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Welcome to my fundraising page! Chrysalis Girls Adventures promotes girls' empowerment, leadership, healthy living, positive body image, and self-expression. Please consider donating to help provide scholarships for girls who won't otherwise be able to join our amazing outdoor adventures, this summer - all in honor of my late mentor, Dr. Nina Roberts!
Impact
Chrysalis Girls Adventures (CGA) is a new outdoor education organization in the San Francisco Bay Area. Our mission is to empower girls to develop confidence, courage, and compassion through outdoor adventures.
After last year's pilot program (a 4-day backpacking course), most participants agreed with the following statements:
- "I feel more confident to try at least one thing some people think girls can't/shouldn't do."
- "I am more confident to be myself."
- "I am more likely to feel good about my body."
- "I am more likely to say what I really think or feel."
Parents describe the impact of their daughter's course:
"Trails to Sea was a great experience for Alethia. She came home with a zest for camping and backpacking and as a result, the whole family has gone on our first family camping trip...I felt confident that my daughter was in safe hands, both physically and emotionally. Thank you for providing a wonderful first summer camp away from home." - Jennifer
“It was amazing to hear my daughter describe her experience. She was so proud of everything she accomplished for herself, and she had so much fun playing games, telling jokes, and creating skits. After the trip, she had so much information to share about how she felt growing up and understanding others' experiences." - Casey
CGA programs focus on building healthy relationships, connecting with the natural world, and celebrating our strengths as bold and brave girls and women from many different backgrounds! We greatly appreciate your support and belief in this work.
Need
While off to an exciting start, CGA has very little funding available for students and families in financial need. We are in the process of establishing our non-profit status and will soon be eligible for grants, but we're not quite there, yet...
65% of students interested in participating in our camping & backpacking courses have requested a full or partial scholarship. We invite you to contribute towards this scholarship fund to help provide these girls with positive, life-changing experiences!
We are offering four courses, this summer. Your contribution will make a huge difference:
- A $750 donation can provide a 50% scholarship for Trails to Sea, a 6-day camping/backpacking trip for middle school girls, equipping them with leadership experience, technical skills, and the power of self-reflection.
- A $660 donation can provide a mother and daughter with full scholarships for a 3-day camping weekend in the redwoods, featuring games, hiking, and kayaking.
- A $300 donation can provide a 25% scholarship for Luna Girls, a 5-day camping/backpacking trip for 4th-6th grade girls, including community building, positive body image, and time at the beach.
- A $140 donation can cover the cost of kayaking at Heart's Desire Beach for two girls, ages 5 and up.
Our fundraising goal of $7250 will provide enough scholarships for all participants who have requested financial assistance. Rest assured that no donation is too small...or too big! ;-)
All financial aid will be awarded as Dr. Nina Roberts Memorial Scholarships.
Inspiration & Dedication
I am a former student of Dr. Nina Roberts (Dec. 10, 1960 - Mar. 28, 2022). "Dr. Nina," as she was affectionately called, passed away, last spring, after a difficult battle with pancreatic cancer.
Dr. Nina was a professor in the Department of Recreation, Parks & Tourism (RPT) at San Francisco State University, and a pivotal leader in outdoor education and increasing access to public lands. She was passionate about social justice and providing opportunities for underrepresented communities to recreate outdoors, including girls, women, and people of color.
Within days of her passing, I felt moved to honor Dr. Nina by doing something I'd thought about for 20 years: launch a new girls' outdoor education organization! Partnering with a recent RPT graduate, we offered our pilot program last August, an introductory backpacking course in Point Reyes National Seashore for 6th-8th grade girls, featuring community building, leadership development, and diversity awareness and allyship. Following the success of the pilot program, Chrysalis Girls Adventures was born!
Carrying Her Torch Forward
Dr. Nina may have moved on to the "next great adventure," but I feel her presence, every day. I am forever grateful for her endless support, candidness, guidance to think critically about equity and representation, and her motivation to have the courage to live boldly and take action. Dr. Nina's teachings will continue to inspire me, and so many others, to be our best selves and make a positive difference in the world around us. Chrysalis Girls Adventures aims to carry Dr. Nina's torch forward, honoring her passion for inclusion, empowerment, and increased accessibility to the outdoors. May her wisdom and teachings help us take flight!
"My daughter came back glowing after the trip, excited to share about her experiences with the other girls, stories of the trip itself, and new discoveries about her own abilities.” - Dana
"Amazing journey! Victoria's excitement at her return confirms why the pilot program was highly recommended by GirlVentures. She was safe, welcome, and included during the whole program. My daughter was allowed to enjoy herself, get some fresh air, and exercise while she learned to appreciate food and her family." - Olga