20 Years of Rosie’s Girls – Nell Carpenter
This year we are celebrating Rosie’s Girls 20th year in Vermont! That’s 20 years of empowering campers to follow their passions, try new things, and believe in themselves. Since its inception in 1999, each person who has interacted with camp has contributed to its current form. From instructors who inspire us to think outside of the box, to campers who push us to meet their evolving needs, to community members who support camp each summer; we are so proud of how far this program has come in responding to the needs of girls and gender non-conforming youth in the state. Thank YOU for being a part of this journey.
As for where we are headed – this fall we will be piloting our first Rosie’s Girls afterschool program in schools around the state. This will allow us to deliver programming year-round and in more regions, ultimately increasing our impact in Vermont. Additionally, gender-based discrimination in the workforce impacts all people of marginalized gender identities, starting in career exploration at young ages.
We recognize that young people are increasingly likely to identify outside of the binary and therefore it is crucial to provide spaces that are inclusive and welcoming of non-binary identities.
Rosie’s Girls will continue to persist for as long as disparities in wages and career representation exist. We will continue to make loud noises with saws and sparks with plasma cutters and take up space in Vermont as we empower young people to defy society’s expectations one tool at a time.
-Nell Carpenter, Education Program Coordinator