Journey Camp
empower
What?
Merriam Webster defines the word “journey” as “something suggesting travel or passage from one place to another”, making it the perfect name for the program founded by the WGC in 2006 for rising 7th, 8th, and 9th graders.
WGC started Journey Camp for Girls as a signature program when the giving circle started, just about 20 years ago. To date, over 400 girls have taken part in this transformative experience, one that facilitates the unique challenges faced by those navigating the passage from girls to young women.
Peer-led workshops help participants develop self-confidence along with the leadership skills necessary to thrive in a world that still struggles with gender equality.
So What?
In the words of a mother of one Journey camper, mentors helped her 13 year-old daughter “look inside herself to make decisions, not what everyone else is doing and not about what is cool. I felt she was already a leader, but I could see her opening up to other girls her age.”
A key part of the experience encourages participants to listen to each other and to learn from each other, to share ideas, to work together, to understand and appreciate group dynamics, and to compromise. They learn about strong women leaders from a variety of backgrounds, and each year campers select a small group of local women to honor at a ceremony later in the summer.
When considering the transformative nature of the experience, the mother recalls, “I noticed it most when they had the tea for the women they were honoring,” she recalls. “The girls were poised and were able to show they were grown up, something you don’t always see in 13-year-olds.”
Journey was recognized in 2018 by Howard County as part of the Celebrating Successes for Children program in the Middle and High School Aged Children category. Among the many notable aspects of Journey, one key element stood out: the emphasis placed on promoting diversity and inclusion among both participants and staff.
To that end, the WGC created a robust scholarship fund that ensures participation is not limited to only those who can afford it.
Bringing together a diverse group of girls from a variety of backgrounds exposes all of those taking part to different perspectives while developing insights, empathy, and a shared understanding of the combined strength of women when we work together and support each other.
Now What?
Consider these words from a former camper, emphasizing the self-esteem she discovered during her time at Journey:
The formative years as girls travel from middle to high school are among the most difficult transitions they’ll face, constantly bombarded with images and representations of how they should look, how they should behave. Journey helps them to discover and hone the skills and tools that will allow them to grow and thrive, and to ultimately become the person they want to be, not the person society thinks they should become.
Right now Journey is in the midst of its own transition process, partly due to COVID the last few years, and also as part of a re-imagining effort at 20 years. Stay tuned for further information.
You can also consider creative ways in which beloved community members have chosen to champion this remarkable experience.
The family of Cindy Hankin, a WGC Advisory Board Member and staunch supporter of the Journey Camp for girls, created a scholarship in her memory. Cindy was a former teacher and school principal and served as both a mentor and a long-time advocate for women and girls.
The members of the First Thursday Book Club of Howard County remember their founder, Mary Margaret Kamerman, by donating to the Journey scholarship fund.
When we pause for a moment to think about the WGC’s impact in our community, the sixteen years of Journey certainly serve as a glowing example: a powerful, hands-on learning experience that strengthens and empowers girls in our community to grow into strong, confident women.
For 20 years, the WGC has dedicated itself to leveraging our collective dollars, to amplifying the power of collective giving, to building a community of philanthropists and creating a permanent legacy to address the needs of women and girls in Howard County.
Will you join us?
Will you join us? www.womensgivingcircle.org
Be a part of our story.
#WGC20Years
#WGC20Years20Stories
empower
What?
Merriam Webster defines the word “journey” as “something suggesting travel or passage from one place to another”, making it the perfect name for the program founded by the WGC in 2006 for rising 7th, 8th, and 9th graders.
- “Journey is a leadership summer residential program specifically for Howard County girls, and it's really about empowering them and making them feel like that they are confident, that they’re respected, that they are comfortable with who they are, and that they're ready to make some of the difficult decisions that are going to face them as they're entering high school.” - Beth Moon Singleton, Former WGC Advisory Board Member
WGC started Journey Camp for Girls as a signature program when the giving circle started, just about 20 years ago. To date, over 400 girls have taken part in this transformative experience, one that facilitates the unique challenges faced by those navigating the passage from girls to young women.
- “Though the program varies year to year, there are important themes that are constant: female empowerment, effective communication and leadership skills, and diversity and inclusion are really consistent pieces that help us build female leaders that will have the confidence to empower and engage other women in the future.” - Marcy Leonard, Maryland Leadership Workshops
Peer-led workshops help participants develop self-confidence along with the leadership skills necessary to thrive in a world that still struggles with gender equality.
- “Those early teen years are really critical. At that age, girls need to feel camaraderie among other girls their own age, learn about themselves, develop their strengths, and build self-esteem. Journey is a wonderful and safe environment for girls of all different backgrounds to come together and learn and grow with one another.” - Barb Van Winkle, WGC Chair
So What?
In the words of a mother of one Journey camper, mentors helped her 13 year-old daughter “look inside herself to make decisions, not what everyone else is doing and not about what is cool. I felt she was already a leader, but I could see her opening up to other girls her age.”
A key part of the experience encourages participants to listen to each other and to learn from each other, to share ideas, to work together, to understand and appreciate group dynamics, and to compromise. They learn about strong women leaders from a variety of backgrounds, and each year campers select a small group of local women to honor at a ceremony later in the summer.
When considering the transformative nature of the experience, the mother recalls, “I noticed it most when they had the tea for the women they were honoring,” she recalls. “The girls were poised and were able to show they were grown up, something you don’t always see in 13-year-olds.”
Journey was recognized in 2018 by Howard County as part of the Celebrating Successes for Children program in the Middle and High School Aged Children category. Among the many notable aspects of Journey, one key element stood out: the emphasis placed on promoting diversity and inclusion among both participants and staff.
To that end, the WGC created a robust scholarship fund that ensures participation is not limited to only those who can afford it.
- “I am thrilled that we were able to increase our scholarships, which means we are achieving our goal of reaching girls from different demographic and socioeconomic groups across the county.” - Alison Canning, Former WGC Advisory Board Chair
Bringing together a diverse group of girls from a variety of backgrounds exposes all of those taking part to different perspectives while developing insights, empathy, and a shared understanding of the combined strength of women when we work together and support each other.
Now What?
Consider these words from a former camper, emphasizing the self-esteem she discovered during her time at Journey:
- “I answer questions even if I might be wrong, and I’ve gained more confidence in not caring about what other people say.”
The formative years as girls travel from middle to high school are among the most difficult transitions they’ll face, constantly bombarded with images and representations of how they should look, how they should behave. Journey helps them to discover and hone the skills and tools that will allow them to grow and thrive, and to ultimately become the person they want to be, not the person society thinks they should become.
Right now Journey is in the midst of its own transition process, partly due to COVID the last few years, and also as part of a re-imagining effort at 20 years. Stay tuned for further information.
You can also consider creative ways in which beloved community members have chosen to champion this remarkable experience.
The family of Cindy Hankin, a WGC Advisory Board Member and staunch supporter of the Journey Camp for girls, created a scholarship in her memory. Cindy was a former teacher and school principal and served as both a mentor and a long-time advocate for women and girls.
The members of the First Thursday Book Club of Howard County remember their founder, Mary Margaret Kamerman, by donating to the Journey scholarship fund.
- “Mary Margaret had three daughters and believed strongly in opportunities for young girls to grow and find their true worth.” - Mary McGraw
When we pause for a moment to think about the WGC’s impact in our community, the sixteen years of Journey certainly serve as a glowing example: a powerful, hands-on learning experience that strengthens and empowers girls in our community to grow into strong, confident women.
- “I am very proud of Journey and the power it has to affect our community,” said Barb. “I see these young women who are so bright, and they’ve met every challenge, learned to live with other people and work together, and learned about themselves inside. It’s empowering for me to know this is the future generation of younger women who are coming up, and I’m very encouraged by that.” - Barb Van Winkle
For 20 years, the WGC has dedicated itself to leveraging our collective dollars, to amplifying the power of collective giving, to building a community of philanthropists and creating a permanent legacy to address the needs of women and girls in Howard County.
Will you join us?
Will you join us? www.womensgivingcircle.org
Be a part of our story.
#WGC20Years
#WGC20Years20Stories
