DEERFIELD STRIDE FOR BOYS - 2022
YMCA STRIDE for Boys & Girls on the Run Program - March through May
STRIDE is a fun fitness and running program for boys in grades 3 through 5. Boys have the chance to share their thoughts and opinions about various life topics in a safe, encouraging environment that helps them develop character, while building their running endurance to compete in a 5K.
Success + Teamwork + Respect + Inspiration + Determination = Excellence in Character
The STRIDE MissionWe encourage boys to exhibit excellence in character in all aspects of their lives, make healthy choices, and build confidence by leading them through a curriculum that incorporates fun activities and running.
The YMCA STRIDE Vision
Interactive Sessions with Discussion and ApplicationYour son will develop strength of character by participating in interactive and comfortable discussion groups with our trained coaches. These boys learn to work with, understand, and encourage each other rather than compete. If your main goal is to have your boy challenge himself, then STRIDE can help.
Boosting Confidence by Completing the 5KDoes your son struggle with self-confidence? When your son trains and completes the 5K hosted by STRIDE, he will realize his innate ability to accomplish hard things. We encourage each boy to focus on performing at his personal best and not competing with the others around him.
Discussion Topics That Change LivesThe coaches introduce the topic and give the boys the opportunity to talk with each other about the challenges they face each day. The coaches’ job is to help the boys recognize their own strength by incorporating each topic into the running workout and rewarding each boy at the end of each session. Our coaches cover the following topics:
Success + Teamwork + Respect + Inspiration + Determination = Excellence in Character
The STRIDE MissionWe encourage boys to exhibit excellence in character in all aspects of their lives, make healthy choices, and build confidence by leading them through a curriculum that incorporates fun activities and running.
The YMCA STRIDE Vision
- To provide a high quality program for all boys in 3rd through 5th grade where the focus is on fun and fitness.
- To increase the confidence of participants by helping them feel good about themselves and their abilities.
- To create an opportunity to share information about various topics to help them reach a “whole person” excellence by being better individuals, students, team members, athletes and members of their community.
- To provide a valuable experience for our coaches with a program that will improve their lives and the lives of the participant.
- To improve the participants fitness level, by training and preparing them to complete a 5K.
Interactive Sessions with Discussion and ApplicationYour son will develop strength of character by participating in interactive and comfortable discussion groups with our trained coaches. These boys learn to work with, understand, and encourage each other rather than compete. If your main goal is to have your boy challenge himself, then STRIDE can help.
Boosting Confidence by Completing the 5KDoes your son struggle with self-confidence? When your son trains and completes the 5K hosted by STRIDE, he will realize his innate ability to accomplish hard things. We encourage each boy to focus on performing at his personal best and not competing with the others around him.
Discussion Topics That Change LivesThe coaches introduce the topic and give the boys the opportunity to talk with each other about the challenges they face each day. The coaches’ job is to help the boys recognize their own strength by incorporating each topic into the running workout and rewarding each boy at the end of each session. Our coaches cover the following topics:
- Character Counts
- The Good Friend
- Working with a Team
- Bullying
- Eating Healthy
- Shoot for Your Goals
- Make a Difference in Action
- And many more
GOTR of Greater Detroit runs separate programs for girls in different grade levels at school, one program for 3rd-5th grades and distinct program for 6th-8th grades (called Heart & Sole), so we can focus our curricula to the most appropriate social development areas.
So what does Girls on the Run do? One girl put it this way, “I learned that I am the boss of my brain.” Girls on the Run inspires girls to take charge of their lives and define the future on their terms. It’s a place where girls learn that they can. No limits. No constraints. Only opportunities to be remarkable.
How do we do it?Lots of ways, but we start with helping the girls get a better understanding of who they are and what’s important to them. Then we look at the role of teams and healthy relationships. And, finally, we explore how girls can positively connect with and shape the world.
And remember, we believe that life-changing experiences can be fun too—for everyone—the girls, coaches, families and other volunteers. So don’t be surprised when you hear laughter along with self-reflection and see beaming smiles across the beautiful, confident faces of our girls.
Me + Relationships + Community Meeting twice a week in small teams of 8-16 girls, we teach life skills through fun, engaging lessons that celebrate the joy of movement. The 20-lesson curriculum is taught by certified Girls on the Run® coaches and includes three parts: understanding ourselves, valuing relationships and teamwork and understanding how we connect with and shape the world at large. Over the course of the program, girls will develop and improve competence, feel confidence in who they are, 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 and society.
Power through Service Acknowledging that accomplishment has many flavors, each team creates and executes a local community service project. This experience demonstrates to girls the unimaginable strength that comes from helping others.
Up and Running - At each season’s conclusion, the girls and their running buddies complete a 5k running event. In some cities this is a large, community wide event and in others, it’s an inspiring gathering of friends and family. Completing a 5k gives the girls a tangible sense of achievement as well as a framework for setting and achieving life goals. The results are the same—making the seemingly impossible, possible.
Simple, engaging and extraordinary. The result? Healthy, confident girls who can.
Girls on the Run: Our 3rd-5th Grade Program - Over a period of 10 weeks, girls in the 3rd through 5th grade participate in an after-school program like no other. Designed to allow every girl to recognize her inner strength, the Girls on the Run curriculum inspires girls to define their lives on their own terms. Throughout the season, the girls make new friends, build their confidence and celebrate all that makes them unique.
The Girls on the Run lessons encourage positive emotional, social, mental and physical development. Participants explore and discuss their own beliefs around experiences and challenges girls face at this age. They also develop important strategies and skills to help them navigate life experiences. We start with helping the girls get a better understanding of who they are and what’s important to them. Then, we look at the importance of team work and healthy relationships. And, finally, the girls explore how they can positively connect with and shape the world.
Physical activity is woven into our program to inspire an appreciation of fitness and to build habits that lead to a lifetime of health. At the end of each three month session, the girls participate in a Girls on the Run 5k event. This celebratory, non-competitive event is the culminating experience of the curriculum. Completing the 5k gives the girls a tangible understanding of the confidence that comes through accomplishment as well as a framework for setting and achieving life goals. Crossing the finish line is a defining moment when the girls realize that even the seemingly impossible IS possible.
So what does Girls on the Run do? One girl put it this way, “I learned that I am the boss of my brain.” Girls on the Run inspires girls to take charge of their lives and define the future on their terms. It’s a place where girls learn that they can. No limits. No constraints. Only opportunities to be remarkable.
How do we do it?Lots of ways, but we start with helping the girls get a better understanding of who they are and what’s important to them. Then we look at the role of teams and healthy relationships. And, finally, we explore how girls can positively connect with and shape the world.
And remember, we believe that life-changing experiences can be fun too—for everyone—the girls, coaches, families and other volunteers. So don’t be surprised when you hear laughter along with self-reflection and see beaming smiles across the beautiful, confident faces of our girls.
Me + Relationships + Community Meeting twice a week in small teams of 8-16 girls, we teach life skills through fun, engaging lessons that celebrate the joy of movement. The 20-lesson curriculum is taught by certified Girls on the Run® coaches and includes three parts: understanding ourselves, valuing relationships and teamwork and understanding how we connect with and shape the world at large. Over the course of the program, girls will develop and improve competence, feel confidence in who they are, 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 and society.
Power through Service Acknowledging that accomplishment has many flavors, each team creates and executes a local community service project. This experience demonstrates to girls the unimaginable strength that comes from helping others.
Up and Running - At each season’s conclusion, the girls and their running buddies complete a 5k running event. In some cities this is a large, community wide event and in others, it’s an inspiring gathering of friends and family. Completing a 5k gives the girls a tangible sense of achievement as well as a framework for setting and achieving life goals. The results are the same—making the seemingly impossible, possible.
Simple, engaging and extraordinary. The result? Healthy, confident girls who can.
Girls on the Run: Our 3rd-5th Grade Program - Over a period of 10 weeks, girls in the 3rd through 5th grade participate in an after-school program like no other. Designed to allow every girl to recognize her inner strength, the Girls on the Run curriculum inspires girls to define their lives on their own terms. Throughout the season, the girls make new friends, build their confidence and celebrate all that makes them unique.
The Girls on the Run lessons encourage positive emotional, social, mental and physical development. Participants explore and discuss their own beliefs around experiences and challenges girls face at this age. They also develop important strategies and skills to help them navigate life experiences. We start with helping the girls get a better understanding of who they are and what’s important to them. Then, we look at the importance of team work and healthy relationships. And, finally, the girls explore how they can positively connect with and shape the world.
Physical activity is woven into our program to inspire an appreciation of fitness and to build habits that lead to a lifetime of health. At the end of each three month session, the girls participate in a Girls on the Run 5k event. This celebratory, non-competitive event is the culminating experience of the curriculum. Completing the 5k gives the girls a tangible understanding of the confidence that comes through accomplishment as well as a framework for setting and achieving life goals. Crossing the finish line is a defining moment when the girls realize that even the seemingly impossible IS possible.