Bay Area Girls Center (http://www.bayareagirlscenter.org) is a San Francisco-based nonprofit dedicated to empowering adolescent girls to develop and express their strengths. The Bay Area Girls Center defines girls' strengths as courage, intuition, leadership, creativity, body wisdom, compassion, curiosity, resilience, communication. Since 1997, we've been leading outdoor adventures for small groups of girls ages 11-14, with the idea that we can set girls up to experience physical and creative-expressive success, practice group decision-making and problem-solving, and explore the natural world. Girls who go on our 12-14-day summer courses come back with an expanded sense of self and an increase in their ability to relate to others.

A fairy is a behind-the-scenes volunteer who makes it possible for BAGC to offer amazing summer wilderness experiences to girls ages 11-14. During our first year of programming, support volunteers got the name "fairies" because the folks in this role are not often seen by the girls, but they magically make all the important things appear at the right time. Being a fairy is a great way to be involved with BAGC, to meet adventurous women, and to help the girls have a safe, unforgettable experience in the wilderness!

This is your chance to clean a kayak, hike 6 miles with a backpack full of food, count granola bars, wash smelly sleeping bags, or bake chocolate chip cookies in support of Bay Area Girls. Get it while it's hot -- sign up now! Call a friend, plan an overnight trip, or take some time off work to help support our programs and our girls. Many employers offer full-time employees a limited number of hours per month paid time off to volunteer at a charitable organization of their choice. Check with your employer to find out if this is an option for you.

Please take a minute to review the outline of fairy opportunities for Project Courage below. For a more cohesive and satisfying experience, I suggest volunteering for more than one activity (i.e. Course Start and End). To sign up, call me, Zoey, directly at 415-864-0780, or send an email to bagc@earthlink.net.

We're looking forward to an aMAzinG summer!

 

Wildcat Resupply Fairies

• Make a 12-mile round-trip hike over the course of a day to hike in food and art supplies to our Project Courage girls at their final campsite - Wildcat Camp in Point Reyes. Pass by beautiful Bass Lake and check out Alamere Falls along the way. Bake cookies and shuttle our gorgeous purple school bus beforehand, leaving time to decorate the campsite to the girls' delight.
• Need: At least six fairies.
• Requirements: Ability to hike this 12-mile round-trip, easy to moderate trail in one day. Ability to carry a full pack of food weighing about 45-50 lbs.
• Location: Point Reyes
  • Time: 7AM-8PM
    Date: Wednesday, June 25

Course End Fairies

• Help SF staff greet girls on the last day of their course. Set up and break down seating, etc. for course-end ceremonies. These fairies will be invited to attend the course-end ceremonies and witness a group of girls who have been transformed through two amazing weeks in the woods!
• Need: Two individuals per course.
• Requirements: None.
• Location: The Women's Building, Audre Lorde Room, 2nd Floor
  • Time: 1PM-2:30PM OR 3PM-4PM
    Date: Saturday, June 28

   

Friends for Youth

Friends for Youth is dedicated to serving at-risk youth by creating and cultivating friendships with adult volunteers who help them strengthen their skills, develop their values and realize their full potential. Founded in 1979, we have matched over 1,400 children with caring adult role models and have a documented history of success. Friends for Youth serves youth 8-17 years of age in the San Mateo and Northern Santa Clara counties. Volunteer mentors spend about three hours a week with their mentee doing things together that they both enjoy. FFY staff provides ongoing, individualized support to ensure the success of each friendship. In addition, we provide the children we serve with new experiences, workshops to enhance social development, and academic support. The youth are referred through a variety of sources, including teachers or school counselors. However, they all have one thing in common: the need and want for a positive adult role model. There are over 60 kids currently waiting to be matched with a "Senior Friend". For more info, please call (650) 482-2867 or email volunteer@friendsforyouth.org Also, visit us on the web at www.friendsforyouth.org