Rock and Roll Camp for Girls facts for kids

The Rock 'n' Roll Camp for Girls is a special non-profit group. It started in Portland, Oregon, United States. This camp helps girls learn about music and build confidence. It's also the name for a bigger movement of groups like it all over the world.

At the Portland camp, girls aged 8 to 18 can learn to play rock instruments. They form bands, write their own songs, and even perform them! Most of the staff are volunteers and women. They want to help campers feel good about themselves and support each other. The very first camp happened in August 2001.

The idea for the camp came from Misty McElroy. She started it in 2000 as a project for her college studies at Portland State University.

Now, many Girls Rock Camps exist around the world. They were all inspired by the first camp in Portland. The goal of the Rock 'n' Roll Camp for Girls has grown into a worldwide effort. It aims to make girls feel strong and capable through music.

You can find Girls Rock Camps in over 40 cities in America. Some examples are New York, Austin, and Los Angeles. They are also in places like Dubai, Germany, Brazil, Canada, Sweden, and Australia. Each camp runs on its own. But the people who organize them share ideas and help each other. They do this through a group called the Girls Rock Camp Alliance.

Girls Rock Camps Around the World

The idea of the Rock 'n' Roll Camp for Girls is spreading. People are starting new camps in their own towns everywhere. Each camp is created by the local community. This means many camps offer slightly different programs.

Here are some places where you can find Girls Rock Camps:

• Canada: Mississauga, Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver, and more.
• United States: New York, Los Angeles, Seattle, Portland, and many other cities.
• Europe: Berlin, Paris, Sweden, Finland, and Norway.
• Australasia: Canberra, Melbourne, Sydney, and Auckland.
• South America: Brazil and Buenos Aires, Argentina.
• United Arab Emirates: Dubai.

What is the Girls Rock Camp Alliance?

The Girls Rock Camp Alliance (GRCA) is a group of music camps. They all share the same goal: to empower people through music. The GRCA helps camps share ideas and resources. It also gives organizers a chance to meet and get new ideas from each other.

The GRCA holds a conference once a year. Camp organizers come together to learn new skills. They share resources and build a strong community. They also talk about different camp ideas and how to grow the movement.

Girls Rock Camp in Movies and Books

The Rock 'n' Roll Camp for Girls has been featured in different media.

• In 2008, a movie called Girls Rock! came out. It's a documentary that follows three young girls. It shows their week at the Portland camp.
• Also in 2008, the camp wrote a book. It was made to encourage girls to play music. The book included drawings by artist Nicole Georges. It also had a short history of women in rock music. Famous musicians like Carrie Brownstein and members of The Gossip helped with the book.
• In 2012, the documentary Hit So Hard featured the camp. This movie was about drummer Patty Schemel from the band Hole.

Other Cool Programs

Many Girls Rock Camps offer more than just summer camps. They have other programs with the same goal. These can include:

• Ladies Rock Camps: These are short programs, usually 2-3 days. Adult women get to try similar music workshops and instrument lessons.
• After-school programs: These programs vary by location. Some focus only on music. Others combine music with community and school activities.
• Special events: Many camps host events throughout the year. These can be movie nights or concerts.

There's also a Queer Rock Camp in Olympia, Washington. It's a summer camp for queer youth aged 12-21. It was inspired by the Girls Rock Camp program. This camp also uses music and creative activities to help young people feel strong and express themselves.

See also

• Girls Rock!, a documentary film about the Rock and Roll Camp for Girls