Nike Girls Multi-Sport Camp with Game On! Sports 4 Girls - Chicago

Barb has overseen Game On!'s expansion from a single summer camp in Lake Forest to locations in three states running summer camps, school year classes, day-off-school events, extensive free community-based clinics and Girl Scout events, and other creative projects. She has also taken great pride in funding camps for the Boys & Girls Club of Chicago and numerous scholarships over the years. Game On! is now poised for expansion nationwide.

A nationally recognized advocate for girls in sport, Barb was awarded the Toyota & espnW Everyday Hero Award in 2013, and on behalf of Game On! accepted the 2018 U.S. Olympic Committee's Rings of Gold Program Award. Most recently, in 2019, Barb was the recipient of the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness and Nutrition (PCSFN) Community Leadership Award.

Barb graduated with a B.A. from the University of Michigan (1982) and a J.D. from Loyola University of Chicago School of Law (1985) and served as an Assistant United States Attorney from 1986 to 1990. In 1991, she accepted the newly created position of Press Secretary for the Department of Justice for the Northern District of Illinois and held that position until she opened what was to become a successful media relations business in 1994. She left the law and public relations to pursue her dream of passing on the gift of sports to young girls in 2006.

A proud wife and mom of two special boys, Barb is also known for her commitment to sports and fitness. In addition, she is an inductee into her high school's Athletic Wall of Fame, a respected motivational speaker, and has been featured by the media on numerous occasions throughout her career.

During her first summer, she remembers teaching a girl softball for the first time and within a week the camper asked coach Sara to continue to work with her and go a little late to lunch so she could get in that extra swing. This camper went on to play varsity softball in high school. Teaching sports is great, but being a role model for these girls is the best. Understanding the importance of a good coach and the impact one can have on the life of a young girl is amazing. Sara joined the team full-time after that summer as the Director of Operations. She continued to lead softball on the fields for the first four summers until opening camp in Chicago in 2011.

Although Sara is no longer the softball director, you won’t find her too far from the diamond. After all, diamonds are a girl’s best friend. Sara has also spent time coaching travel softball teams and leading coaches clinics throughout the north suburbs of Chicago.

Sara earned her degree in Sports Management and psychology while playing Division II softball at the University of Tampa. She was a three sport athlete in high school competing in volleyball, gymnastics and softball. She was a gold medalist for the USA Maccabi softball team in the International Maccabiah Games in Israel as well as the Maccabiah Pan American Games in Argentina.

She continues to stay active and plays on multiple softball and volleyball teams. She also loves to hike, rock climb, break a sweat during a HIIT session, and spend time with her friends and family. She is truly passionate about what Game On! stands for and loves to coach and work with the girls.

One of her goals is for all girls to leave camp knowing how to throw hard and strong like a Girl! So when someone says you throw like a girl, the response should be “You bet I do!…and proud of it!”

Prior to Game On!, Jenny served as the Director of Girls Programming at Chicago Youth Lacrosse, where she was responsible for overseeing the girls teams as well as coaching the U9, U11, and high school teams. She’s been fortunate to gain extensive lacrosse coaching experience around the world – coaching a club team in Milan, Italy; a high school team in Langley, Virginia; and a college club team at North Dakota State University in Fargo.

She spent four years in Fargo working in the sports information office and taught middle school English in Baltimore, Maryland prior to coming to the Midwest. She has also coached youth swimming, soccer, and field hockey. She graduated from Penn State (Go Nittany Lions!) in 2006 with a degree in sports journalism and played three years on the varsity field hockey team.

In her free time, she loves to run, bike, and play soccer & lacrosse. She also loves to curl up with a good book (Harry Potter is a favorite) or to watch a movie (Star Wars!). She lives in Richmond, VA with her husband, daughter (a future Game On! girl), and goofy cat.

My favorite quote: “Nothing should stand in the way of strong girls with bold dreams.” – Barack Obama

Prior to Game On!, Mel was a high school PE teacher and basketball coach. She also spent two years as an AmeriCorps member working for Playworks teaching elementary-aged kids social-emotional learning through play.

Mel is a proud alumna of Gordon Tech High School, where she played volleyball, basketball, softball, and ran cross country. She then went on to play NAIA DII basketball for Judson University. She earned her degree in Exercise Sport Science with a concentration in health and wellness.

Outside of Mel's work commitments, she enjoys serving in her church and making memories with her son and husband.

We have worked hard, observing and listening to feedback every step of the way, to become the experts in the areas of communication and teaching methodology. The result is customized, fun programming that includes our signature incentive programs. We are so proud of our impact – exciting girls about staying fit and active on top of imparting core values and life skills that go beyond the playing field. This is our passion and our mission.