Girls Inc. member Nautika had this to say about participating in Dollars, Sense, & Me:  "I like being a leader.  I listened to my group's ideas and I wrote them on the flip chart."

To read more about Girls Inc. financial literacy programs - follow this link: http://www.girlsincomaha.org/NewsDetail.aspx?n=1c5f0e96-d8ff-4cf3-b90e-112f664fc149

Creighton Camp was a very fun and adventurous experience for the Girls Inc. members. Everyday  was packed full of activities, workshops and skill building.
The girls enjoyed learning how to play new sports and getting tips from actual coaches and players.  The girls played volleyball, basketball, softball, football, soccer and of course went swimming.  At the end of camp ceremony Girls Inc. ladies received various awards for "Most Improved", "Best Attitude" "Miss Congeniality" and "MVP."  I was very impressed with our ladies during Creighton camp and I was glad to see them so engaged and eager to learn!" - Ms. Desiree 
 

The girls have been working in our gardens with interns Matt and Megan from The Big Garden.  The event they attended was a time for the interns to share what they have been working on and to share the fruits of their labor. - Ms. Kate

I liked when I saw our picture on display.  I learned we can havce a spa day and we can have fun planting vegetables. - Ebone

I learned a lot about all the other things you can plant besides flowers.  The food was delicious! - Robin

"The girls read the book Mouse Paint, a personal favorites from my childhood, and then they painted their own artwork, mixing and blending the paint just like the mouse in the book."  Ms. Tess

"I picked a flower for my picture because flowers are beautiful." - Destiny

The girls sign "I love Girls Inc." http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rw-B2DCtLSA

Girls attended a Wildlife Encounter program at the South Omaha Library where they were able to see and touch all manner of creatures.  Chloe actually held an alligator. 

"When I held the alligator, it was scary at first because a guy asked me to close my eyes and hold out my hands.  Then he brought it out and everybody screamed so I got nervous.  Then he put it in my hands and told me to open my eyes and it was an alligator.  I felt better after I saw his mouth taped shut and he didn't move.  It was awesome!" - Chloe

You can watch Chloe hold a for-real-live-not-stuffed-even-if-his-mouth-was-taped-shut alligator if you click here:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6elnq7gceK8  The video has a little of that Blair Witch Project-y thing going on but it is so worth watching!  When Chloe shuts her eyes and then the other girls see that it is an alligator she will be holding and start screaming - it's a moment!  Chloe puts the bold in "strong, smart, and bold!"

Jenna Gentzler, a student of ceramics at Kansas State University, taught a workshop for ten 9 to 12-year-old girls today.

"The girls did a great job.  They were good listeners and paid attention to instructions.  They were so eager to see my demonstration at first they they crowded too close.  I had to have them move away a bit to give myself some room to work.  They were especially excited to learn how to add the details to their pots once we got to that point in the project.  They were good at cricitcal thinking.  They had to figure out what to do if there was a problem; how to fix a weak spot or what to do if something went wrong with their design.  They had to problem solve.  If they rolled the clay out and it stuck to the table they had to scrape it all off and try again using Saran Wrap on the table before rolling. 

The girls were very curious and had lots of questions:  Is this coil big enough?  Can I make a something that my dad can actually drink juice out of?  What kind of paint will we use?  Do I need to slip and score every piece or just the big ones?  How soon can we fire these?  Can I add a lid to mine?  Lots of questions!

The girls learned new vocabulary - slip, score, and wedge.  They learned the names of the tools we used: wooden knife and needle tools.  We also used rolling pins but I am pretty sure they already knew the name for those.  They learned how to make a coil from clay and how to build a pot using coils.  They learned how to attach small pieces to a larger piece.

My ultimate goal is to study to become an art therapist.  I really like teaching what I know and using it to develop a relationship.  When you are making something -w hen you are in the act of creating something and you are engaged with that task - it is easier to have free conversation.  I found that to be true with the girls today.  It was very easy to talk to them and to get to know them as we worked on their pots. 

I would recommend volunteering at Girls Inc.  The girls were all very sweet.  They need good influences and they need love.  I had a great time and would love to come back." - Jenna

Jenna leaves soon for study abroad in Namibia.  Among her other experiences, she will also be teaching art to girls ages 12 through 18 while she is there.  She will bring some supplies with her but will also stay flexible to see what develops, what the girls' interests are and what is available for her to use locally.  If you would like to follow her experiences (although she is not sure how often she will have computer access!), she will be blogging about her experiences at jennagentz.blogspot.com.

Thanks Jenna, for sharing your talent with Girls Inc. of Omaha.  We'll post some photos for you after the pots are glazed and fired!

"The chocolate is better than the peppermint." - Amaya [referring to her "model of earth" on a toothpick - peppermint core, marshmallow mantle, and chocolate crust.]

"The girls studied the layers of the earth and then they made their own 'edible' earth.  The mint candy represents the core, the marshmallow represents the mantle, and the chocolate coating is the crust." - Ms. Mara

"We're doing science and we made the earth. And the best part is we get to eat it." - LaMare'

Rex Fisher and Gayland Alukonis came to Girls Inc. today to personally deliver a check for $8,000 from the Qwest Foundation.  Qwest is underwriting Girls Make the Grade, a program to support girls and their academic achievement.  Girls Make the Grade provides homework supplies (markers, pens, pencils, calculators, poster board, thumb drives, paper, etc...), daily homework help, tutors, computer lab access, and programs designed to support academic outcomes.

Qwest is a longtime supporter of Girls Inc. and we are proud to call them a partner in our efforts to "inspire all girls to be strong, smart, and bold."