Dear Friends,

Since you last heard from GLI we’ve been brainstorming, hiring, planning and gearing up for GLI Summer Camp ’09. This summer in the Berkshires is going to be an amazing one! Why? PEOPLE!! We have a phenomenal staff, a smart, motivated and fun group of returning campers, and exciting new campers coming from all over the U.S.!

We’ve been waiting for months tell you about our new GLI Prep Program for girls currently in fifth grade. This program has been carefully crafted to meet the challenges that girls face during this critical juncture in their development. With our low camper-counselor ratio (1:4), this intimate program of just 16 campers is an ideal first sleep away camp experience.

Please read below to learn about the fun activities and projects that are planned for our GLI Prep campers.

For this newsletter I asked mom and daughter, Stacy and Claire, to grill me on all their questions about GLI as a first summer camp. Read their questions and my responses below.

You also need to meet some of our staff! I am thrilled to introduce the GLI Prep Program Director, Shannon Rigney Keane. Shannon doesn’t know it yet, but she will be pressured to lend her fabulous singing voice leading songs around the campfire. This year we have four alumnae joining the GLI staff as interns. From morning wake-up until the girls crawl into their beds at night, the interns are there like older sisters to lend an ear, share advice, or start a dance party.

Thinking about joining us this summer? Don’t wait too long, some programs have a just a couple of spaces left. Want to learn more? Click here to check out our website, or give me a call at 410-878-2258. I am happy to answer all your questions, or put you in touch with an alumna parent who can give you the parent’s perspective.

As always, you’ll find our favorite new finds in the “girl world” below.

All my best, 

Simone Marean

simone@girlsleadership.org

Interview about the program:

Stacy is a California mom thinking about sending her firstborn, Claire, all the way to the Berkshires for her first sleep away camp. Claire is a fifth grader, considering GLI as her first camp. Here are their questions, and my answers.

STACY: How often and when do I get to talk to her? She doesn't have a cell phone, so how do I contact her?
SIMONE: You can talk to your daughter after the first week, and once in the middle of the second week. Without cell phones to connect them to the outside word, the girls focus instead on their camp world. You can send her emails any time and we have a system that lets her fax back her letters to your email inbox. I recommend sending old fashion snail mail letters and care packages. There is nothing like getting real mail!

STACY: What if she gets homesick and really sad? How do you handle that?
SIMONE: Being homesick is normal for some girls and we help them get through it. Usually by day two or three the girls are so involved with their friends and activities that the homesickness fades away. Some girls never get homesick, even if it is their first time away from home.

STACY: What if she can't sleep in the middle of the night?
SIMONE: There are two staff members living on every floor. The campers know that they can knock on their door at any time. Our staff is great at listening and strategizing to help the girls fall asleep.

STACY: We live too far away to drive to camp so she will have to fly. How does that work?
SIMONE: Many of our campers fly to camp. Families can arrange for their daughter to fly as unaccompanied minor and our staff will pick them up at the gate. You will have the name and phone number of the staff person who will meet your daughter; she will call you as soon as she meets your daughter.

STACY: My daughter has been to the ER twice in the last year-both injuries while playing! What happens if there is some sort of medical emergency at camp?
SIMONE: Our staff members are trained to respond to emergencies quickly and calmly. If the emergency were something that we couldn't handle ourselves we would take her to our nearby pediatrician's office or the ER, both within three miles of camp.

STACY: I don't know that she's quite old enough to make good nutritional decisions. How do you manage that? In other words, will she be eating tons of treats the whole time?
SIMONE: We keep an eye on what the girls are eating by eating meals with them or checking their selections at the end of the buffet line. Our staff role models eating a healthy and balanced diet. We are also aware of what the girls throw in the garbage at the end of a meal. Sometimes we need to remind campers to add a little protein or some veggies to their plate. If a gentle reminder doesn't do the trick we talk to the camper and find out what is going on. Luckily, the food at Miss Hall's is so good that it is easy to eat well.

STACY: Some girls are drawn to sports, others more to the arts, like drama or music. How do you balance that at camp so that all types stay engaged?
SIMONE: We always try to give the girls choices so that they can decide what is comfortable for them. For example, if the girls are making movies, they have the choice to operate the camera, interview someone, be interviewed, or set-up the shot. During fitness we always set up at least two different kinds of activities, so that hiking would be an alternative to basketball, or yoga might be the alternative to soccer. We want to expose the girls to everything, so they all get to try sports and arts, but they can do it in a way that is comfortable for them.

STACY: Your different activities all sound so fun, but many sound like they are indoors. It's summer and I want to be sure she makes the most of the opportunity to enjoy the outdoors-something I strongly associate with summer camp. What's the balance of indoor activities vs. outdoor activities?
SIMONE: It all depends on the weather, and in New England anything is possible. If it is nice out we do everything we can to be outside, from morning warm-up games to small meetings, fitness and even evening activities. If it is raining we are always prepared to have fun indoors. The staff wants to be outside too!

And here are the questions Claire, the fifth grader, had:

CLAIRE: I am afraid I am going to be homesick. What will happen if I do?
SIMONE: The first few days of camp we are focused on helping you get to know each other as quickly as possible. We play interactive games, and there are small group challenges, like a campus-wide scavenger hunt. We even have a giant all-camp sleep over with a bonfire on the first night so that you get to know more than just your roommates. These activities usually prevent homesickness. Homesickness is normal. We have awesome staff to help you through it. For campers who do get homesick it usually disappears by the second or third day. Most campers don't ever get homesick.

CLAIRE: What do I bring?
SIMONE: Once you are accepted to camp you receive a packing list. This tells you everything about you might bring (wigs, costumes, music) and what you should bring (underwear, socks, t-shirts, etc.).

CLAIRE: What is the food like?
SIMONE: This was a big question for us too. I love food. We wouldn't have moved the camp to Miss Hall's if the food wasn't good.

CLAIRE: What if I come without knowing anyone? Should I come with a friend?
SIMONE: Most girls (over 95%) don't come with a friend. If friends do come together then we don't match them up as roommates. Our primary goal for the first three days of camp is to get to know one another. Most girls tell us that they feel closer to their new GLI friends than their friends at home. GLI friends stay in touch online all year. We organize reunions so girls can see each other before next summer rolls around.

Information About the Summer GLI Prep Program:

Our new GLI Prep Program is for girls entering sixth grade in Fall 2009. There is no more important time in your daughter's life to give her the gift of loving her real self, making true friends and gaining the skills to take on middle school with grace and courage. These campers will build a foundation of self-knowledge and celebration through workshops such as Positive Self-Talk, Dealing with Mistakes, Stopping Gossip, The Popularity Thing and BFF vs. RF (Real Friend).

Every day, campers will have a chance to express themselves through theatre games, photography, bookmaking, poetry, journaling and more. Of course, it wouldn't be summer camp without lake swims, day hikes, bonfires, stargazing and all the amazing art events that the Berkshires have to offer.

A typical GLI Prep Program Day begins at 7:30 wake-up. The counselors like to play music to get the girls going.

The day is fairly non-stop: 

• 8:45 - Theatre games and improvisation
• 9:45  - Two morning workshops are offered outside if we can
• 11:15 - Chill out and enjoy crafts. This time is focused on book making. Campers may be learning to make paper, design paper, bind their book, create a cover, make stamps, and more.
• 12:00 - Lunch
• 1:00 - After lunch it is free time. The highlight of free time is mail! Care packages are distributed and every one enjoys an hour of snacking on gummy worms, playing games, enjoying tennis, or just swapping stories in the gazebo.
• 2:00 - Afternoon project time is divided between photography and creative writing. Campers use digital cameras to express their ideas and edit them in our Apple computer lab. Program Director Shannon's love of writing is contagious as the girls let their thoughts roll onto the page in journal entries, poetry, and notes.
• 4:00 - It's time to get moving. If it is hot we head to the pool. Other choices might include a short hike, yoga, basketball, Pilates, soccer, tennis and more.
• 6:00 - Dinner
• 7:00 - After dinner it's nothing but fun. Some of our activities include game show night, scavenger hunt, mask making, jewelry making, trip to the theatre or movies, and much more.
• 9:00 - Write "love notes," boogie down, and climb into bed

Dates: June 27 - July 10, 2009

Location: Miss Hall's School, Pittsfield, MA (heart of the Berkshire mountains)

Cost: $2400, financial aid application available online

To register: Click here

New Faces at GLI Summer Camp 2009

GLI Prep Program Director:
Shannon Rigney Keane lives in Brooklyn, NY where she wears many hats, among them mom, writer, teacher, friend, wife, sister, and daughter. Shannon received a BA from Bryn Mawr College and a Masters in Teaching from Brown University. Shannon is thrilled to be the Program Director for GLI Summer Prep. She can't wait for songs, games, toasted marshmallows, honest talks, enjoying nature, and, most of all, meeting the awesome campers of GLI. She believes, from experience, that two weeks is not too short a time to make the best friends of your life.

GLI Interns:

Passion - GLI '05
Passion Rutledge is a sophomore at Temple University in Philadelphia, were she studies Psychology and Journalism. At Temple, Passion is on the Dean's List, acts as the treasurer of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars and holds a part-time job with the IRS Office of Chief Counsel.

When she's not working or doing homework, you'll probably catch her watching Spongebob Squarepants. Reality television is one of her guilty pleasures! She loves music more than anything else in the world. Passion listens to everything from the Chicago soundtrack to Ne-Yo. She's recently discovered her love for yoga! Passion also spends time writing poetry, shopping, laughing with friends, cooking, and reading.

Mia - GLI '05
Mia Svendson is 18 years old and a freshman at Towson University in Towson, Maryland. She's involved on campus and off campus in University Residence Government, the Student Union, Alternative Spring Break, and more. Mia loves art, art history and music, too. Her favorite bands are Mae, Death Cab for Cutie, and her friend's band, The Apathy Eulogy. Her guilty pleasures are Chinese Food, Ben and Jerry's Mint Chocolate Cookie ice cream, and reality television! She's fun, funky, friendly, and down to earth and so excited to be coming back to GLI!

 Lauren - GLI '06
Lauren Herold grew up in the suburbs of Washington, D.C. with her mom, her sisters, and her beagle Noah. She is currently a Women's and Gender Studies major in her first year at Columbia University in New York City. In high school she was the co-president of her school's Organization for Women.

Lauren is self-proclaimed connoisseur of doughnuts and will go almost anywhere to find a better doughnut. Her ipod mixes range from Alanis Morissette to Beyonce to Rihanna, to Everclear, to Phantom of the Opera and Hairspray. Lauren can't wait to play Woosh and the Yes game again!

Olivia - GLI '05
Olivia Ahmadi is a freshman at Wheaton College in Norton, Massachusetts. At Wheaton Olivia is involved in Big Brothers, Big Sisters, an active member of BACCHUS, a group that helps spread alcohol awareness among college campuses, as well as a member of the club Peace in the Middle East. She is website manager of Wheaton's Colleges Against Cancer chapter.

Olivia loves running, playing field hockey, and lifting weights. Her favorite TV show is 24, but she also likes to watch American Idol, Grey's Anatomy, and The Secret Life of the American Teenager. Olivia love having fun, and being high energy. Olivia's favorite band is One Republic, her favorite games are Monopoly and Outburst, and her ultimate favorite Disney movie is Mulan.

Our Favorite Girl Find for March:

We just learned that Amy Sewell, director of Mad Hot Ballroom, has two amazing girl projects in the works. Amy, a New York mother of twin girls, directed What's Your Point Honey?, a film about young women aspiring to enter politics and business. The film follows Project 2024, an initiative launched by CosmoGirl! with the support of the White House Project. Project 2024 is dedicated to getting more young women involved in politics so that we could see a day when just as many women as men run for the highest office in the country - getting beyond gender to agenda. Click here to learn more.

Amy also edited She's Out There, The Next Generation of Presidential Candidates: 35 Women Under 35 Who Aspire to Lead. Guess who Amy calls the "the Tiger Woods of politics"? GLI alumna Fiona Lowenstein. Fiona is one of the outspoken young women in this book who represent our country's next generation of female political leaders. This collection of essays reveals what drives the political ambitions of a younger generation of American women - and reveals their vision for our country. Click here to read more, then click-through to pre-order yourself a copy of this inspirational book.