Girls enCourage is an adventure sports program for girls ages 12 to 14. It is a component of Girls Inc. Sporting Chance®, a national, research-based program that builds movement and athletic skills, cooperative and competitive spirit, health awareness, and interest in all sports. Girls Inc. Sporting Chance® also encourages girls to experience the benefits of positive risk taking and to explore career opportunities related to sports. Studies* show that participation in sports and athletic activities is crucial for a girls’ overall well-being:

• If a girl does not participate in sports by the time she is 10, there is only a 10 percent chance she will participate when she is 25
• Children ages 9 and 10 who participate in sports rate higher on perceived physical competence, social competence, and general self worth
• Female teenage athletes have higher educational goals and are less likely to get pregnant than girls who did not participate in sports

The Girls enCourage program gives girls the opportunity to try nontraditional sports - physical activities that strengthen their bodies and minds - that are not often introduced in school gym classes or community sports leagues and that challenge gender stereotypes. Girls in the program also have the opportunity to learn a progression of technical skills to keep them healthy, safe, and active in the outdoors. The program fosters individual development by encouraging girls to go outside their comfort zones, create their own definitions of success, and use creative expression for reflection and self exploration.

View a clip of some of our girls learning how to windsurf in summer 2006!

Additional resources from Girls Inc. include Girls and Sports [pdf].