“It's important to look back at where you've been to see how far you've come." - Unknown

Ten years -

This summer, we look back and celebrate ten years of Camp LiveGirl.

LiveGirl was founded in 2014 when we offered our first one-week summer camp at New Canaan High School. It started as a three-generation dream. Given my background in leadership development, I was determined to build evidence-based programming that would equip girls with the leadership skills, mentors, and role models to thrive. My mother had been a passionate middle school teacher for over 30 years and convinced me that this was the critical age to first focus on. My daughter, then in sixth grade, was our muse and advisor. So, with the vision to bring girls together from various zip codes and build an inclusive sisterhood and community of belonging, Camp LiveGirl was born.

I partnered with Dr. Meg Domino, then Executive Director of New Canaan CARES, to build the original leadership curriculum, and tapped my network of fierce female leaders- including Kate Vanek and Jenny Alonzo- to serve as keynote speakers and role models. Community and school leaders, including teacher Mike Patrona, stepped up to round out the camp experience. Leadership experts, including Meghan Davis of the BRAVE Institute and Alison Waller, former LiveGirl Program Director, were instrumental in growing the camp program over the years. 

That first summer convinced me that we had embarked on something special, important, and necessary. The relationships built and impact made surpassed everyone’s expectations.

The rest, as they say, is history. LiveGirl has grown exponentially. This summer, we will offer six weeks of Camp LiveGirl, expanding beyond New Canaan to Hartford and Waterbuy. LiveGirl Program Director Shamare Holmes and St. Luke’s School Teacher Kim Gerardi have transformed Camp LiveGirl into a uniquely robust experience, featuring our innovative Brave Leaders Academy and STEM designLab. LiveGirl has expanded to provide year-round leadership development, mentorship, and career readiness for girls in grades 5 through college. We have served over 14,000 girls since that first camp in 2014.

I am grateful to all those who believed in our vision from the very beginning, including founding Board members Brian West, Meg Domino, Laura Magnotta, and Jeanne Peloso, as well as the village of people who have joined us since. The collective commitment and dedication to empowering the next generation of female leaders is truly inspiring.

So, let’s eat cake and celebrate this incredible milestone - Ten Years of Camp LiveGirl!!!

Sheri West,

Founder & CEO