Summer Summit 2024: Building Strong, Confident, and Active Young Women

Fit4Kids’ Game On, Girl! program is more than just an after-school initiative; it’s a transformative experience that empowers middle school girls across Greater Richmond to lead active and purposeful lives. By focusing on physical activity, nutrition education, and leadership development, our program supports students from 8 Title I middle schools in Chesterfield, Henrico, and Richmond. This year’s Summer Summit was a perfect showcase of how these principles come to life.

Over four exhilarating days, 53 adolescent girls embarked on an unforgettable adventure at Summer Summit 2024. The event kicked off with a dynamic mix of indoor and outdoor activities, and we extend a huge thank you to the Weinstein Center at U of R and Mt. Calvary Baptist Church for hosting us. Indoors, the girls enjoyed Yoga with BareSOUL, ultimate ball, spin cycling, bracelet making, and lively team chants. Outside, the fun continued with a soccer clinic led by the Richmond Ivy, a disc golf tournament with the River City Ladies League, BMX bike riding with Richmond BMX, and paddleboarding with L.O.C.A.L. Adventures/Waterfront RVA.

We’re especially grateful to the Richmond Ivy and L.O.C.A.L. Adventures/Waterfront RVA for introducing our students to these exciting new activities. The enthusiasm they brought was palpable, and the students are already excited about these adventures for next year! Our staff and coaches were equally impressed by the students’ energy and teamwork during these first two days, truly capturing the spirit of our program.

As we moved into the second half of the week, our focus shifted to health and leadership activities. A big thank you to VCU RecWell, Mary and Frances Youth Center, and Salem Church Middle School for providing fantastic spaces for our concluding events! Students engaged in skill-building drills with the VCU Women’s Basketball Team, tackled a Chopped-style cooking challenge featuring seaweed, played dodgeball, and took on rock climbing atTriangle Rock Club. They also enjoyed kickboxing, crafted positive affirmation flowers with R.E.A.L. Girlz, and participated in a smoothie competition.

The creativity and sportswomanship displayed by the girls was truly heartwarming. We wrapped up the week with a bang at a local roller skating rink—a new addition that the girls had specifically requested and proved to be a hit! The students had a blast skating, laughing, taking selfies, and celebrating with their teammates and our staff, making for a memorable end to an incredible week.

A huge thank you to all our amazing partners mentioned throughout this overview for making this year’s camp an unforgettable experience. With the dedication of Coach Sam and our committed team, we’re excited to continue this journey and look forward to seeing even more smiling faces next year. At Game On, Girl!, we’re devoted to helping every girl build resilience and become the best version of themselves, and Summer Summit 2024 was a shining example of this mission in action.