Wellfit Girls Program SWFL, Inc.

To help teenage girls experiencing ongoing and post pandemic challenges (mental health related; financial and personal insecurity, loneliness, hopelessness, lack of holistic activities) find a positive and constructive outlet where they can bond with peers, develop communication and leadership skills, give back to the community, find their own voice, gain confidence, get outdoors/get fit, and try new things (yoga, cooking, obstacle courses) in a safe environment using immersive and experiential experiences.

1) Build positive relationships with youth to increase empowerment & self-acceptance


Create positive relationships between youth and program staff, peers, alumni and volunteers 


Nearly 1 in 5 high schoolstudents reported being bullied on school property in 2015. Studies show when individuals within a community do not have meaningful and positive social interactions and are not collaborating to improve their community, their risk for youth violence and self-harm increases. According to the CDC, when youth do not have positive mentors in their life it negatively impacts school attendance, increases the risk for behavioral and mental health difficulties, smoking, substance use, obesity, high-risk sexual behavior, depression, academic difficulties, high school dropout and suicide. In contrast, when individuals feel connected to adults and peers, it can create an increased understanding and respect for differences, promote trust, increase compassion and inspire a willingness to act in ways that positively support the community. 
 
2) Provide fitness opportunities to expand their confidence, physical fitness and holistic wellbeing. 


Personal training, running, yoga and nutrition coaching are intentionally incorporated into the curriculum/ 
Participants learn about healthy lifestyles, the connection between mind, body and spirit, body alignment awareness, posture and self-presentation skills. 

Statistics show that repetitive behavior creates changed habits, and also demonstrates that early intervention is most effective for these sorts of behavioral and lifestyle modifications. Wellfit Girls is, in essence, a preventative program.

This interventional model empowers participating girls and their families to make healthy lifestyle choices throughout the program and beyond. 

 

3)  Offer leadership training and expeditionary learning to broaden interpersonal skills, raise aspirations and prepare them mentally, physically and emotionally to overcome past, present and future obstacles. Each Wellfit Girls program intentionally culminates with a 3-10 day expeditionWhen girls feel physically empowered, supported by enhanced public speaking skills, improved confidence, and deeper self-discovery, their growth as leaders is markedly enriched. The girls experience themselves as stronger inside and out, and the world experiences them as more confident, empowered and ready to lead. Participating girls will have experienced many vulnerabilities prior to enrollment in the program. This program addresses these vulnerabilities in foundational ways, elevating girls into the next phase of their lives. 
 
Studies show that facilitated experiences and nature-based adventure have a positive influence on teens, improving self-esteem and self-control. Of related importance, how we carry ourselves in the world begins with a strong physical foundation. A key element of successful leadership, as imbued through the Wellfit Girls program, is a focus on the value of a positive, powerful, and lasting impression.

We have a growing, passionate, and committed Board, staff and volunteer base of engaged leaders from various industries, and have invested in an ongoing partnership with a prominent strategic consulting company. This company specializes in non-profit organizations and is currently assisting us in the fields of governance, donor development, strategic planning, and more. With the support of our recently updated strategic plan we have detailed goals, objectives, benchmarks and strategies to walk us through long term sustainability while accomplishing our short term program goals. Our board acknowledges that in order to achieve our shared vision for expansion and stability there is a lot of work and growth to be done. Our Board, staff and volunteers' willingness to increase their level of engagement and implement our strategic plan continues to facilitate and achieve our desired results.

In our six year history, we have accomplished a lot. We have graduated more than 70 participants in the program with another 19 participating in 2019. We have changed lives and we have saved lives. We have expanded to Lee County, created meaningful community partnerships, increased staff and volunteers and listened to the feedback of numerous grant committees, board members and donors.  We have had wonderful success with our signature five-month leadership program culminating in an expedition to Peru in terms of outcomes. We know that expeditionary learning and cultural immersion have a great impact on changing social and emotional behaviors in teens. However, we also recognize that the high-cost of an international expedition has limited the number of scholarships we can offer and therefore limits the number of girls who have access to our programming.  We want to offer our leadership and fitness program to more girls in Collier County who otherwise wouldn't be able to afford it and we want the experience to culminate with an expedition. In 2018, our Board of Directors voted to hire a consultant to help our leadership team create a new conceptual framework to implement new programs that serve more girls at a lower cost.