THE PROGRAM
HOW CIRCLE WORKS
Girls who are referred to Circle Program have great potential, but lack the opportunities and resources to develop that potential. Circle offers girls a positive and comprehensive program designed to help them thrive. And the girls do thrive because of the experiences they have, the skills they learn, the individual connections they make, and the long-lasting friendships they keep for life!
Girls are initially enrolled into Circle Program when entering their 5th or 6th grade year, and are referred by teachers, guidance counselors, social service agencies, or family members. Our services are based on a Program Logic Model, and we conduct ongoing evaluation on the impact of our programming.
Girls begin their Circle Program experience with a three-week session at Circle Camp, which provides the foundation for our entire program. After camp, each girl is paired with a volunteer woman mentor. The girls and mentors meet throughout the school year for one-on-one activities. Our staff also provide monthly, age-appropriate, group activities throughout the school year. Girls return to camp for consecutive summers, growing into teen camp and our Teen Adventure Programs, engage in school-year activities and continue with their mentor year after year. We strive to keep girls connected to our program through their senior year of high school. This eight-year model enables us to truly make a lasting difference in their lives.
MENTORSHIP
CAMP
SCHOOL YEAR PROGRAM
CIRCLE CAMP
A girl’s first experience with Circle Program is attending an adventurous three-week residential session at Circle Camp. Girls return each summer, through their senior year of high school, for an age-specific camp experience.
TEEN CAMP
Teen Camp sessions run two weeks; additional teen opportunities include a Leaders-In-Training program and TAP (Teen Adventure Program).
LEADERS-IN-TRAINING
High schoolers may be eligible to join our 3-week LIT (Leaders-In-Training) Program. This leadership development program affords teens the opportunity to learn basic leadership skills and to put them into action, working with younger girls at Camp.
TEEN ADVENTURE PROGRAM
All of our high school teens are eligible to participate in our 1-week TAP (Teen Adventure Program) camp session. Teens can choose to spend the week hiking the trails of the White Mountains or paddling the lakes and rivers in the Lakes Region.
CAMP ACTIVITIES
Circle Camp is a place where girls and teens feel valued and accepted, and are recognized and applauded for their individual strengths. Camp is a safe environment where girls and teens become better equipped to make healthy choices, create lasting friendships, learn new skills, gain self-confidence, and develop a stronger sense of self.
Every activity and interaction at Circle Camp is seen as an opportunity to promote the girls’ personal and social growth. Camp programs and activities include:
Swimming
Kayaking
Paddle boarding
Hiking
Leave No Trace Outdoor Ethics
High and low ropes course
Drama
Dance
STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Math)
ONE-ON-ONE
MENTORSHIP
Key to the success of our work with girls is our one-on-one Mentoring Program.
Our volunteer mentors are charged with developing a caring, accepting, and positive relationship with their girl or teen, along with keeping them connected to our program throughout the school year. When a girl enters our program, she is paired with a woman volunteer mentor.
When a Mentor first becomes involved, they participate in a comprehensive orientation session prior to their initial meeting with their mentee. Additionally, regularly scheduled mentor trainings are offered throughout the year. Our Mentors do a very important job and we strive to make sure they are well supported.
