Girls Rock! Builds Esteem Through Mountaineering

The Girls Rock! Program, now accepting signups for fall, combines self-esteem building with mountaineering, mentoring and performing arts, right in urban Seattle.
Participants explore indoor rock climbing and arts in a 10-week program pairing girls with an adult female mentor; together the two explore courage, community, creativity and climbing.
"The things I learned in climbing that I can use other places are having strength and confidence and knowing that you can face your fears," said 13-year-old Xenia, an alumni of the program.  
The program kicks off with an all-day low ropes course designed to build community and introduce girls and mentors to each other.
Then, each week participants gather together after school at Seattle Vertical World, where girls participate in the COURAGE Project, a one-hour session where the group explores personal expression through the creative arts.  
Then girls meet with their mentors and challenge themselves physically while learning basic climbing skills – knots, belaying and technique.
The group also spends a weekend outside in the middle of the session, and it all culminates in a graduation celebration that includes performing arts, climbing and community.  
Program sessions run through October, November and December, at Vertical World Seattle in Magnolia Passages can help with transportation from the Central District area. Tuition is on a sliding scale, with a registration fee of $25. Contact robin@passagesnw.org or 206-286-8601 ext.105 to register or for more information.