Greenwich, CT – Girls Incorporated of Southwestern Connecticut hosted their second annual summer program, Camp SHINE, August 10-28 at Christ Church in Greenwich. Camp SHINE is specially designed by Girls Inc. of SWCT to promote self esteem and build confidence in girls entering grades 1-5. Reaching 38 girls over three weeks, Girls Inc. looks back at a successful program which has expanded significantly since last summer, and they look forward to greater expansion in Summer 2010.
Jen Kannengeiser, Program Director of Girls Inc. of SWCT-Fairfield County explains, “This summer, each day of Camp SHINE had a theme; from ‘Go Green Mondays’ to ‘Strong, Smart and Bold Olympics Friday’, our girls participated in a variety of Girls Inc. Identity programs such as Girls Inc. Media Literacy®, Girls Inc. Discovery Leadership®, Girls Inc. Operation SMART®, Girls Inc. Sporting Chance® and Girls Inc. Economic Literacy®.” Participants enjoyed the wonderful weather outside with team building games such as flour tag, water balloon tosses, four square, hopscotch, and volleyball; they challenged their physical and mental ability through relay races, tug of war and problem solving games; they have tested their creativity with arts and crafts projects like paper bag neighborhood, clay sculptures, creating our own species and sand art. Kannengeiser shares “Camp SHINE girls have learned through Career Charades (Girls Inc. Economic Literacy®) and a visit from a female police officer at the Greenwich Police Department that they can be whatever they dream of becoming. By participating in Girls Inc. Camp SHINE, our girls have realized through making their own snacks daily that they have the ability to cook and bake, although they understand as girls, they can also do much more. They have made new friends and have learned that being a leader AND a good friend are something to strive for. Our goal at Girls Inc. is to empower all girls ages 6-18 to become the next female leader in our world.”
Girls Incorporated returned to Greenwich in the summer of 2006, providing quality programs to local girls in the Greater Greenwich area. To date, they have served over 1500 girls ages 5-18. Girls Inc. and has immediate plans to expand program sites and opportunities for current members as well as recruit new members throughout lower and mid Fairfield County in towns like Norwalk and Weston, CT.
For more information on Girls Inc. programs in the Greater Greenwich and mid Fairfield county areas contact Jen Kannengeiser, Program Director at (203)536-3322 or via email at JKannengeiser@girlsincswct.org.
About Girls Incorporated
Girls Incorporated is a national non-profit organization that inspires all girls to be strong, smart and bold. The organization’s roots date back to 1864 with the Southwestern Connecticut lead office in Waterbury, CT being the original building where it all began. Girls Inc. of Southwestern Connecticut offers services from lower and mid Fairfield County to the Greater Waterbury area and provides vital educational and social programs to girls. Girls Inc.’s, innovative programs help girls confront subtle societal messages about their value and potential, and prepare them to lead successful, independent, and fulfilling
