At Garrison Forest School, students are expected and encouraged to achieve their potential. Students are challenged to lead, to serve, to make decisions, and to accept responsibilities for consequences. Respect, trust, warmth, and joy combine to create an atmosphere in which all members of the school community can grow. These qualities embody the goals of the Athletic Program, which has as its ultimate objective to have each student become confident and prepared to contribute to a complex and challenging world.

Upper School Athletic Philosophy

The Athletic Program attempts to provide students with many opportunities to compete in a sport at a level appropriate to the student's skill and experience while keeping safety in mind. Through participation on a team, the student is encouraged to develop favorable attitudes of cooperation, sportsmanship, responsibility, loyalty and a sense of contribution to a group effort. Every effort will be made to provide multiple levels of team opportunities (Varsity, Junior Varsity, Third Team); however, participation numbers and/or league sponsorship may preclude some teams from being sponsored by Garrison Forest School.

Garrison Forest School is a member of the Interscholastic Athletic Association of Maryland (IAAM). For its equestrian athletics program, Garrison Forest is a member of the Interscholastic Equestrian Association (IEA) and the U.S. Polo Association.

Middle School Athletic Philosophy

The Garrison Forest School Athletic Philosophy encourages and allows for participation by all students at many levels of competition. We hope to teach many values to our Middle School students while they are engaged in the rigors of sport participation in a healthy team environment.

Lower Division Athletic Philosophy 

Garrison Forest offers a Lacrosse clinic to interested Fourth and Fifth Grade students as an extra-curricular activity. Our goals for this program are to teach the girls the basic skills of Lacrosse, as well as an introduction to teamwork, cooperation, and good sportsmanship. Most importantly, we want the girls to have fun. Ultimately, at this level and at this age, it is not about the competition--it is about discovering the joys of athletic participation and being part of a team.