Unit:

Solelim
Program created by: Mallory Wood
Camp Coleman

Program leaders: Mallory Wood, Emilia Epstein
Staff needed/Assigned locations: All female counselors in Chadar Ochel
Program title: Be Strong Like a Girl
Location, date, and time: Chadar Ochel on Monday, June 15, 2015 for EP
Big question(s):
What does it mean to do something like a girl?
How can we, as girls, live despite gender stereotypes?
How can we, as a group, create a safe community in which everyone, girls
and boys, feel comfortable being themselves?

Goals:
Campers will understand the concept of stereotypes.
Campers will feel appreciated and recognized for their inner value rather
than their appearance.
Campers will feel they are a part of a safe, sacred community as girls in
Solelim.

Materials needed:
1 projector (Also speaker for sound, wall/screen on which to display the projection)
1 box of markers
1 piece of printer paper per female camper in Solelim
1 roll of tape
1 ball of red yarn
1 speaker (Also iPod/iPhone to play music)

Timetable:
:00 - :04 Program intro/Like a Girl video
:04 - :10 Whole group discussion
:10 - :25 Compliments activity
:25 - :35 Small group discussion
:35 - :40 Wrap-Up/Bracelet distribution
:40 - :50 Girl power dance party

Hook/Grabber:
Watch Like a Girl commercial (How many minutes?)

Program intro:
Today we are going to talk about gender stereotypes, specifically those
related to girls. A stereotype is a generalization about a particular group of
people. Stereotypes reduce somebody to an oversimplified category.
Stereotypes often make people feel like they have to act a certain way or look

a certain way; stereotypes place people in boxes when we all have so much
more to offer. At the end of this program, we hope we will have shown you
that there is not one way to do something like a girl and that we will have
helped to create a safe community in this unit within which you feel
comfortable being exactly who you are.

Main body of program:
Whole group discussion of Like a Girl commercial and gender stereotypes.
o Whole group discussion questions:
What does it mean to do something like a girl?
What gender stereotypes exist for females? For males?
Have you ever felt pressure to fit a certain stereotype? How did
you react?
Why is it important to redefine the phrase like a girl? How
can we help to make it a positive thing?
Compliments activity:
o Around the room you may have seen a piece of paper with your name
on it. There is a piece of paper labeled with the name of every Solelim
girl. Today, we want to focus on our strengths and the strengths of the
other people in our community.
o For the next activity, everyone is going to take a marker and have an
opportunity to write on the paper of other girls in our unit. We ask
that you only write kind words and that you focus on positive
characteristics of your friends that do not have to do with their
appearance; for example, you might write about what a good friend
someone is or how good they are at a certain activity, how passionate
they are about a certain subject or grateful you are for their
friendship.
o At the end of this activity, we will come back together and talk about
the experience. We want you to do your best to write on as many
peoples papers as possible and to write as much as you can. If you
have any questions, please ask one of your counselors. We ask that
you do not talk to each other during this activity, but that you focus on
your own thoughts and feelings while you are writing.
Small group discussion about compliment activity (Campers will be
numbered off 1-4 to form 4 small groups).
o Small group discussion questions:
How did it feel to read what other people wrote about you?
Were you surprised by any of the comments?
How did it feel to write compliments about your friends and
fellow campers? What about it was easy or difficult?
In what ways did this activity help to create a sacred, safe
community?
In what ways does this activity redefine what it means to do
something like a girl?


Program wrap-up:
Come back together as a group. Sitting in a circle, pass the red yarn around
from girl to girl, having them wrap the string around their wrist as they go.
When every girl has yarn around her wrist, explain the following:
o This string represents two things: First, this is a reminder that you
are strong. When you look down at this yarn, remember that it is
never a bad thing to do something like a girl; instead, it should
empower you to be a girl and to do anything however you do it.
Secondly, this yarn is a reminder of the community that we have
created here. Let this bracelet remind you that you have more than 40
girls who support you and think you are amazing just the way you are.
Even when the bracelet falls off or you choose to take it off, this sacred
community will always be here for you.
o Then cut the yarn and tie it into bracelets for each girl.
Now that everyone is feeling empowered, its time for a Girl Power Dance
Party! Jam out and dance like no one is watching to Run the World by
Beyonc, Brave by Sara Bareilles, and Fight Song by Rachel Platten.

Nikayon needed:
Markers placed back in box neatly.
All papers removed from wall/floor (hopefully each girl will take hers home).
Any yarn scraps collected and thrown away.
Remaining materials returned to programming closet.