Investees In Action: Passages Northwest

Girls Rock! with Passages Northwest

“Why can’t we all get along?”  That was the question Hunter kept asking her mom, during her 5th grade year.  Stefani and Hunter had just moved to Seattle, and Hunter started at a new school, where she found it difficult to make new friends.

“Hunter is caring and compassionate,” recalled Stefani.  “She wanted everyone to be her friend, and she took it very hard when other girls began to tease her.  It was a miserable year.”  But then Stefani saw a flyer for Passages Northwest’s Girls Rock! program at a state agency office.  She thought it would be a perfect solution for Hunter to raise her self-esteem and develop leadership skills.

Passages Northwest’s mission is to inspire courage and leadership in girls through the integrated exploration of the arts and the natural world.  The Girls Rock! program teaches middle school girls how to rock climb and develop trusting relationships with adult mentors, within a diverse and supportive community of other girls.  The program has a measurable and significant impact.

In 2008, 100% of girls reported having more physical courage after the program.  95% learned about people different than themselves, and 91% learned to trust someone.

Stefani relates, “Within a couple of weeks there was a huge change: the sparkle was back in Hunter’s eyes.  She stands a little straighter and taller now, and she’s a lot more confident.”  Stefani was most impressed with how Passages Northwest teaches the girls to solve problems amongst themselves.  “Hunter brings issues that are going on at school to her peers at Girls Rock! to get feedback, support, and help her work through things in a healthy way.  She understands that she’s not alone anymore.  In fact, she has gone from having one friend in 5th grade to now considering the majority of girls in her class friends.”

Girls Rock! also connected Hunter with a strong mentor, who encouraged Hunter to find her voice and speak up.

“Hunter can see that she doesn’t have to conform to who everyone else thinks she should be.  She knows now that it’s about who you are and what makes you happy and comfortable, and that your strengths and quirks are what make you unique.”

After completing Girls Rock!, Hunter enrolled in Girls Rock On!, an advanced climbing and leadership session for alumnae.  This summer she’ll go on one of Passages Northwest’s wilderness rock climbing programs at Mt. Erie.  “She can’t wait to turn 14 so she can join the Girls Advisory Board!” Stefani says.  “And I’d love for her to become a mentor in the program once she’s old enough.”

Stefani summarized her experience with Passages Northwest: “Hunter will take the skills she has learned at Passages Northwest with her throughout her life.  These are skills that aren’t always nurtured in young women, beyond just surviving.  Passages Northwest has reached my daughter in ways that I as her mom could not.  It is truly a safe and supportive community that has accepted Hunter and our whole family.”