Girls in the Game offers after school programming for elementary, middle, and high school girls that spans the entire program year. Realizing that a healthy lifestyle is dependent on multiple factors, GIG utilizes a unique program model that incorporates three main components into each session - physical activity, health and nutrition education, and leadership and life-skills development– addressing the needs of the whole girl. Our multisport model is designed to attract girls of all abilities to get in the game – any game- in a non-competitive and fun environment. GIG addresses girls’ physical, mental and emotional health in a positive, all-girl setting where girls are empowered to find their voices, explore new physical activities, make healthy choices, and support one another.

Teamwork

Smart Eating

Basketball & Laughs

GIG: After School- Elementary

An innovative citywide collaborative, GIG: After School- Elementary uses sports and fitness, health and nutrition education, and leadership and life-skills development to improve the overall physical health and emotional well-being of elementary-school girls. The 30-week program spans the entire school year, and weekly program sessions run 90 minutes in length. Curriculum is structured around three-week modules, with each module incorporating a physical activity, such as basketball, soccer, creative movement, etc; a health education topic, such as smart eating, body image, drug & alcohol education, etc; a life skills topic, such as “sports-woman-ship”, self-awareness and identity, peer pressure, etc; and, a key message that focuses on smart eating or physical activity.

GIG: After School – Union Park

Our most intensive program, GIG: After School at Union Park provides a safe after-school alternative for girls, four days a week, four hours per day. Through hands-on learning, we attempt to empower our girls with information and education to help them make healthy decisions about their own lives, now and in future years. The program combines health and nutrition education, sports and fitness activities, academic support, and leadership and life-skills development to improve the overall health and well-being of participants. Each program session includes a healthy snack and hot meal, as well as occasional handouts to take home and share with parents and families. Participants are divided into two age groups (7-10 and 11-13).

A comprehensive, 30-week program, this program is specially designed for middle- to high-school-aged girls with a unique emphasis on peer education. In an environment where they are respected and heard, participants discuss all aspects of their health: body, mind, spirit, and life. They discuss a variety of health issues, participate in different types of lifetime fitness activities, focus on developing critical life skills, and plan a peer education outreach project.