Entering Grade 6: June 26th - July 9th, 2010
At the GLI Prep Program, we offer girls the opportunity to feel independent and strong away from home. Campers gain confidence building amazing friendships that celebrate what makes them feel unique, powerful, and loved. The summer between fifth and sixth grade is a significant and important transition. We give girls the space to be total silly and play while also arming them with authentic confidence and the tools to build healthy and rewarding relationships. GLI Prep strikes the right balance between transformational workshops and summer fun.

Life at GLI
For many girls, this will be their first long stay away from home. At GLI, we create a daily structure and routine to set every girl up for success. Our summer interns are like older sisters: they live on the hall with the campers and shepherd them through every transition, from morning wake-up and meal time to letter writing and the pre-bedtime dance parties. Additionally, every girl is part of an advisory group where she can share her thoughts, hear from other campers, or strategize for the next huge water fight. Relationships are one of the most important things to girls. We make building a safe and rewarding community our number one priority.

Workshops
Our curriculum for girls entering grade six celebrates individuality. Middle school is a time when girls feel pressure to fit in and belong to a group. In an effort to be liked and please others, some girls lose their sense of self, especially that “uncool,” silly goof ball that lives in many fifth grade girls.

We talk to the sixth graders about the increasing pressure to give up a part of themselves or be someone who they are not. Most importantly, we teach girls to respond to this pressure in an assertive way. Every girl in our program learns and practices the difference between assertive, aggressive and passive approaches to conflict.

• Dropping the Mask
• Responding to Pressure
• Body Language Glossary & Body Image
• Toxic Friendships
• Real Friendships
• Media Literacy: Target Audiences

Project
Every two days there is a new project for girls to choose from. If they love their project they can do it again and explore an art form in-depth. If it’s not for them? No worries, they can pick a new project. Projects may include photography, videography, theatre and improvisation, creative writing, book making, and more.

Trips and Events
GLI Prep campers enjoy getting to know the Berkshires through our frequent outings. The campers test themselves with real challenges that include day hikes and visits to a high and low ropes course – always a highlight. Other fun trips include excursions to the lakeside and to the theatre.

One of our favorite days is the Fourth of July. It is tons of fun, from the once in a lifetime wake-up song, to watermelon seed spitting contests, to BBQ and extreme water fights. Summer doesn’t get better than this!

Food
Every meal is served buffet style. Campers pick from a wide selection of delicious options. Counselors eat with the girls to make sure that protein makes an appearance a couple times a day. We encourage girls to have at least three colors on their plate for lunch and dinner. To help the girls develop healthy habits we don’t offer fried foods or soda.

Schedule
We keep GLI campers moving! We are on the go.
Here’s a sample day:

• 8:45 – Theater games and improvisation
• 9:45 – Morning workshops
• 11:30 – Small group advisory discussions
• 12:15 – Lunch
• 1:00 – Free time. The highlight of this time is mail! Letters and care packages are distributed and every one enjoys an hour of snacking on gummy worms, playing games, or just swapping stories in the gazebo.
• 2:00 – Pick your art project!
• 4:00 – It’s time to get moving. If it’s 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 – Evenings are nothing but fun. Some of our activities include game show night, scavenger hunt, mask making, jewelry making, a trip to the theatre or movies, and much more.
• 9:00 – Love notes! Hall time, then we get ready for bed.

On the weekends we like to sleep in and eat breakfast in our PJs. After a morning of tie dye, crafts, and bubble contests we head to Mass MoCA Art Museum and Natural Bridges Park, followed by pizza in the park, Herrell's ice cream and a night out at the Williamstown Theatre Festival. On Sundays we go to the lake for the day, followed by a bon fire with smores and singing.  If the stars are out we might stay up a little late and find the Big Dipper.
 

Click here to apply now www.girlsleadershipinstitute.org/summer-camp/apply-gli