Outdoor and Experiential Education Programs
for Adolescent Girls
(sample of programs nationwide and miscellaneous resources)

The Girls' Wilderness Program of The Women's Wilderness Institute
camping in the Snowy Range of southern Wyoming.

Click here for a printable pdf* document of this information.
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These programs are listed in order by region of the U.S.A and Canada
(International Programs are welcome to be included).

Raven's Way
Rebecca Howe, Intake Specialist
Southeast Alaska Regional Health Consortium
222 Tongass Drive
Sitka, AK 99835
Ph. 907-966-8716 or 800-770-3063
Fax 907-966-8705
rwintake@searhc.org
www.searhc.org/ravensway
Note: SEARHC is a non-profit tribal health consortium of 18 Native communities. Raven's Way accepts females ages 13-18 (Alaska residents only) that have a primary diagnosis of substance abuse and/or dependence. Courses contain female only and co-ed programs including physical challenges, group cooperation and team building. Sample programs include kayaking, backpacking, wilderness expedition, ropes course activities, and activities relevant to Native cultures.

Wild Women Expeditions (Girls Camps)
Beth Mairs, Director
Canada's Outdoor Adventure Company
for Women
Box 145 Station B
Sudbury, ON P3E 4N5 Canada
Ph. 1-888-WWE-1222
beth@wildwomenexp.com
www.wildwomenexp.com
Note: Two summer camps available for girls:
1) Wild Women in Training: A camp for girls ages 8-14 and the wild women in their lives. The camp offers a balance for girls in a camp programme designed just for them; time for adults; time for each girl to share with her guardian. The girls have their own counselors and activities focussing on nature lore, camp craft, sports, cooperative games, arts and a canoe trip; 2) BUSHgirl Adventure Naturalist Camp is a northern escape of a lifetime with challenge, renewal, fun and adventure for 15-17 year old girls

NORTHEAST

Coastal Studies for Girls
A Science and Leadership School
Pam Erickson, Executive Director
P.O. Box 266
Freeport, ME 04032
Ph. 207-865-9700
Mobile: 207-807-2199
perickson@gwi.net
www.coastalstudiesforgirls.org
Note: A 16 week experiential semester school for high school sophomore girls on the beautiful coast of Maine. Come live, learn, play and explore in an inspirational and academic learning community focused on marine biology, environmental science and leadership adventure.

Connecting with Courage
Jonathan Hislop, Director of Admissions
Thompson Island Outward Bound
P.O. Box 127
Boston, MA 02127
Ph. 617-328-3900 ext. 144
Fax 617-328-3710
admissions@thompsonisland.org
www.thompsonisland.org/english/youth/summer/courage
Note: Summer expeditions for 12-13 yr old girls. Programs encourage girls to speak their minds, share their ideas, express their emotions, be creative and challenge themselves through sensible physical risks.

VisionQuest: Madalyn Program
Dennis Call, Risk Manager for Adventure Activities
352 Marshalton-Thorndale Road
Downingtown, PA 19335
Ph. 800-433-4362
dennis.call@vq.com
www.vq.com
Note: Residential program for girls with serious problems with families, schools and communities. Experiential programming is designed to present challenges, create opportunities for success, build confidence, and practice life skills. Includes therapeutic art groups, and "Equine Assisted Therapy" (inter­personal issues through working with horses).

Wavus Camp for Girls
Suse Wicks, Director
Katie Moulton, Co-Director
P.O. Box 169
Nobleboro, ME 04555
Ph. 207-563-5172
Fax 207-563-5215
suse@kieve.org
www.kieve.org
Note: Two, three and a half-week residential program on beautiful Damariscotta Lake with wilderness tripping in Maine. Join us in an environment where you can make life long friends, explore, create, strengthen trust in self and others, challenges, learn to make group decisions, support others, develop wilderness skills, practice kindness and respect for the self and others and have great fun! Introductory ten day programs for ages 8, 9 and 10. Mother/Daughter Adventure and Women 35 and Better programs.

Kroka Expeditions, Miela Caves II:
"Climbing at your own pace"

Kroka Expeditions
Lynne Boudreau, Summer Programs Coordinator and Founding Director
767 Forest Road
Marlow, NH 03456
Ph. 603-835-9087
summer@kroka.org
www.kroka.org
Note: Three programs offered for girls Wilderness Adventures for Girls (ages 11-13), Wild Girls! (ages 12-14), and Earthworks: A Fiber Arts and Handcrafts Adventure on the Farm (ages 12-16). Committed to awakening in young people a connection to nature and the spirit within, and a capacity for conscious living and compassionate service. We strive to achieve this through wilderness adventure, community living, farming, and the practice of traditional and indigenous skills.

Diva Adventures
Nadine W. Budbill, Executive Director
P.O. Box 84
Wolcott, VT 06580
Ph/Fax. 802-760-9744
nadine@divaadventures.org
www.divaadventures.org
Note: Adventure-based programs that support girls' positive development. The core program is "Dirt Divas", a summer mountain bike program for girls ages 11-15. Current and future offerings also include a school-year program, girls' rock climbing program, junior instructor program, and a young women's leadership advisory committee.

NORTHWEST

Girls on Ice
North Cascades Institute
Saul Weisberg, Executive Director
Tracie Johannessen, Education Director
810 State Route 20
Sedro Woolley, WA 98284
Ph. 360-856-5700 ext. 209
www.ncascades.org
www.staff.washington.edu/epettit
Erin Pettit, Girls on Ice Instructor
epettit@u.washington.edu
Note: An 8-day mountaineering science program for girls ages 16-18. Led by glaciologists from the University of Washington, the course challenges girls physically, socially, emotionally and intellectually as the group explores the glaciers and alpine landscape of Mt Baker.

Passages Northwest
Katie Hultquist, Executive Director
Erica Nixon Mack, Program Director
139 23rd Ave. South
Seattle, WA 98144
Ph. 206-286-8601
Fax. 206-286-8551
info@passagesnw.org
www.passagesnw.org
Note: Programs inspire courage and leadership in girls ages 10-17 through the integrated exploration of the outdoors and the arts:
1) Afterschool Programs: Girls Rock! mentoring and climbing program for middle school girls and Girls Group peer discussion circle for high school girls; 2) Wilderness Programs: Spring break and summer climbing, backpacking, and kayaking programs; and 3) Community Partnership Programs: Custom programs are created for schools and other organizations to help them better serve girls.

NORTHWEST (continued)

YWCA GirlsFirst
Elizabeth Pauley, Program Director
708 Martin Luther King Jr. Way
Seattle, WA 98122
Ph. 206-461-4443
girlsfirst@ywcaworks.org
www.ywcaworks.org/girlsfirst
Note: Year-long leadership and experiential program specifically designed for teen girls of color who face economic and social barriers to success. Girls begin the program the summer before their freshman year of high school and continue until the following summer. Participants also receive alumni programming and support throughout high school. Programming includes leadership development, mentoring, academic support, job readiness training, community service projects, paid summer internships and Outward Bound opportunities.

Women in the Outdoors
(for girls ages 14 & up)
An Outreach Program of the
National Wild Turkey Federation
Ellen Benitz, Women's Regional Field Supervisor
Ph. 800-843-6983 OR 816-387-6606
nwtfbenitz@socket.net
www.womenintheoutdoors.org
Note: One day outdoor skills workshops across the country. Program is for girls/ladies ages 14 and up. Dedicated to providing interactive outdoor education to women and girls, the conservation of the wild turkey and the preservation of the hunting heritage.

Rite of Passage Journeys
Coming of Age for Girls
Darcy Ottey, Director
22401 39th Ave SE
Bothell, WA 98021
Ph. 425-485-7396
info@riteofpassagejourneys.org
www.riteofpassagejourneys.org
Note: Coming of Age for Girls explores the mountains and coast of the Olympic Peninsula, as well as exploring community and our own strengths and gifts! Laughter, sweat, creativity, reflection, and new friendships all come together as girls support each other through an experience of personal transformation.

ROCKIES

The Traveling School
Gennifre Hartman, Executive Director
P.O. Box 7058
Bozeman, MT 59771
Ph. 406-586-3096
gennifre@travelingschool.com
www.travelingschool.com
Note: A 15-week program for girls ages 15-18 to participate in an overseas experience for an academic semester. Curriculum includes academics, overseas exploration, community development and service projects, and outdoor activities. Students earn credit for 7 semester courses.

Photo courtesy of James P. Beckwourth
Outdoor Education Center

Girls' Wilderness Program of
The Women's Wilderness Institute
Beth Davis, Executive Director
Jody Radtke, Program Director
5723 Arapahoe Ave, #1B
Boulder, CO 80303
Ph. 303-938-9191
Fax. 303-938-5071
info@womenswilderness.org
www.girlswilderness.org
Note: Offers after-school programs and wilderness-based backpacking and rock climbing expeditions for girls with an emphasis on self-expression through creative arts and lively discussions. Summer courses run from 4 to 12 days in length, for ages 8-18. Year-round programming includes art, self-defense, rock climbing, media literacy and dance. AEE Accredited.

Her Feet on the Earth
Lorene Wapotich, Founder & Director
2456 S. Beaver Creek Rd.
Black Hawk, CO 80422
Ph. 303-642-0562
Lorene@HerFeetOnTheEarth.org
www.HerFeetOnTheEarth.org
Note: Programs include wilderness experiences, the practice of Earth-living skills (a.k.a. "survival skills"), long-term nature-based mentoring, and Earth-based ceremony and crafts. Summer camps and school year programs that help girls build connection with nature, their authentic selves, and a community of female mentors and role models Programs and training for women are also available. A mother-daughter rites of passage program is in development for fall 2009.

WEST/PACIFIC WEST

APEX Adventures, Inc.
Shaw Dunton, Owner
P.O. Box 1327
Soquel, CA 95073
Ph. 800-549-0388
Fax. 831-685-1927
shaw@apexadventures.com
www.apexadventures.com
Note: Team building & leadership development through experiential and adventure-based activities for girls. Also supports existing programs (e.g., Girl Scouts, YWCA, schools, sports teams, churches, etc). Ropes course, rock climbing, kayaking, and more! (Based in Santa Cruz).

GirlVentures
Jenny Lam, Executive Director
Priscilla McKenney, Program Director
c/o The Women's Building
3543 18th Street #18
San Francisco, CA 94110
Ph. 415-864-0780
Fax 415-861-3464
info@girlventures.org
priscilla@girlventures.org
www.girlventures.org
Note: Summer program offers 14 day wilderness expedition courses for girls entering 7th, 8th, & 9th grades. "Empowering adolescent girls to develop & express their strengths." School year programs offer courses in self defense, rock climbing, leadership development, and creative expression. Customized retreats and courses available for pre-existing groups through our community course offerings.

Outervention
Erica Cicero, Executive Director
165 Garcia Ave.
San Francisco, CA 94127
Ph. 415.681.9426
ecicero@sbcglobal.net
www.outervention.org
Note: This program offers wilderness experiences to strengthen relationships between adolescent girls and their parents

Tall Ship Semester for Girls
San Francisco State University
c/o RLS Department
1600 Holloway Avenue
San Francisco, CA 94132-4161
Ph. 415-405-3703
tallship@sfsu.edu
www.tallshipsemester.org
Note: An accredited four-month experiential semester for high school girls. Six weeks of the semester are spent away from San Francisco on a traditionally rigged sail boat. Week-long women’s program also available.

Maui Surfer Girls
Dustin Tester, Camp Founder
P.O. Box 1158
Puunene, HI 96784
Ph. 866-674-2002
dustin@mauisurfergirls.com
www.mauisurfergirls.com
Note: The mission is to empower girls through the sport of surfing and Maui adventure. Whether it be learning how to catch the warm waves of Maui or hiking through the beautiful West Maui Mountains, girls gain an enriched summer experience and sense of self at camp. They offer the smallest student to teacher ratio's (3:1) in the industry, to foster bonding, mentorship, and self-awareness at their surf camp. Be a part of the growing o'hana (family)!

Womanhood Inspirations
Affiliated with Children Are Our Future
Bernadine Rosso & Terry Nail, Co-Founders
Ph. 831-345-9885
Bnewgrowth@aol.com
www.womanhoodinspirations.com
Note: A rites of passage program designed for girls 12 and up. Includes outdoor activities and adventures as well as healing arts modalities for growth and transformation. Offering empowerment for the next generation!

List Your Organization Here!!
Email to be added: ns_roberts@earthlink.net

A Few Complementary Resources
(in no particular order)

Girls' Coalition of Greater Boston
Katie Wheeler, Executive Director
Ph. 617-536-8543
katie@girlscoalition.org
www.girlscoalition.org
Note: A member-driven consortium dedicated to supporting the adults who empower girls. We bring together people and resources to educate, advocate, and network on behalf of girls. By providing resources and development opportunities, we strive to improve the quality and quantity of programs and services for girls.

Girl Scouts of the USA
420 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10018-2798
Ph. (800) 478-7248 or (212) 852-8000
www.girlscouts.org

Outdoor Industries Women's Coalition
P.O. Box 8993
Boise, ID 83707
info@oiwc.org
www.oiwc.org/
Note: Education, networking, mentoring for women who work in the outdoor industries.

Girls Equitable Treatment Coalition
899 Logan Street Suite 600
Denver, CO 80203
Ph. 970-221-3676
www.girlsetc.org
Note: Part of the CO advocates for girls in the juvenile justice system. They provide training and programming appropriate to female youth.

Girls Inc.
National Resource Center
441 West Michigan Street
Indianapolis, IN 46202-3233
Ph. 1-800-374-4475
www.girlsinc.org
Note: A national nonprofit youth organization dedicated to inspiring all girls to be strong, smart, and bold. Research and evaluation conducted by the NRC provide the foundation for Girls Inc. programs. (Headquarters in New York)

Women, Girls, and Education
Women's Studies Links of the Association
of College and Research Libraries
www.library.wisc.edu/libraries/WomensStudies/womened.htm
Note: Links for curriculum, pedagogy, research, periodicals, funding, issues, discussion lists, and more.

SHARANYA
Daughters of Kali
Chandra Alexandre, Executive Director
859 36th Avenue
San Francisco, CA 94121
Ph. 415-505-6840
Fax 415-723-7299
www.sharanya.org
dok@sharanya.org
Note: Helps younger women deal with the socio-cultural realities of becoming a woman in today's world by providing elder guidance and mentorship in conjunction with rites of passage ceremonies at menarche. This program also provides menstrual rituals for teenage and adult women who wish to affirm their relationship to their menstrual cycle at a later point in life.

Ms. Foundation for Women
120 Wall Street, 33rd Floor
New York, NY 10005
Ph. 212-742-2300 or
800-676-7780
Fax 212-742-1653
info@ms.foundation.org
www.Ms.foundation.org
Note: Strong program for "Girls, Young Women, and Leadership". Info available for grants, events, publications, reports, assessment tools for youth programs, and more.

Girls on the Run International
500 East Morehead Street
Suite 104
Charlotte, NC 28202
Ph. 800-901-9965/704-376-9817
Fax 704-376-1039
info@girlsontherun.org
www.girlsontherun.org/
Note: Offers a non-competitive, after school program that is ten weeks in length, combining physical activity (running) a experiential learning through a psychology based curriculum to teach very specific and well-defined social and personal (character development) skills.

Student Conservation Association
High School Conservation Crews
Recruitment Department
P.O. Box 550
Charlestown, NH 03603
Ph. 603-543-1700
Fax 603-543-1828
admissions@thesca.org
www.thesca.org/con_crews.cfm
Note: SCA works with high school girls (ages 15-19) through co-educational crew opportunities. Students gain wilderness skills, enjoy outdoor adventures, build hiking trails, and restore habitats back to their natural states. It's time for real adventures, real challenges, and making a real difference. Crew members live and serve in national parks, forests, and other public lands for a 4-5 week summer program. Develop leadership skills and get real experience for your future!

Women's Adventure Magazine
Michelle Theall, Founder
1722 14th St. Suite 180
Boulder, CO 80302
info@womensadventuremagazine.com www.womensadventuremagazine.com

Culminating a great week together on the Green River
Moab, UT (April 2005)
Photo courtesy of "Nurture through Nature"

Strozzi Institute
Center for Leadership and Mastery
Susan Nichols, Strozzi Associate
4101 Middle Two Rock Rd.
Petaluma CA, 94952
Ph. 707-778-6505
susienic@earthlink.net
www.strozziinstitute.com
Note: Specially designed program for young women, 15-18 years of age, during summer months. This School of Embodied Leadership Training focuses on increasing girls' awareness of their somatic self (internal sensing/whole self) and connecting physical practices with the development of self and their ability to take effective action in the world to produce the results they intend.

Northwest Girls Coalition
P.O. Box 9525
Seattle, WA 98109-9525
info@nwgirlscoalition.org
www.nwgirlscoalition.org
Note: The organizational vision is to ensure a healthy, supportive environment for all girls to realize their full potential. Our mission is to strengthen the girl-serving community by fostering education and collaboration in the Puget Sound region.

Women's Funding Alliance
LeAnne Moss, Executive Director
603 Stewart, Suite 207
Seattle, WA 98101-1229
Ph/TTY: 206-467-6733
Fax: 206 467 7537
wfa@wfalliance.org
www.wfalliance.org
Note: The Alliance is the only Puget Sound organization focused on supporting and developing agencies that work with women and girls. The Women's Funding Alliance provides solutions to the critical issues women and girls still face, and promotes a healthier community for us all.

Outdoor Industry Foundation (OIF)
4909 Pearl East Circle, Suite 200
Boulder, Colorado 80301
Ph. 303-444-3353
info@outdoorindustry.org
www.outdoorindustryfoundation.org/women.html
Note: The OIF is a non-profit foundation established by Outdoor Industry Association to encourage active outdoor recreation for all Americans. OIF's charter is to increase participation in outdoor recreation and to encourage and support healthier, more active lifestyles through education, partnerships, programs & advocacy. Make a long term commitment to the health of our industry, our public lands, and our nation. The Getting Women Active campaign is designed to help the outdoor community reach out and engage women and girls in outdoor recreation activities and programs.

Oasis for Girls
(A project of The Tides Center)
Rachel P. Paras, Executive Director
Jessica Van Tuyl, Program Manager
1129 Folsom Street
San Francisco, CA 94103
Ph. 415-701-7991
Fax 415-701-0131 (call first)
sfoasis@sfoasis.org
www.sfoasis.org
Note: Oasis provides culturally relevant and gender specific Arts, Leadership Development, and Life Skills programs supporting the growth of low-income, immigrant girls and young women of color in urban communities. Through these programs, girls and young women have access to a community of adult mentors who support them in creating change and integrating their skills to address issues they face in their lives and communities.

Outdoor Girl Products
Genevieve Marchand
Ph. 970-531-0223
genmarch@yahoo.com
www.outdoorgirlproducts.com
Note: The idea behind Outdoor Girl Products started during the summer of 2004. Genevieve wanted to offer her female friends the possibility of telling the world about their passion for the outdoors. Bumper stickers were the only item available at first, but with lots of pressure from those friends, the Outdoor Girl T-shirt is now available for all to purchase!

National Council for Research on Women
11 Hanover Square, 24th Floor
New York, NY 10005
Ph. 212-785-7335
Fax: 212-785-7350
ncrw@ncrw.org
Note: Visit their page for "Links to Websites about Girls" www.ncrw.org/resources/girlslinks.htm

[Updated version: as of 1/13/09]
This web site is designed by Laura Woodcock.
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