What kind of summer camp/programme would you send your girls to?

[caitcraig31]

Hi there! I'm looking to build a new summer camp for girls (ages 12-18) in London. Our aim is to teach life skills that are often stereotyped as 'male skills' (think how to change a tyre, how to build a campfire). 'The Boost' will teach girls life long skills to increase confidence and their ability to take charge in all scenarios!

I'd love to hear what kind of life skills you'd like your daughters to learn and if this a programme you would send your daughter too.

Get a Krav Maga instructor. Focus on keeping oneself safe, avoiding danger situations in first place, recognising when man is pushing boundaries, how to get away, not losing voice/ freezing etc.

In fact you could run a school leavers camp for strong women. Cover self defence, sexual consent, how domestic systems like boiler, heating, plumbing work, basic first aid etc!

These are great! Keep them coming!

I'd send them to Scouts. Explorer Scouts for the 14+.

They already do all that kind of thing. Cheaply.

Volunteer with Scouts and save yourself all kind of legal and financial hurdles, and then suggest summer holiday Scouts along the lines you suggest.

It's a fab idea. They'd lap you up.
Girls and boys both need these skills you suggest.

You'd also run into hurdles with a "girl only" camp. Even Guides are finding that difficult.

Computer programming, electronics, household DIY

First aid. Not 'male' but important life skill
Bike maintenance.
Assertiveness.
Legal rights and responsibilities, such as the difference between cohabitation, marriage and bringing children into it.
Navigation.

Likewise, my DD has learnt a lot of this through Guides and Rangers. I don't think she would be 'sent' to a camp at 17.

I think this sounds great and although scouts may cover it not all kids get the opportunity to or want to commit to scouts long term whereas they could go to a one off camp.
Leadership, problem solving, building stuff, car or bike maintenance stuff, lots of creativity too.... drama and role play workshops. Music too including music production.

I’d prefer something well-rounded instead of just focusing on ‘boys stuff that girls don’t typically learn’. I know how to fix the plumbing, build furniture and all types of DIY, my parents taught me all of that, but I didn’t know how to cook when I left home. Which is something people assume girls will be interested in.

Like PP said, a camp or activity that covered useful life skills that both sexes need to learn, is something I’d sent my daughters to. Sons too.

I don’t agree with the mixed sex bit. Girls (and boys) react differently in mixed sex environments. My daughters Krav Maga instructor taught different skills and from different angles to males and females. Different approaches and techniques needed for different anatomy and strength and frankly it’s better that the top tips given to the girls are confidential.

@EvelynBeatrice

I don’t agree with the mixed sex bit. Girls (and boys) react differently in mixed sex environments. My daughters Krav Maga instructor taught different skills and from different angles to males and females. Different approaches and techniques needed for different anatomy and strength and frankly it’s better that the top tips given to the girls are confidential.

I agree, but it will be difficult legally to market the course as "just for girls" I think.

If you go too eclectic it’ll just become random with no coherence. Also venue choice will come into it. Eg if lighting fires not necessarily same place as something more theoretical.

Something like building confidence could be through voice and presence training. Thing is though you’ve got to work out your market: eg people willing to spend £x on a day camp for teens who don’t need childcare are probably highly correlated with parents would might already be teaching things like finance etc. Some of the suggested ideas while important may sound dull to a 16 year old on their holiday. You might be better doing shorter sessions rather than all day things.

The age range is also tricky. The needs of a 12 year old will be very different to a 17 year old.