Endless Summer

ENDLESS SUMMER

SUMMER MEANS IT’S TIME FOR KIDS TO GET UP, GET OUT AND EXPLORE.

For girls living in extreme poverty, long stretches of out-of-school time often means increased household responsibilities, isolation and risk of being married at a young age. A community of support and access to recreational and educational activities to help girls learn, grow and thrive during the summer are critical and camp is one of the most important programs that we have.

After two long years of not being able to gather, 2021 was the year of the endless summer! Our full day summer camp was back in full effect, packed to the brim with engaging activities. From cycling, swimming, surfing, kitesurfing and stand up paddle boarding to theater, visual arts and dance, to river ecology, gardening and cooking, the Mariposa girls were doing it all.

Summer is a special time at The Mariposa Center for Girls. It’s a time where the girls get to spend all day together, laughing, learning, playing, sharing meals and simply tune out from the stresses of the world and enjoy being in a safe, supportive space. It’s also a time where our staff and volunteers get to spend extended time with the girls, understanding more about their hopes and dreams for their future and the unique challenges each one of them are facing. It’s an important time for us to take stock of where we are as an organization and make adjustments based on their greatest needs. Although every summer eventually has to come to an end, we’re already planning for bigger and better next year!

THANKS TO OUR VOLUNTEERS!

We enlisted passionate volunteers from coast to coast in the USA. Joined by students from Stanford University and Colby College and educators from Portland to New York, together with our local staff, we hosted the summer of all summers.

• Sara Bruins

• Nayeli Germosen

• Patricia Molina • Valerie Trapp

• Amy VanDerBosch