Community

The girls who come to Girls First are creative, inspired, and excited about learning; they provide
each other with a supportive, open environment where their fellow students’ academic and artistic passions are encouraged. With a chance to relax and enjoy themselves away from the cliques and pressures of school, girls gain self-confidence and maturity, explore their own intellectual and personal interests, and discover themselves. Such exploration often assists students in making important decisions about colleges, majors, and careers, while the friendships that girls make at Girls First often last long beyond the program, enriching and invigorating them even after they return to school in the fall. Girls who choose Girls First invariably come away with new passions, fresh ideas, and a sense of place in a growing community.

The Girls First program assembles an intelligent, lively group of instructors from some of the nation’s top universities and graduate programs. Our staff members are not only experts in their disciplines but also have extensive backgrounds in teaching and working with teens. At Girls First, all staff members live in the dorms with students and remain involved with them throughout the day. While during the day each girl focuses on her chosen area of study; in free time and at night, the entire camp hangs out together regardless of program track. During activity periods, they engage in sports, games, projects, and informal discussions with our students. Our instructors can identify with teens’ concerns; they build a caring community, serving as mentors to our girls in personal and life skills, as well as academics.

Our staff is led by a Program Director who oversees all aspects of Girls First. The Program Director is joined by the Director of Residential Life, Academic Director and Office Manager who complete the administrative staff of the program. Teachers and Resident Assistants, many of whom are recent Madeira graduates, plan and conduct daily classes and activities. All staff undergo a week of group training before Girls First begins; when students arrive, staff have already coordinated their programs and are ready to offer an integrated, sympathetic, and safe environment, where individual students can approach them at any time, whether they’re feeling shy, overwhelmed, or just want to talk.