Dear Friends,

In the two months since you last heard from us 85 girls came to GLI for a two-week life changing experience. Girls ranging from age 11 to 17 gave up their cell phones for two weeks in exchange for new skills, amazing friendships, wild theatre games (Bop anyone?), creative projects (improv, photography, book making, movie making), and Jedi level Slip and Slide. Even two weeks of rain and an army of mosquitos couldn’t stop our girls from enthusiastic singing and supporting one another. Click here to check out our photos and see for yourself.

One of the many best parts of this summer was seeing twenty-five alumnae return for more. Most participated in Sophomore Summer, a program where every girl develops a plan to create change in her own community. Read Shelby’s article below about how GLI girls learn to go against the grain.

Several alumnae were able to return to GLI because of the Emily Jane Project, where the friends and family of Emily Jane D’anconca keep her joi de vie alive by donating the tuition of alumnae who otherwise wouldn’t be able to return to GLI. Read below to hear about the experience of one Emily Jane scholarship recipient, Nikya. Other aspects of this joyous project include drinking Shirley Temples and dancing like nobody is watching.

My head still spins thinking about all our campers achieved and who they pushed themselves to be during those two weeks.

It is time to turn our attention to the fall. In September GLI returns to working with our younger participants and their families.  We will also be offering our first year-round after-school program.

Rachel Simmons has so much going on next month that we’ve decided to give Rachel her own newsletter so she can tell you all about it.

Please read the GLI camper stories, learn about our second year program for high school students and, as always, check out our summer girl find.

All my best,

Simone Marean
Executive Director, Girls Leadership Institute 

Shelby Knox Talks About Girls Going Against the Grain

During their first summer at GLI, campers build what we call their “internal résumé,” getting in touch with their inner ‘real girl’ and learning new tools to navigate the important relationships in their lives. The new Sophomore Summer program sets girls returning to GLI to the task of creating an “external résumé” out of the confidence and communication skills they learned the first time around.

Cue dramatic music! Seventeen girls. Two weeks. An unspeakable quantity of jelly sandwiches, bug spray, and lost ballpoint pens.  One goal: Design a detailed plan to make a change in your school or community. Then, get up and present it to the entire camp. Yes, with everyone watching you!

We started out by answering the question, “why should girls be activists?” Because, the girls decided, no one can stand up for the specific needs and interests of young women as well as real young women. We built on this discussion throughout camp, taking time for each girl to pick an issue important to her and figure out how to use her individual talents to represent that issue.

The girls covered the walls of the classroom with organizing ideas and learned how to write op-eds, get petitions signed, and make partnerships with adults and like-minded organizations. They wrote persuasive monologues on important topics like “chocolate ice cream vs. vanilla ice cream” in preparation for their big public speaking debut at the end of camp; they also wrestled numbers into a budget for their project. Finally, they worked through free time and late into the night to prepare power points, posters, and speeches to present their plans.

We also instituted a lunchtime debate forum for the girls to practice their persuasion techniques on Simone by advocating for changes in their life at GLI. They successfully argued to extend daily free time and, as a special weekend treat, bedtime. They only lost once: their valiant attempt to get more time with their precious cellular devices. Lesson learned: you win some, you lose some!

Now the girls are back at home and still hard at work making their plans a reality. Soon, you’ll be able to read about the individual projects and track the girls’ progress on the GLI site by clicking on a special Sophomore Summer section. Also look for updates written by the girls in the blog section – another skill they learned at camp this summer! And keep your eyes open when you’re watching the news – these girls are going to change the world in a big, loud way!

Nikya, Grade 10, Queens, NY

The experience I received at GLI is unexplainable. GLI helped me find out who I really am and who I can be. Spending the last two weeks at GLI has changed my perspective on many things. GLI taught me that only I can judge me.

Spending two weeks at GLI has helped me step out of my comfort zone and into my risk and danger zone. I have done things I never thought I could or would have the chance to do. I had a big fear of swimming before I went to GLI. At GLI I took a step forward and went swimming at a beach and then I went white water rafting! I spoke in front of about 44 people about a change that I am making in my school and read a poem. I wouldn't have been able to get up and do that in front of that many people without the help of Lauren Herold, Shelby Knox, and Tara Copeland. They taught me not to be afraid to express my feelings in front of a group of people.

GLI has also motivated me and encouraged me to not give up on my dreams. Julia Loonin and Simone Marean  encouraged me  to keep trying and not give up on playing basketball. Before GLI I would tell people I was passionate about playing basketball but whenever I got on a court everything changed. I would tell myself I wasn't good enough and I would just end up as a failure. I felt this way because I had always loved basketball, but I had never played on an official team and I never had anywhere to practice. My high school and middle school didn't even have a team that I could play on so it had always seemed as though I would never make it far. Simone and Julia have always believed in me, inspired me, and encouraged me to keep trying to achieve my goal.
 
I have learned so much from this experience and I would not give it up for the world. This is one memory I will never forget.

Lindsey, Grade 9, Franklin, MA

Before I came to GLI, I was less comfortable being who I am. I would be animated and goofy around my family and close friends, but around anybody else I was shy and quiet. I always did what I felt other people expected of me. At GLI, the girls had no expectations about my personality, character or actions. I was loud and silly and "fetch" around virtual strangers, who eventually became my friends. Today, I still question myself and whether what I'm doing is "cool" or not, but so much less than I did before. I feel more confident in myself and I can see the difference in how I act around everybody now. Going to GLI was one of the best experiences I have ever had, and I love who I am because of it.

Emily, Grade 8, Brooklyn, NY

My summer experience at GLI was a life changing experience for me. From the fun games to the awesome workshops, GLI has definitely changed me for the better for so many reasons. All the staff and the other campers were so nice; we created a community where you knew you were safe. GLI encouraged me and everyone else there to be the real girl you. Not the good girl, but the real girl you. At GLI my real girl me came out, and I could be as big and loud and crazy as I wanted to all day long.

I learned so many valuable leadership skills. Now  I have these to use at home, in school, and with family and friends.  I can be the real me now that I have some great leadership skills and a whole support team at GLI.  GLI is a dream place for girls. I think all girls should come to GLI! I can't wait to come back next year!

Morgan, Grade 10, South Salem, NY

I have learned countless things at GLI, I can't even being to describe how it has affected me. My first year I learned so much: that I can't be perfect, how to deal with criticism and friendship issues, “good girl” rules, I and You statements, that it’s ok to talk about my feelings, as well as so many other things. But most importantly, I learned that it’s ok to show my crazy goofy self around others. That’s what GLI is all about. Whether its crazy morning games or singing GLI songs while white water rafting, you can always be silly and know that you can feel comfortable because everyone is doing it together. I applied all of the tools I learned throughout the year with friends, family, and most importantly, with myself.

When I came back this summer for the Sophomore Summer program, I was so happy to be there again and I noticed a huge change in myself.  I grew really confident this year by subconsciously applying all the skills I learned last summer.  This summer we used the skills we learned in Freshman Foundation and took it to the next level. Through amazing workshops with Shelby we learned how to make change in our community; we practiced public speaking and debate and learned things such as fundraising and how to create websites, etc. Through talking with freshman girls, the sophomore girls also brushed up on some old skills. I was reminded to stop being afraid of people judging me, and to just accept who I am. I came home just about two weeks ago and I have noticed an even greater difference from when I came home last year. I think about GLI constantly and I am so lucky to have had these amazing two summers that have helped me grow so confident and have shown me how to be my crazy self.

Save the Date! Rachel Simmons is Coming to Silicon Valley

Rachel Simmons will talk about her new book, The Curse of the Good Girl, Raising Authentic Girls with courage and Confidence
When: Thursday September 24, 2009, 7:00pm - 8:30pm
Where: Gunn High School in Spangenburg Theatre, Palo Alto, CA
Who: Parents and Daughters (grades 5 and up)
Fee: No fee to attend this talk

In this follow up to her international bestseller, Odd Girl Out, girl expert Rachel Simmons provides practical strategies to empower girls and their parents to be confident, courageous, authentic and self-aware.  Learn how to boost your daughter's ability to manage interpersonal conflict, stay true to herself in friendships, deal gracefully with constructive criticism, and express her thoughts and feelings. Based on the successful practices of the Girls Leadership Institute, The Curse of the Good Girl is the much- anticipated manual to help girls reach their full potential.

Los Altos Line-Up   

We’re ready to go for back to school in Los Altos, CA. Here is our fall line-up:

REAL PARENTS, REAL DAUGHTERS:
Tuesdays in September, Santa Rita School, Grades 2-3, SOLD OUT
Wednesdays in September, Santa Rita School, Grades 4 – 6, 6:00 – 8:00
Wednesdays in October, Almond School, Grades 4 – 6, 6:00 – 8:00
Tuesdays in November, Loyola School, 2 – 3, 6:00 – 7:30

Click to learn more and register.

CLUB REAL GIRL
GLI’s unique after-school program for girls in grades five and six.
Wednesdays at Santa Rita, 3:15 – 4:45
Semester I: Wednesday September 16, 2009 – Wednesday January 13, 2010
Semester II: Wednesday January 27, 2010 – Wednesday May 26, 2010

Cost
$275 per semester

Click here to learn more and register.

Summer Girl Find
Coastal Studies for Girls is a new residential science and leadership semester school for 10th grade girls. Opening in spring, 2010, CSG brings girls from around the country to the coast of Maine for the fall or spring term of their sophomore year of high school. CSG features a marine science and leadership curriculum, while also offering classes in the core subjects of English, math, history and foreign language. CSG seeks girls who have a love for learning and discovery, an adventurous spirit, a desire for excellence, and a will to challenge themselves beyond the traditional school experience.

Visit www.coastalstudiesforgirls.org for more information.