Fun In the Sun (June 22-August 7)

Held at 3 different sites in Santa Barbara, Fun in the Sun (FITS) is a 7 week long summer program for boys and girls in the 1st through 6th grade. Registration begins April 6! Children participate in age-appropriate curriculum in categories such as social skills, team building, art, and wellness. In addition, children participate in 75 minutes of daily direct reading instruction. Afternoon activities and trips include environmental awareness programs, swim lessons, sports, dance and music appreciation, guest speakers, and field trips to Lake Casitas, the Santa Barbara Zoo, the UCSB pool, and various beaches.


Growing TogetherSM

This component, for girls ages 9-11 and a parent/adult, includes five interactive sessions designed to jump-start essential conversations between girls and their parents or guardians about sexuality issues. Girls participate alongside their adult counterpart throughout this program. Growing Together helps develop two-way communication skills to give girls an ally for future questions and dilemmas. Key topics include changes during puberty; anatomy, physiology, and hygiene; adolescent sexual development and feelings; and values and expectations for sexual behavior. Growing Together continues to be a wonderful, safe forum for mothers and daughters to discuss sex, pregnancy prevention, healthy relationships, risks and values.  The response to the workshops has been phenomenal as our instructors continue to break down barriers and open the lines of communication between mothers and daughters around these very sensitive issues. 

Project Learn

A program born out of Operation SMART, Project Learn is intended to engage kids in science by making it fun.  6th grade students at Hollister Elementary school are receiving an in depth education about animal and plant life of the ocean, specifically learning in detail about buoyancy, seaweed, and how the body shape of various species of fish help determine the speed at which they swim. Next quarter they will continue their hands on work by learning the science behind cosmetics, and even have the opportunity to make their own!

2009 Take Our Daughters to Work Day (TODTWD)

Girls Inc. of Greater Santa Barbara will host a Take Our Daughters to Work Day on May 28, 2009.  A 12:00 noon kick off lunch event for the girls and their mentors, followed by an afternoon in the workplace, will conclude with a wrap-up event at our Goleta Valley Center.  Through topical speakers, a variety of workshops, panels and job shadowing, the girls will be exposed to a wide range of career opportunities in order to begin to set career goals and learn about paths they need to take to achieve those goals. 

For more information about Girls Inc.'s Outreach programs, please contact Jen Bowman at 805.963.4757 x17 or email: jenbowman@girlsincsb.org.