CHAARG is one of many clubs on BGSU’s campus. They are gaining more members each year with 129 members for 2024, which is up from the 118 members last year.
According to their website, CHAARG stands for “Changing Health, Attitudes and Actions to Recreate Girls.” It was first started in 2012 at The Ohio State University. Since then, CHAARG has grown to reach over 100 universities across the nation.
One of BGSU’s CHAARG members, Kaitlyn Pierce, said CHAARG’s mission is to encourage young women who want to get into fitness.
“CHAARG’s mission is to encourage girls to not be afraid of the gym or working out. We want to empower girls to try new things, and we help give them a safe space to do so,” Pierce said.
One of the student event coordinators, Kirsten Krah, said it does not cost much to join CHAARG.
“It costs $64 to join for a semester. We never want the reason that somebody does not join CHAARG to be because of financial reasons,” Krah said. “This covers all of our 12 weekly workouts, socials, small groups and welcome/end-of-semester parties.”
She added they do more activities than workouts and fitness.
“Every fall semester, we have a two-day retreat, and every Spring semester, we have a formal where we rent out a local bar in town and dress up. We also do socials such as pumpkin patches, galentines, Friendsgiving, white elephant gift exchanges, small groups, where a group of girls you get to meet up with every week and do study dates, workouts, smoothies runs, etc. with based on your own schedule and so much more,” Krah said.
Pierce said her favorite part of CHAARG is the community it provides and that she can be herself.
“My favorite part of CHAARG is the community of girls. I love that I can be myself 100% and not be worried about anyone judging me. It allows me to go out of my comfort zone at workouts I may have never done before in a welcoming space,” Pierce said.
She said there are many benefits of joining CHAARG, including multiple workouts and opportunities to hang out with friends and go to the gym with them.
“The benefits of joining CHAARG is meeting people who have similar values. With purchasing a membership, you are guaranteed 11 workouts, which are either on-campus or at different studios around here that we carpool too, small groups which meet once a week and hang out or go to the gym together, and lots of socials throughout the semester. It’s nice because you pay at the beginning of the semester once and don’t have to pay for each individual event throughout the semester,” Pierce said.
Another member of CHAARG, Aimee Cook, said her favorite part of the club is trying something new every week and the community of girls she is surrounded by.
“My favorite part is trying something new every week and the community,” Cook said.
Krah said the commitment to CHAARG is not strict, and you don’t have to go to all of the workouts and activities if you can’t or do not want to.
“We typically have our weekly workouts on Thursday nights at 6:30-7:30 and 7:30-8:30…We currently have thirteen different small group times where, based on your schedule, you can pick a group of 7 to10 girls and get the opportunity to work out or hang out with them,” Krah said. “Our socials are spread out throughout the semester and can occur on weekends or weekdays, however, everything is voluntary so if you can not make it that week or you are not interested in going to one of our weekly workouts, that is okay. There is no pressure to do something if you don’t want to.”
Pierce said if she could add anything to CHAARG, it would be more members.
“If I could add one thing to CHAARG, it would just be more members. I love seeing the community expand and getting to know more people,” said Pierce.
