on the Run of the High Country

Girls on the Run of the High Country (GOTR-HC) inspires girls to recognize their inner strength and celebrate what makes them one of a kind. Trained coaches lead small teams through a 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 recognize their inner strength and celebrate what makes them one-of-a-kind. 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.

Started in 2009, GOTR-HC enthusiastically serves the girls of Watauga, Ashe, Wilkes and Avery counties and is thrilled to have Appalachian State University’s Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina Institute for Health and Human Services, within the Beaver College of Health Sciences, as their affiliate sponsor.

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About the Appalachian Institute for Health and Wellness

The Appalachian Institute for Health and Wellness (App Well) connects Appalachian State University to the community by supporting health and wellness research, interprofessional clinics and community outreach programs. The institute partners with the community to better prepare students to become exceptional practitioners who will continue to address health issues and disparities throughout the region and beyond. Learn more at https://appwell.appstate.edu.

About the Beaver College of Health Sciences

Appalachian State University’s Beaver College of Health Sciences (BCHS), opened in 2010, is transforming the health and quality of life for the communities it serves through interprofessional collaboration and innovation in teaching, scholarship, service and clinical outreach. The college enrolls more than 3,600 students and offers 10 undergraduate degree programs, nine graduate degree programs and four certificates across six departments: Nursing, Nutrition and Health Care Management, Public Health and Exercise Science, Recreation Management and Physical Education, Rehabilitation Sciences, and Social Work. The college’s academic programs are located in the Holmes Convocation Center on App State’s main campus and the Levine Hall of Health Sciences, a state-of-the-art, 203,000-square-foot facility that is the cornerstone of Boone’s Wellness District. In addition, the college supports the Appalachian Institute for Health and Wellness and has collaborative partnerships with the Wake Forest University School of Medicine’s Physician Assistant Program, UNC Health Appalachian and numerous other health agencies. Learn more at https://healthsciences.appstate.edu.

About Appalachian State University

As a premier public institution, Appalachian State University prepares students to lead purposeful lives. App State is one of 17 campuses in the University of North Carolina System, with a national reputation for innovative teaching and opening access to a high-quality, affordable education for all. The university enrolls more than 21,000 students, has a low student-to-faculty ratio and offers more than 150 undergraduate and 80 graduate majors at its Boone and Hickory campuses and through App State Online. Learn more at https://www.appstate.edu.