Program Details - 3rd - 5th Grade | GOTR Michiana

Girls on the Run

Be in the know with this season’s details for your 3rd-5th grade girl.

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Girls on the Logo
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Two Girls on the Run participants lay in the grass smiling with flowers on their eyes.

Welcome Back!

Our Spring 2026 Girl Registration will open this winter! During the 2024 season, we introduced the Confidence Suite, a brand-new curriculum intentionally created to meet the needs of today’s girls. Hello, Superstar! was all about building confidence to be ourselves and love ourselves by activating our Star PowerHello, Mountain Mover! taught participants to believe in themselves and do hard things by activating their I Can! Power. This spring, we’re excited to share Hello, Bold Heart! with your child, where girls will learn how to use their Heart Power to share what's in their heart and speak boldly for themselves and others. Each unique theme builds upon the other to expand the GOTR experience for your child in the years to come.

Overview-Shared

Overview
Three GOTR Girls

The following information is subject to change when we officially enter the 2026 Spring Season

  • Girl registration opens on December 1, 2025
  • Spring 2026 season will begin in early March
  • Our standard schedule is to practice 2x a week, but schedules will vary by site
  • Most schedules will finish by May 16, 2026
Three GOTR Girls

COVID-19-Shared

Financial Aid

The scholarship approval process is included in the online and paper registration process. Simply answer the scholarship questions during registration, and the computer will determine your eligibility and adjust the fee accordingly. 

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  • August - November 2025

    Accepting new and returning site applications

    Deadline: November 16

  • September 2025 - January 2026

    Accepting new and returning coach applications

    Deadline: January 16, 2025!

  • December 1, 2025 - March 13, 2026

    Girl registration period

  • Week of March 9, 2026

    Girls on the Run practices begin

  • February 2026

    Community invited to register for 5K events

  • May 2026

    5K Celebrations (tentatively)

    Elkhart: May 9

    South Bend: May 16

Reg fees - SHARED

Registration Fees

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 across five counties in the Michiana area each year. Registration includes:

  • 8 weeks (GOTR)/10 weeks (H&S) of twice-weekly lessons conducted by certified GOTR volunteer coaches
  • Curriculum and lesson materials
  • Official GOTR T-shirt
  • Official GOTR water bottle
  • 5K Registration fee
  • 5K Medal
  • Post 5K celebration
  • Memories that will last a lifetime!
Girls working together during practice.
Registration Fee Guide
Registration Type Price
Full-Price Registration  $160
Financial Aid Option 1 
(Eligible for reduced lunch) 
$80
Financial Aid Option 2 
(Eligible for free lunch) 
$40

All Registrants
(Additional financial assistance available beyond rates as assigned above. Please note during your application process.)

Varies
COVID-19 Information

Information found here.

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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 forward!

What does the program fee include?

Though our cost per participant is $300, through generous donors we're able to offer 8 weeks of programming for $160 (10 weeks for Heart & Sole programming). Your program registration fee includes all lesson materials, including GOTR curriculum, activity sheets, a journal, lap counters, a GOTR t-shirt, a bib entry into the season-ending 5K, a finisher's medal, and memories to last a lifetime!

We can't afford the program registration fee, but our child would love to participate. How does the scholarship 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 participate! Thanks to generous donors and community supporters, program scholarships are available to any family who needs it. The online registration form will walk you through a few questions to find the fee that is right for your family based on a sliding scale.

When does the spring season begin?

Girls on the Run practices will begin the week of March 9, 2026. Heart & Sole practices will begin the week of March 2, 2026. The culminating event will be a 5K Celebration: May 9 in Elkhart and May 16 in South Bend (dates are tentative until after Jan. 1, 2026). More information will be shared by the GOTR staff and by your participant'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 more than $60,000 in program scholarships for families in need. Click here to sponsor a participant this season.

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