SwingPals

SwingPals’ mission is to build a foundation of health and strong character in children facing adversity. SwingPals uses golf as a medium through which students develop mindfulness and self-regulation skills, empowering them to pursue their passion and fulfill their potential to create positive change in their community.

The SwingPals’ program goals:

• Impact the life-long health and wellness of our students
• Develop in each student a deep sense of integrity and personal character
• Ensure all our students are successful through high school and have an opportunity to enroll in college
• Create change within and improve the school community so all students may benefit from SwingPals

SwingPals uses the following principles to guide our work:

• Serve children who face economic and social adversity.
• Promote and support mental, physical, and emotional health.
• Vulnerability is at the core of learning and growth.
• Celebrate mistakes, not fix them.
• Character and integrity endures.
• Success derives from hard work, not talent.
• Guide students on their journey, not ours.
• Balance acceptance and change

SwingPals is built on the foundational principal that by developing a sense of safety and confidence in their abilities, students will be able to live healthier and happier lives. To facilitate this, our programming provides opportunities for students to improve their ability to emotionally self-regulate and build self-awareness through learning an entirely new sport. By experiencing first-class golf and mindfulness coaching, as well as community-focused service projects, students develop mentoring and leadership skills and connection to others, giving them the confidence to step outside their comfort zone and challenge their status quo.

Please click on the buttons below to learn more about our programs.

SwingPals currently serves four middle schools within the Durham Public Schools system: Githens; Lowe’s Grove; Neal; and Shepard. These schools have high percentages of minority students and students eligible for free and reduced-price lunches (averaging 75% – DPS Free & Reduced Statistics – State Report. School year 2017/18. Raw data. Durham, NC.). Additionally, these schools have markedly low percentages of students testing at or above grade level in reading and math.