GirlSummer
Summer Boarding
Boarding Explorer
GirlSummer (Boarding) Explorer
We welcome girls from down the street and around the world to this program. International non-native English speaking candidates must complete a Duolingo test and await approval for this program before enrolling. The Duolingo test is very convenient and can be taken from home: The Duolingo English Test (DET) Should this program prove to not be the best fit for the candidate, we recommend our English Language and Leadership program which is designed to hone English listening, speaking, reading, writing, interview, and presentation style and skills.
All girls enrolled in GirlSummer Boarding Explorer enjoy a personalized day of electives. By diversifying her day, she is able to explore five different areas of interest. The rising 6th grader will enjoy living and learning with other rising 6th graders, and the riding 7th-9th graders will live and learn cooperatively and mindfully.
All girls enrolled in GirlSummer Boarding Explorer enjoy a personalized day of electives. By diversifying her day, she is able to explore five different areas of interest. The rising 6th grader will enjoy living and learning with other rising 6th graders, and the riding 7th-9th graders will live and learn cooperatively and mindfully.
Mix and match your GirlSummer schedule by choosing from our wide range of electives. With courses in athletics, the visual and performing arts, language and writing, and STEM, you’ll have ample opportunity to enjoy activities you already love and explore new interests.
Program Information
Type: Boarding
Ages: Rising 6th - 9th graders
Cost: $2200 - 2 week session.
Early bird rate: $2100 (register by February 15, 2019)
Dates:
2 Week Session 1: July 7-20, 2019
2 week Session 2: July 21-August 3, 2019
Ages: Rising 6th - 9th graders
Cost: $2200 - 2 week session.
Early bird rate: $2100 (register by February 15, 2019)
Dates:
2 Week Session 1: July 7-20, 2019
2 week Session 2: July 21-August 3, 2019
Upper Electives
List of 6 items.
-
Athletics
Badminton
Experience this fun game with birdies! Daily practice in volleying, serving, and scoring. Enjoy friendly competition and teamwork with doubles play.
Basketball
Girls participate in age-appropriate games while receiving instruction in individual skills such as ball handling, shooting and passing.
Soccer
Spend time out on the field practicing skills and making new friends.
Sports Conditioning
Work hard, play hard, and get ready for your next competitive season with a variety of activities such as running, spinning, aqua jogging, strength training, and stretching. Girls enjoy scavenger hunts, relay races, and other games that make fun and friendship a part of training. This program is ideal for girls training for a fall sport or beginning athletes looking to explore fitness and develop a love for exercise. The Sports Conditioning program is a double elective and is led by Erin Hatton, Emma Willard's head cross country coach and Division I collegiate Nordic skier.
Swimming (Open Swim)
Girls have the opportunity to cool off and participate in this fun Open Swim activity in our aquatic center under the supervision of two Red Cross certified lifeguards. Pool depth: The shallow end is 4 feet and the deep end is 12 feet. Level of Beginning Swimmer is required. A swimming test will be administered on the first day for those enrolled in free swim. Swimmers are required to bring their own towels.
Tennis
Bring your racket and learn new skills on the court.
Volleyball
Girls receive instruction in fundamental volleyball skills and game strategies. Practice sessions and mini competitions will be used to develop essential volleyball skills. Learn to bump, set, spike, and serve.
Yoga
You deserve this time for reflection, body awareness, stretching, and strengthening.
Zumba
Fun, friends, fitness! Have a rockin', movin', and groovin' time at Zumba! Girls of all ages will get active by learning and creating their own routines to pop songs. It is like one big dance party! -
Visual Arts
Advanced Jewelry Making
Creativity unbounded. This elective takes jewelry making skills to the next level as new forms are considered, new materials are used, and special meaning is derived.
Ceramics
Explore the exciting world of ceramics through slab and coil hand-building. Girls may create a variety of kiln-fired ceramic pieces such as bowls, cups, mirrors and wind chimes. The emphasis of this class is on creative imagination, technique, and design.
Drawing and Painting
Girls learn technique and work to develop skills and abilities as they complete a variety of projects.
Mixed Media
This art experience offers the chance to explore and blend various art media. A mixed-media approach is used to allow freedom of expression.
Photography Exploration
From pin-hole cameras to digital photography, girls will deepen their understanding of this artform through a variety of projects and experiences. Any level of digital camera is welcome--even an old smartphone! -
Performing Arts
Dance – Jazz
Already have some dance experience? Take the opportunity to dance to fast-paced popular music as they work through warm-ups, isolations, combinations and across-the-floor patterns. Girls will experience the energy of both individual and group dance.
Dance – Hip-Hop
Explore this dynamic and engaging dance form. Express yourself as you learn techniques, create moves, and rehearse routines for end-of-session performances.
Singing and Songwriting
For the girl who has a beat in her mind and is ready to bring it to guitar and beyond. Consider this your GirlSummer Garage Band!
Theater - Broadway Bound
If you are interested in musical theater, this mix of drama, song and dance is for you! Guided by talented drama and dance instructors, girls will have the chance to work with familiar musical selections and scripts, rehearsing and developing a particular song to perform.
Theater - Stars of Tomorrow
Come experience the major elements of theater in a relaxed atmosphere! Girls will learn to express themselves through voice and movement, while participating in activities such as script-writing and improvisation. Leave feeling comfortable and confident performing in front of a small group. -
Reading/Writing
Journalism and Civic Engagement
More than Newspaper, this elective encourages the big questions surrounding informed writing, debate, inquiry, and analysis. This elevated class will contribute to the GirlSummer Gazette.
Podcast
Why are podcasts so popular, accessible, and fun? How do the interviewers keep the pace so listeners are hungry for each new episode? Discover the innerworkings of creating a podcast and be ready to launch a group podcast focused on your GirlSummer experience.
Women Sheroes (She-Heroes) in History
Who are the women who have shaped history? This elective is for anyone looking to expand their understanding of historical events and the important, daring roles women have played. We call these women “sheroes” for a reason! -
STEM
Chemistry
Mix anything interesting lately? Learn how to combine everyday items to create curious concoctions and potions for a variety of uses.
Forensic Science
It’s all in the details when trying to uncover the who, what, when, where, and why. Join if you are eager to be part of this investigative team as clues and physical evidence of a crime (fabricated!) are analyzed.
Physics
Motion! Friction! Electricity! Put on your lab coat and get ready for science experiments that will rock your world. -
Adventure/Life Skills
Challenge Island
Adventure lovers! Through a series of individual tests and team tests you will figure out ways to achieve results. Can you undo a human knot? What about making your way from one side of the Triangle to the other with just two planks of wood? This elective is all about strategy.
Mars Colony
Do you wonder what kind of city might be built on Mars one day? Design and build a prototype out of everyday materials.
Passport
Be ready to visit new countries through virtual travel, food tasting, and story. Passport provided!
Survival and Life Skills
Learn how to start a fire, use a compass, how to stay warm and dry, find safe sources of water, change a tire, know your own emergency list, know what to do in danger situations, and better know your surroundings — how to be more observant in our everyday lives.
Middle Electives
List of 6 items.
-
Athletics
Badminton
Experience this fun game with birdies! Daily practice in volleying, serving, and scoring. Enjoy friendly competition and teamwork with doubles play.
Basketball
Girls participate in age-appropriate games while receiving instruction in individual skills such as ball handling, shooting and passing.
Soccer
Spend time out on the field practicing skills and making new friends.
Sports Conditioning
Work hard, play hard, and get ready for your next competitive season with a variety of activities such as running, spinning, aqua jogging, strength training, and stretching. Girls enjoy scavenger hunts, relay races, and other games that make fun and friendship a part of training. This program is ideal for girls training for a fall sport or beginning athletes looking to explore fitness and develop a love for exercise. The Sports Conditioning program is a double elective and is led by Erin Hatton, Emma Willard's head cross country coach and Division I collegiate Nordic skier.
Swimming (Open Swim)
Girls have the opportunity to cool off and participate in this fun Open Swim activity in our aquatic center under the supervision of two Red Cross certified lifeguards. Pool depth: The shallow end is 4 feet and the deep end is 12 feet. Level of Beginning Swimmer is required. A swimming test will be administered on the first day for those enrolled in free swim. Swimmers are required to bring their own towels.
Tennis
Bring your racket and learn new skills on the court.
Volleyball
Girls receive instruction in fundamental volleyball skills and game strategies. Practice sessions and mini competitions will be used to develop essential volleyball skills. Learn to bump, set, spike, and serve.
Zumba
Fun, friends, fitness! Have a rockin', movin', and groovin' time at Zumba! Girls of all ages will get active by learning and creating their own routines to pop songs. It is like one big dance party! -
Visual Arts
Bead Shop
Create art that you're proud to wear! Choosing from more than 100 colors, shapes, and sizes of beads, girls will create necklaces, bracelets, anklets, earrings, rings, and more!
Cartooning
Referencing the wide variety of pen-to-paper cartoons, this elective explores visual storytelling. Come ready to refine practical drawing skills and work towards a completed piece to share.
Ceramics
Explore the exciting world of ceramics through slab and coil hand-building. Girls may create a variety of kiln-fired ceramic pieces such as bowls, cups, mirrors and wind chimes. The emphasis of this class is on creative imagination, technique, and design.
Craft Workshop
Engage in a variety of hands-on projects including jewelry making, collaging, basic clay work, and other fun experiences.
Drawing and Painting
Girls learn technique and work to develop skills and abilities as they complete a variety of projects.
Kite Making
Get ready to take flight. The right materials and the right design come together in this elective. Be ready to design, build, and fly your own kite.
Mixed Media
This art experience offers the chance to explore and blend various art media. A mixed-media approach is used to allow freedom of expression.
String Bracelets
This is the elective for you if you would like to create colorful, long-lasting string bracelets for yourself, family, and friends. Get ready to discover new patterns as you work on your own pieces. -
Performing Arts
Dance – Jazz
Already have some dance experience? Take the opportunity to dance to fast-paced popular music as they work through warm-ups, isolations, combinations and across-the-floor patterns. Girls will experience the energy of both individual and group dance.
Dance – Hip-Hop
Explore this dynamic and engaging dance form. Express yourself as you learn techniques, create moves, and rehearse routines for end-of-session performances.
Singing and Songwriting
For the girl who has a beat in her mind and is ready to bring it to guitar and beyond. Consider this your GirlSummer Garage Band!
Theater - Broadway Bound
If you are interested in musical theater, this mix of drama, song and dance is for you! Guided by talented drama and dance instructors, girls will have the chance to work with familiar musical selections and scripts, rehearsing and developing a particular song to perform.
Theater - Stars of Tomorrow
Come experience the major elements of theater in a relaxed atmosphere! Girls will learn to express themselves through voice and movement, while participating in activities such as script-writing and improvisation. Leave feeling comfortable and confident performing in front of a small group. -
Reading/Writing
Newspaper
This hands-on, student-centered, experiential class puts our girls in charge of reporting on life at GirlSummer. Students will spend the first eight days writing, reporting, interviewing, and photographing the big stories of GirlSummer. On the final day of camp, they will distribute the newspaper to everyone. Come and join the GirlSummer newsroom!
Women Sheroes (She-Heroes) in History
Who are the women who have shaped history? This elective is for anyone looking to expand their understanding of historical events and the important, daring roles women have played. We call these women “sheroes” for a reason! -
STEM
Chemistry
Mix anything interesting lately? Learn how to combine everyday items to create curious concoctions and potions for a variety of uses.
Physics
Motion! Friction! Electricity! Put on your lab coat and get ready for science experiments that will rock your world.
Sleuths, Detectives and Investigators
Did the butler do it? Use investigative techniques to solve mysteries! Try your hand at fingerprint identification, analysis of clues, and interviewing to solve a whodunit. -
Adventure/Life Skills
Challenge Island
Adventure lovers! Through a series of individual tests and team tests you will figure out ways to achieve results. Can you undo a human knot? What about making your way from one side of the Triangle to the other with just two planks of wood? This elective is all about strategy.
Mars Colony
Do you wonder what kind of city might be built on Mars one day? Design and build a prototype out of everyday materials.
Self-Defense
We all need to feel confident in protecting ourselves. Learn skills that will take your confidence to a new level.
Snack Skills
Join this class if you are interested in creating a wide array of snack options to enjoy during your busy school year. Recipes will be included.
Survival and Life Skills
Learn how to start a fire, use a compass, how to stay warm and dry, find safe sources of water, change a tire, know your own emergency list, know what to do in danger situations, and better know your surroundings — how to be more observant in our everyday lives.
Welcome to Emma Willard School, a private day and boarding high school for girls in Troy, NY, and a leader in girls' education for over 200 years.