If you are interested in starting or joining a Girls Circle group,
please contact Terri Drew
after August 15th.

The Girls Empowerment Movement in Stamford (GEMS) is a community based initiative to promote positive leadership development; youth led social change and gender-conscious programming for girls. Every week, for 12 weeks a group of six to ten girls of similar age and development will meet with a trained facilitator for two hours. Eight sessions will be in girls circle and four sessions will be on the adventure challenge course.

The Girls Circle model was developed by the Girls Circle Association, A Project of the Tides Center, www.girlscircle.com, as a model of structured support groups for girls from 9-18 years. It is designed not to lecture girls but to guide them to find their own voice in making more conscious decisions through the sharing of experiences both positive and negative with their peers, helping them make healthier and better choices. 

Girls Circle is a format that allows them to apply the knowledge they gain to their day to day lives by looking at situations from different angles of potential outcomes and consequences. The Girls Circle model was developed by the Girls Circle Association, A Project of the Tides Center, www.girlscircle.com.

The Adventure Education model allows the girls groups a unique opportunity to participate in a structured sequence of initiatives that encourages individuals to work together to achieve success. Challenging tasks on the high and low ropes course require the girls to push beyond perceived limits as a team and as individuals, stepping out of their comfort zone while participating in facilitated activities that involve risk, courage, trust, respect and honesty. 

These activities are designed to teach participants important life skills such as leadership, problem-solving, decision-making, cooperation and communication. The girls will learn to appreciate themselves and support others, respect and value differences within the group, be involved in the resolution of conflicts and trust in themselves and others.

“The Girls Circle is a model of structured support groups for girls from ages 9-18 years. It is designed to foster self-esteem, help girls maintain authentic connections with peers and adult women in their community, counter trends towards self-doubt, and allow for genuine self-expression through verbal sharing and creative activity.
--from the Girls Circle Facilitator’s Manual 

Girls Circle Website

Photos from a recent Girls Circle Event:

Course Topics Include:

Friendship

Being a Girl

Body Image

Honoring Our Diversity

Relationships with Peers

Mind, Body, Spirit

Expressing My Individuality

Who I Am

Paths to the Future

If you are interested in starting or joining a Girls Circle group, please contact:

Terri Drew
Director
977.5674
tdrew@ci.stamford.ct.us