After Six Years, Journey Camp Finds the Right Formula

Journey, the Women’s Giving Circle’s signature program for girls, has found its ideal size and make-up, according to Journey 2011 Director Kea McKoy.  The program’s mission – to provide an experience in which delegates explore issues of identity and community and build their confidence and interpersonal skills – has remained unchanged, although the components of the experience have evolved.

Since its beginning in 2006, the week-long summer camp program has tested various participant models, taking girls as young as rising 7th graders one year to those as old as rising seniors another.  The number of girls accepted has varied from 25 to 50.  One year, 7 girls came from the same middle school.  Another year, over a third of the girls was on scholarship.

This past summer, the program included 26 rising eighth and ninth grade girls and 5 core staff members, who spent a week together at Washington College in Chestertown, MD.  “I think the close age range of the girls created a more cohesive and supportive group than in previous summers,” McKoy reported.  In addition, she said, it is preferred that no more than 4 girls from a single school be accepted in the camp at the same time. 

Of the 26 Journey girls this past summer, 6 delegates received scholarships for a total of $2,500 in additional funding from WGC.  Non-scholarship attendees paid $600 each.  Every girl’s expenses are partially covered through a $14,000 grant from WGC to Maryland Leadership Workshops, which operates the program.

The Journey curriculum includes workshops on personal “branding,” project planning, implementation and evaluation, group dynamics, pressure, building successful relationships, conflict resolution, cultural competency, advocacy, power, and challenges, choices and consequences.  “The Journey curriculum focuses on topics that help delegates grow as individuals, leaders and women,” McKoy explained.

In addition to the workshops, Journey 2011 included group meetings that changed every night, featuring a  Zumba exercise session one night, communication skills another.  The girls participated in a “falent show,” a combination talent and fashion show, as well as a “messy games” night and an “inner beauty” night.  The delegates also participated in an outdoors confidence course. 

In conclusion, McKoy noted, “We were once again reminded that the girls will learn more from each other than from us and the value of this program is not only in the preplanned activities, but also in the safe, supportive environment that Journey provides.” 

Over 200 girls have participated in Journey since it started in 2006. The program was founded and is financially supported by contributions from 900 donors to WGC.

The Women’s Giving Circle is an organization of women philanthropists dedicated to addressing the needs of women and girls in Howard County.  In addition to Journey, WGC funds scholarships for women taking job-related courses at Howard Community College, emergency funding for non-profits serving women and girls, and a variety of other initiatives to advance its mission throughout the year.

For more information about WGC, visit www.womensgivingcircle.org.