The Changing Health, Attitudes, and Actions to Recreate Girls chapter has quickly become one of the most uplifting and fast-growing fitness clubs on the Oregon State University campus.
CHAARG offers students a community to explore movement, make friends and feel supported in every step of their fitness journey.
OSU alumna Jenna Price brought the organization to campus after recognizing the need for a safe and empowering fitness space, in fall 2023.
“She felt like Oregon State was in need of an empowering fitness community like this, and through growing up in Eugene, was familiar with the CHAARG chapter at UO,” said current Vice President of Membership Avé Gray.
Ambassador Kelsey Osmus, who has been a part of the founding executive team since 2023, said, “Jenna saw a lack of a club that was a safe place for likeminded individuals to feel confident and connected in their working out journey…Getting to be part of this club from the ground up has been an amazing experience for me.”
“Last fall we had nearly 90 members!” Gray said. “We had to quickly add sessions and opportunities…. We were unaware of just how important it would become to people.”
Initially what mainly attracts the students is the fun and various workout opportunities, but the members say the real fun lies in the friendships that are formed within the club.
“The supportive, tight-knit community has become a huge selling point for us, both in and out of the gym,” Gray said.
Club members have access to a wide variety of optional opportunities every week at CHAARG including workouts, small groups that meet for different activities together, monthly social events and wellness workshops.
“In all, a CHAARG member has about 25 events they can choose to attend every term,” Gray said.
CHAARG’s core mission is acceptance and belonging.
“Our biggest priority at CHAARG is to show everyone that all bodies are capable bodies and that movement should be fun,” Gray said.
CHAARG aims to break down barriers people new to working out may face like fear, inexperience or other challenges.
An experience that stood out to Osmus was, “One workout we had a professional lifter teach us about how to properly weightlift while avoiding injury and encouraging proper technique… in a judgement-free zone with people of likeminded goals.”
CHAARG works closely with local gyms and instructors. “Our event coordinators spend lots of time calling managers, visiting studios and emailing companies,” Gray said. “We have established relationships with many local studios.”
CHAARG pays close attention to its members too, doing frequent surveys to gauge preferences among the club.
“There are other chapters around the U.S. with upwards of 200 members, our goal is to get as many OSU students involved as possible… Everyone deserves a spot in the fitness world,” Gray said.
