Last semester, while updating the HerCampusUNCW’s Instagram, I searched and followed accounts that promoted healthy habits, encouraged studious actions, and posted material that supported all the hard-working collegiettes out there. (There are so many!) I stumbled upon the @CHAARG account and it captured my attention. The pictures I saw intrigued me and the captions I read were super inspiring! The account had motivational posts accompanied by real woman showing off their fitness accomplishments aided by the organization that ran the account. So, of course, I had to Google what CHAARG was!
CHAARG is a fitness and health organization, specifically for college aged women with over 2500 members, 24 university chapters in the United States and many Virtual Members (for those girls who want to be a part of the movement, but do not have a chapter at their university.) They sell fitness gear, workout apparel, have a blog containing “EAT”, “SWEAT”, “INSPIRE” and “LIVE” categories, host events, offer internships and challenges are sent out every week in their Newsletter! CHAARG was founded by Elisabeth Tavieren in 2012 at OSU to encourage other women get excited about fitness and soon expanded to other universities. After gaining more personal interest in CHAARG, I had the opportunity to interview the Chapter Trainer/Director of Expansion, Sarah Clem.
“CHAARG aims to ignite a passion in college-aged girls for health + fitness. Too many college girls rely solely on an elliptical.” (https://chaarg.com/about/)
(Left: Elisabeth Tavieren, Founder and President Right: Sarah Clem, Chapter Trainer and Director of Expansion)
HC: How did your passion for fitness begin?
Sarah: I was always a very active kid growing up. I tried pretty much every sport possible — softball, volleyball, basketball, horseback riding… you name it, I took a camp for it or played on that team at some point! However, I was not a stellar athlete or anything, definitely more of a benchwarmer. I didn’t really ‘find my fit’ until I started running cross-country in junior high. I absolutely loved everything about cross-country + track; my teammates, the workouts, my coaches + training to take my body to that next level.
HC: How did you first become involved with CHAARG? Did a friend introduce you or did you stumble across the opportunity?
Sarah: My best friend went to The Ohio State University + was in the same sorority as the founder, Elisabeth Tavierne. She told me about CHAARG and the second I heard about it I knew I had to start a chapter at UC!
HC: You were the first CHAARG Ambassador to expand from OSU, but what inspired you to do so?
Sarah: I loved, still do love, the University of Cincinnati; however I noticed something that was always crazy to me whenever I was in the amazing rec center there — girls would be in the cardio portion of the gym, and guys would be in the weight section. Even myself, who knew how to lift, had trained with a personal trainer before, and enjoyed lifting would confine myself in the indoor track rather than taking my workout to the next level and going to the weight room. This phenomena is seen at many (if not most) rec centers at universities across the country. This is something that CHAARG is changing and I wanted to help change! I want women to become comfortable and confident in the gym. I want them to learn that not all ‘exercise’ has to be something they dread — it should be fun! I wanted to create that community on my campus that would enable freshmen who no longer had the support of a high school dance team or swimming team to find fun and challenging ways to sweat and live positive lifestyles throughout college.
HC: What challenges, if any, did you face as an Ambassador?
Sarah: Initially, UC’s rec center wasn’t exactly keen of CHAARG and viewed us as competition. However, that changed as we worked with them and showed them how many girls were now more confident in the gym and going to more rec center classes together!
HC: Did you go to college with the intent to earn a degree that was health or fitness related?
Sarah: Not at all! I actually started in college with the idea of becoming a veterinarian [I love animals!]. Even currently, I don’t have a health/fitness degree. I studied marketing and entrepreneurship — just goes to show, you can do anything you are passionate about!
HC: What exactly does a Chapter Trainer do?
Sarah: As the Chapter Trainer I’ve oversee the expansion of our current 24 Universities, trained all of the current ambassadors at those universities and managed those ambassadors to make sure that all CHAARG chapter members are having an amazing experience on their campus!
HC: How does someone become a CHAARG Chapter Trainer?
Sarah: Haha, I honestly don’t know — I’m the only one! I would say a lot of hard work, quick thinking and being able to laugh at myself when I make a mistake [which I make a lot of].
HC: How has CHAARG improved since you first became a member?
Sarah: Our mission has always been the same — to help women ignite their passion in health and fitness. However, we have GROWN so much from when I first became a part of CHAARG. Going from 2 chapters to 24 chapters has allowed the CHAARG community to become bigger, more supportive and has given our members more opportunities for amazing experiences such as participating in virtual fit plans and national retreats.
HC: What advice would you give to schools that want to start a CHAARG Chapter?
Sarah: Contact me! Send me an e-mail at chapters@chaarg.com. I encourage you to check out our website, chaarg.com, + learn more about our chapters + the universities we are currently at. Our goal is to expand to every campus in the United States, if not the world, + we need motivated + passionate women to apply to become CHAARG ambassadors. If your school doesn’t have a CHAARG chapter yet, look at our virtual memberships + join the movement today!
(Sarah with other CHAARG ladies)
[Photo Credit: CHAARG]