The OUTLOUD! Girls Group is open to two age groups: 7-12 years old, and 13 years and older. Weekly OUTLOUD! gatherings center around storytelling, singing, dancing and art-making with the theme of understanding natures shapes, patterns and cycles, as we continue to experience and understand how we are an integral part of nature flowing in beautiful subtle rhythms.
This program fills a continued need for the empowerment of young, female students to speak with their creative voice, expand their skills in both the visual and performing arts without the pressure of competition or grade, and to have an opportunity to build on a collective, positive, alternative social structure–minus the hierarchy.
Another very important need this program fills is basic nutrition and food preparation along with, organic and ecological gardening practices, and what we are calling "Wandering in the Woods" or learning basic, primitive outdoor skills.
Additionally, girls need positive female role models and leadership, not just something they read about or see on TV, but local, real human beings and contact on a weekly/monthly basis. The OUTLOUD! program brings girls in contact with a variety of young adult women, artists, dancers, social activists, musicians, organic gardeners and farmers from the Grand Traverse area.
This program also provides an opportunity for girls to continue (after they reach the age of 13) to work as a mentor through the Artist Apprentice Training Program assisting in the Summer Art-Farm Camps and other Little Artshram programs while working with girls younger than themselves.
This years GIRL'S OUTLOUD (2010) :
Girls OUTLOUD! Camp
Aug. 16-20 – Community Gardens & Art-Farm Workshop, Historic Barns Park
This week of camp ends with a camp-out at Eco-Learning Center, Aug 20-22
· Special week of girls only Art-Farm camp
· Two age groups: 7-12 and 13 and older
