| We’ve got so much to celebrate this month and so much on the horizon! One of the programs worth celebrating is our Girls In-Service group. Not only because we just kicked off year #3 in fun Wise Girl fashion but because we have another cohort forming this fall for girls entering into 9th grade (see below). To give you a little background, Girls In-Service started in April 2022 with ten 8th and 9th graders who met for a sweet day-long retreat. With activities, art, and conversation, little did any of them know that being a part of this group would be one of the highlights of their high school experience. Girls In-Service came to me as an idea to help girls learn about living in service and finding purpose, which research shows are are key aspects to a meaningful life. I began volunteering as a young person, and these experiences led me to initially pursue education to work with kids with disabilities. Finding I didn’t want to be stuck in a classroom, I discovered social work and made a move to change my major my sophomore year of college. Just as had happened for me, I wanted to give girls a chance to learn about different kinds of service and to be inspired to take up a cause or even a career based on their experiences. In addition, I wanted girls to continue to have the opportunity to grow in wellness throughout high school years, just as many of them had done through our School Year Wellness Workshops. Hence, Girls In-Service was born. Understanding the increased demand on high schoolers’ schedules, we meet 1x/month for a Core Foundation meeting and 1x/month for a service project. Service project hours can be used to meet their volunteer requirements in high school. All of our meet ups focus on our Core Foundations: Finding Purpose Living in Service Using Creativity for joy and to solve problems Developing Leadership skills Focusing on Wellness for overall mental and physical health for life Now these Core Foundations are the backbone of the program but above all else is the relationships that have formed. Most of our members started with the program in 2022 and we’ve had a few new additions, including 3 new members this year. For a total of 12 girls, here is one thing I can say for sure. These girls LOVE each other. Many coming from different schools including Casa Grande, Credo High, Petaluma High, and Sonoma Academy, these girls have developed a connection I could have only dreamed of when starting this program. Because what I know is relationships are everything. And while service and purpose are part of a meaningful life, we must not overlook just how much we need relationships to thrive. In the therapy world, we say “No one heals in isolation.” And it’s true; we need each other to get through. Teens do well to have a group to help them get through high school and beyond! At our kick-off retreat for year #3 at Rusty Hinges Ranch, our girls shared why they continue to show up. All girls reported loving the friendships they have created. And for the new members, they said they joined because their friends had shared how much the loved the girls and had fun, so they wanted to be a part of of it too. So here this amazing of group 12 ready for another year of Girls In-Service! |
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New 9th Cohort Starting August 2024 |
| I’ve learned a lot of the last 2 years of running this program and am ready to start another cohort. This September, for girls entering 9th grade, we’ll kick off our time together with an overnight at Rusty Hinges Ranch August 17-18. This will be the perfect way to get those relationships started and get us on track in moving forward with our Core Foundations. Our Core Foundations meetings will be the Third Thursday of the month and service projects are typically on Saturdays or Sundays. This group will meet August 2024-May 2025 and girls will have the opportunity to continue with the program throughout high school, leaving them with a stacked resume of volunteer hours and a great topic for essays for post high school endeavors. Girls will be committing to a full 10 months of the program and must do their best to attend our meetings and events. We do realize other sports, activities, and commitments may take precedence at times so communication is key. And when those other commitments cease, making GIS a priority is expected. |
| Registration is open today, so please be sure to register ASAP. As with all Wise Girl Workshops programs, we keep our groups small to allow for meaningful connections and individualized attention. If you have any questions about our programs, then please contact us here. And don’t forget, summer camps for girls entering grades 3rd-8th and the Labor Day Weekend Point Reyes Wise Girl Adventures for girls entering grades 8th-9th in fall 2024 are enrolling. See below for more details. Here’s to growing Wise Girls, Kids, and Parents! |
