Passages Northwest: Inspiring Courage in Girls and Women

Passages Northwest: Inspiring Courage in Girls and Women

by Sheryl Kent, Susan Evans, and Kim Shirley

"This bead stands for my courage by believing in myself, and the team. Believing in myself, and others is an act of courage."

For many girls, the journey through adolescence is a pivotal point of self-discovery. It's where her dreams and goals are formed, and where her inner voice is discovered. Adolescence is the bridge to adulthood, and if crossed successfully, can supply a girl with the tools to make a lifetime of positive, healthy choices into adulthood. However, many girls have an incredibly difficult journey through adolescence.

Many parents with adolescent daughters are amazed at the sudden changes their girls go through - how a once bright, boundless girl can withdraw into herself, uninspired to do many of the things she was previously passionate about. Extensive research and the voices of parents all over the country have shown that girls experience a loss of courage and confidence as they become teenagers. As girls enter into adolescence, they internalize messages and expectations of the world around them asking that they fit into a specific mold.

The life experiences of our participants echo recent research, which demonstrates adolescence girls experience a tremendous amount of pressure – both internal and external – which poses challenging obstacles to their healthy growth and development. These pressures erode a girl's confidence and innate belief in herself, effecting her self-perception and behavior. Unhealthy relationships, bullying, eating disorders, dangerously promiscuous behavior, drug use, or simply learning NOT to trust her own voice and intelligence are challenges that have become too common a part of girls' lives and may have lasting effects into adulthood. Passages Northwest was originally created to address these difficult issues.

Passages Northwest is a Seattle-based nonprofit organization created to inspire courage in girls during this time of transition. Our courses are steeped in research on female adolescent development, and are designed with a progression in mind to follow a girl as she moves from 5th grade, into high school, and beyond. We believe girls are inherently creative, competent and strong, and that every one of them has incredible potential.

To help girls develop courage and leadership, Passages Northwest offers outdoor adventures such as rock climbing, backpacking and hiking that blend the arts, theatre, and outdoor skills with learning about the natural environment. Our programming includes:

Girls Rock!: A 10-day after-school indoor rock climbing and arts program - there are two sessions per year

Orientation Programs: 3-day spring courses that give girls short, basic introductions to outdoor rock climbing, hiking, and Passages programming

Summer Adventures: 5-9 day summer courses in rock climbing, backpacking, hiking and camping – the adventure of a lifetime!

Alumnae Adventures: including indoor climbing nights throughout the year, in-city events, a spring break climbing trip and an October day hike

Passages Northwest courses are designed to create a fun, welcoming environment for girls to develop physical, expressive and inquisitive courage. With this development in mind, we hope the girls we serve will be better equipped to combat life's pressures and challenges. Through our programs, girls become stronger and more resourceful at a time when they need it most.

Physical Courage

Experiential education is at the heart of Passages programming and the basis of our courses. Rooted in rock climbing, backpacking and hiking adventures throughout the Pacific Northwest, girls are offered a chance to connect with their inherent physical and mental strength and to explore new avenues and opportunities for navigating the world. We create a safe environment to take risks, girls are encouraged to move through progressive challenges that enable them to work individually and together to push through their fears. Time to reflect on these types of challenges allow girls of all abilities to understand the steps they take towards strengthening their bodies and minds. Girls learn to rely on their own physical strength and power while living in the outdoors. They are encouraged to develop a healthy attitude towards their bodies while learning the importance of being present in their bodies rather than fighting against them.

Expressive Courage

The 13th century definition of courage is "To speak one's mind by telling all of one's heart."

At Passages Northwest, we believe we are all artists, dancers, writers and actresses as soon as we decide we are so. Arts education stimulates creativity and promotes self-expression, critical thinking, empathy and emotional intelligence. It develops group cohesiveness, encouraging the expression of shared values. Also, it creates a forum to learn about and appreciate other people and cultures.

These are all elements we strive for while out on course, and are a unique aspect of the Passages Northwest curriculum. In order to connect with creative outlets while on one of our many courses, girls take part in art projects such as nature sculptures, mask-making, poetry, theatre games, and beading. Arts curriculum takes different forms on different courses we offer, but all are purposefully included to allow girls an outlet for their individual creativity.

Inquisitive courage

The inquisitive courage piece focuses on encouraging girls to sustain an interest in learning generally, and more specifically about the natural environment.

There are many opportunities for girls to explore the natural world and develop inquisitive courage while out on a Passages Northwest course. Girls learn how to identify plants and wildlife, learn about our impact on the environment, and participate in other hands-on science projects. We help girls recognize that by harnessing their curiosity they can discover amazing things about the world they live in. Making observations, asking questions, noticing: these are all the skills of scientists. Teaching a girl the value of recognizing weather changes, the smell of a new campsite, where water is located, or noticing the moods of other girls helps her to develop a stronger awareness of her surroundings. Promoting this courage prompts girls to ask more questions, recognize the strength of their knowledge, see the interconnectivity of all communities and engage in original thinking and problem solving,. These types of skills are invaluable in their current lives as well as their futures.

Drawing on the three types of courage: physical, expressive, and inquisitive, aids in the development of healthy self-esteem in girls. Competence, confidence and connection are required to make up a balanced sense of self. It is this balance that can help girls navigate the maze of adolescence with power, poise, and pleasure. This allows them to have a voice in the world.

Girls camouflage their true emotions in the face of the many pressures of adolescence. We provide an opportunity for girls to openly and honestly look at the issues they are facing and to provide support for each other. What we can offer is opportunity to experience themselves as potent, creative, and connected people. As they begin to navigate their lives and decisions, we must honor their perspectives and mistakes. We must listen closely to what they are telling us. We must avoid the urge to solve their problems for them or to draw their conclusions. We must show that we trust their wisdom and resourcefulness. This is how we help pave the ways for girls staying connected to what they know. This is the way that girls will not only survive but thrive.

About the author

Sheryl Kent's work has grown out of a lifelong connection to the woods and a deep belief in the inherent power and health of all people. She is dedicated to helping women and girls realize their inner resources and strength through creative and outdoor pursuits. Most recently, Sheryl worked as a Lead Educator for an expedition-based high school, Shackleton Schools, where she created an academic structure for the school, developed ground-breaking curricula, created risk management plans, mentored other staff and guided the journeys of the students. As a field instructor and administrator for Outward Bound for over six years, Sheryl has had the opportunity to work with hundreds of girls and women. She helped organize the Women's Outdoor Leadership Conference for several years and has published several articles related to wilderness education and empowerment. She earned a Master's Degree in Environmental Education from Lesley College.

Susan Evans is a staff member of Passages Northwest.

Kim Shirley is Recruitment and Admissions Manager of Passages Northwest. She graduated with a degree in American Studies from the University of Colorado, Boulder where she participated in a two-year leadership program based in experiential education. Her background is in nonprofit coordination and corporate logistics. Kim recently returned from a month long adventure in New Zealand where she sea-kayaked, hiked on a glacier, and backpacked several of the great walks. While reading a book in Squamish, B.C. as her husband rock-climbed, she saw a group of Passages girls on their first day out and was inspired to give it a try-- she's been hooked ever since. Kim enjoys reading, traveling, rock-climbing, watching movies, spending time with family and friends and exploring the Pacific Northwest. She walked the Avon 3-day 60 mile walk in honor of her mom, a breast cancer survivor and just completed her first triathlon this summer. She believes that courage is one of the key elements to a life full of confidence, new experiences and creating the life you want.

Passages Northwest
139 - 23rd Avenue S
Seattle, WA 98119
http://www.passagesnw.org
206.286.8601 - phone
206.286.8551 - fax

For more information about Passages Northwest, please call the office at 206.286.8601 or email info@passagsnw.org. Also, visit http://www.passagesnw.org. Catalogs are available for 2004 courses.

At Passages Northwest we are committed to making our programs accessible for all girls. In the hopes of achieving a strong breadth and depth of Passages participants, we offer scholarships to approximately 50% of qualified applicants.

©June 2004 New Horizons for Learning
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