Our Builder Bootcamp program is a week-long summer camp for girls ages 9-13. Over 35 instructional hours, girls learn and apply skills in carpentry, graphic design, metalwork, collaboration, and teamwork. They will be challenged to put these skills to work to build take-home projects and a large-scale collective project for a local nonprofit client in response to real-world design challenges. Previous projects have included furniture for a local women’s shelter, a tool wall for a school maker space, and 3 “mini houses” for Rebuilding Together San Francisco. Girls also work on a graphic design project (screen printing, block printing, etc) to create activist art. Our summer programs are led by highly skilled female educators and builders with decades of experience who prioritize safety, socio-emotional well-being, and practicing bravery together. Enrollment is limited to 20, at a 4:1 instructor-to-camper ratio. Two snacks per day will be provided, but girls must bring their own lunch (except for Friday, when we’ll have a pizza party!). Registration cost includes all materials, camp t-shirt, and a few take home projects!

Weekly Activity Schedule (subject to change):

• Monday
  Community-building, screenprinting t-shirts, site visit to community client, tool training and “bootcamp” building project
• Tuesday
  Construction documents and cut lists, and cutting all material
• Wednesday
  Begin assembly of projects and production of graphic design project
• Thursday
  Sand, paint, and finish community client projects
• Friday
  Installation of projects for community client, parent and client presentation, pizza and pool party with early pick-up

Annual Registration and Lottery Schedule:

• February 1
  Lottery applications open online. The application form will include an opportunity to apply for scholarships. Siblings must submit separate applications.
• February 15
  Lottery applications DUE by 5:00pm, after which Girls Garage staff will conduct a random lottery drawing for each week of camp
• February 20
  Rosters posted online and notifications sent (will include 8 wait list spots per week)
• February 28
  Payment and online waivers must be received in order to secure summer camp spot

Lottery Application and Program FAQ:

Q: How do I submit an application for Builder Bootcamp?

A: We will have a link to an online application (Google Doc) on this webpage from February 1-15th. All applications must be submitted online within the application window.

—

Q: I’ve been to Girls Garage before. Does my daughter get any kind of preference?

A: Unfortunately, no. All girls, whether new or returning, will be entered into the same lottery drawing.

—

Q: I have multiple daughters who want to attend. Can they apply together and attend together?

A: We’re asking that all girls, including siblings, submit separate applications. We’ll also treat them as individual applicants who may or may not be selected from the lottery to attend together.

—

Q: What kind of information do I need for the application?

A: The application will only require basic information, including name, date of birth, address and contact info for parent(s)/guardian(s) and emergency contacts, medical info, and optional demographic information.

—

Q: I need financial assistance. Can I still apply for a scholarship?

A: Yes! Our scholarship application will be embedded in the lottery application. We ask that families report their income and financial need honestly and not ask for more support than necessary, so that we can provide the most financial aid to the families in greatest need. If you have attended before and paid full tuition, we ask that you do the same this summer unless there are new extenuating circumstances. We offer full, partial, and “pay what you can” scholarships. Applicants who require financial assistance will be entered into the same lottery as everyone else, with no preference given to either scholarship or non-scholarship applicants.

—

Q: We’re available for all 3 weeks. Can we apply for all of them?

A: Unfortunately, no. On the application, we’ll ask you to select just one session. We’ll add your name to the lottery drawing for that specific week.

—

Q: Can you provide after-care?

A: Unfortunately, no. We open our doors at 9am and we ask families to pick up promptly at 4pm. We won’t charge you by the minute, like some other camps, but we do ask that you respect our instructors’ prep time by arriving by 4pm so that we can set up the workshop for the next day’s building activities.

—

Q: I have a question that wasn’t answered here. Who can I talk to?

A: Please email us at info@girlsgarage.org for any other questions!

—

Q: What is the refund/cancellation policy for this program?

A: If you need to cancel your camper’s registration, refunds will be applied as follows: Full (100%) refund if registration is canceled BEFORE May 1, 2020; Half (50%) refund if registration is canceled between May 1 and July 1, 2020, NO refund if after July 1, 2020.