GirlVentures, a non-profit organization based in the Women’s Building, is currently recruiting girls for their after-school program called Girlz Climb On. This program pairs girls (grades 6-9) with an adult female mentor – they climb, laugh & learn together once a week for ten weeks at Mission Cliffs Climbing Gym (Harrison @ 19th Street). All girls are encouraged to apply (no experience necessary and scholarships are available).
The program begins with a one-day ropes course experience and culminates with a weekend day outing to Castle Rock State Park (where girls get to climb outdoors on real rock). For the ten weeks girls climb one-on-one with their own personal mentor, learning not only climbing skills and techniques but also discovering their strengths and talents through a range of verbal, physical and creative self-expression activities.
Core to our success and unique to GirlVentures is our commitment to bringing together girls from diverse ethnic, cultural, and socio-economic backgrounds. 2/3s of our participants receive financial aid for our courses. Scholarships are offered on a first come, first serve basis – so please apply early. Visit our website for more information and to apply: http://girlventures.org/our-programs/school-year/girlz-climb-on/
Spring 2011 Dates
January 28th – High Ropes course - 9am-4pm
January 30th – First day of program (at Mission Cliffs Climbing Gym) – 4:30pm-7:15pm 10 consecutive weekly meetings at the gym
April 7th – Outdoor Climb at Castle Rock State Park - 8am-6pm
Quotes from past participants:
What did you like about being in a program with all girls?
“Being in a program with all girls made me more comfortable in expressing my feelings” (GCO Spring ’11 participant)
“If its all girls i find it easier to express my opinions and overall just feel more comfortable” (GCO Fall ’10 participant)
How would you describe GCO?
“A place where girls get to be themselves, rock climb, and hang out with other girls” (GCO Spring ’11 participant)
What did you like about GCO?
“Getting to climb every monday and having a mentor. Being in a comfortable environment where I feel confident to step out of my comfort zone and do new things” (GCO Fall ’10 participant)
Why just Girls?
GirlVentures was founded on the belief that every girl has natural strengths that will help her develop into a healthy woman. Investing in girls—particularly in the critical pre-adolescent phase by encouraging them to stretch beyond their comfort zone and explore new physical and creative activities that nurture and exercise their strengths—can provide a lasting impact that girls carry with them throughout their teenage years. At GirlVentures, we encourage physical and creative risk-taking in a safe and supportive environment.
Through our single gender programs we provide our girls with opportunities to: 1) experience physical success; 2) express creativity; 3) celebrate girls’ diverse identities; 4) practice group decision-making and problem solving; 5) develop community responsibility; 6) engage in healthy conflict resolution; and, 7) cultivate a sense of appreciation and stewardship for nature and the environment.
