I-Tri, whose goal is to empower middle school girls through fitness, is set to launch its 2021 season in early February and is holding virtual parent meetings this week to offer new families an introduction to the program.
Until last year, the program was offered after school in select schools across the East End, with participants meeting weekly for empowerment and mentoring sessions and also training to compete in a youth triathlon. But after pivoting to a virtual program when schools were shut down in March, I-Tri's leaders decided to repeat its virtual sessions this year and to make them available to girls 11 to 14 anywhere and everywhere. Participants will meet twice a week for fitness, empowerment, and Olympic Challenge training, learning skills to help them overcome fitness and emotional hurdles.
"Our sessions on visualization, affirmation, and meditation are especially crucial right now for our girls," Alyssa Channin, the organization's program director, said in a release, pointing to studies that show "middle schoolers may be the ones suffering most during this pandemic."
Olympic and professional athletes will mentor the girls, but participants need not have any fitness experience to join.
The program begins on Feb. 1 and runs through May 22. Parent meetings are planned for Tuesday, Thursday, and Wednesday, Jan. 27, at 7 p.m. Registration for the program and the meetings is online at itrigirls.org. Those unable to attend a meeting can email Ms. Channin at [email protected].