Members of the Girls for a Change core committee are given many opportunities to build their leadership and teambuilding skills throughout the course of the year.

Core Committee Meetings

The girls meet weekly to plan for the conference and participate in local projects. Program staff lead girls in planning projects, conference set-up and other activities, such as journaling and workshops presented by community volunteers. Girls also lead activities and discussions in order to build leadership skills.

Girls take a break from conference planning with program manager Vanessa Skelton.

Annual Retreat

Each fall, the girls’ and women’s core committees come together for an annual retreat, where they participate in conference planning and activities to foster strong relationships between members.

Core committee member Haleigh, a dancer, leads fellow members in a morning stretch at the retreat.

Core girls brainstorm potential workshops for the 2010 conference.

The girls and women gather 'round for s'mores at the retreat!

Public Speaking

Members of the core committee are offered several opportunities to build public speaking skills throughout the year. Several of the girls speak at the annual statewide conference. In 2010, a conference attendee remarked in her evaluation, “I was amazed by the Core Committee girls. They were very confident and empowered.” The girls also have several opportunities to speak on behalf of Girls for a Change to local community groups.

Members of the core committee present at the annual 4-H conference.

Core committee girl Molly Cech addresses the 300 luncheon attendees at the 2010 conference.