Girls LEAD! of YWCA Dayton helps girls between the ages of 11-18 explore and celebrate their strengths, their voices, who they are today, and who they will become through the Girls LEAD! experience.
The Girls LEAD! experience includes:
- A safe place where girls’ interests, opinions, and concerns are valued by adults and other girls
- Trusting relationships with adult mentors with expertise in issues girls face
- Experiences that broaden girls’ horizons and counter stereotypes
- Curricula built on research that provides age-appropriate knowledge and builds girls’ skills
- Hands-on, challenging, and fun activities that encourage girls to embrace learning
Girls LEAD! provides curriculum-based small group sessions during school hours at six schools in the Dayton region:
- Belle Haven Elementary
- Charity Adams Earley Academy
- DECA Middle School
- Edwin Joel Brown Elementary
- Horace Mann Elementary
- Kettering Middle School
- North Dayton School of Discovery
- Richard Allen Academy
- Wogaman Middle School
Girls may self-select to participate or be referred by a parent or educator. Sessions last approximately 45 minutes (varies by school) and are geared toward girls in sixth, seventh, and/or eighth grades. Topics covered include:
- Social-Emotional Development
- Healthy Living
- Communications
- Making Healthy Choices
- Developing Positive Friendships & Relationships
- Body Image
- Leadership & Life Skills
- College Readiness
Empower Her Summer
Girls LEAD! Summer Camps provide a comprehensive experience for girls, ages 10-14, by incorporating programming that addresses girls’ overall growth and development, including social/emotional, academic, and leadership development. Camp provides a wide range of hands-on, experiential activities that build girls of strength, courage, and compassion.
2023 Camp is over, but stay tuned for 2024 registration.
The Girls LEAD! Leadership and Mentoring Program is held outside of school hours and is open to girls who have previously participated in YWCA Dayton girls’ programming. It meets twice a month and focuses on:
- Social-Emotional Development
- Healthy Living
- Communications
- Making Healthy Choices
- Developing Positive Friendships & Relationships
- Body Image
- Leadership & Life Skills
- College Readiness
1,000+ GIRLS SERVED
IN THE PAST YEAR
20 CAMP SCHOLARSHIPS
PROVIDED TO GIRLS
80% OF GIRLS
REPORTED AN INCREASE IN SELF-ESTEEM
STUDENT SPOTLIGHT
Girls LEAD 6th Grader
“I’m really glad that some people were able to open up and talk about things that would have been kept inside.”
STUDENT SPOTLIGHT
Girls LEAD 6th Grader
“Girls LEAD! has been very fun this year. I really enjoyed having people who care about me and who really hear what I have to say and talk to me."