The Girls’ Leadership Institute (GLI) is a unique summer program for girls entering seventh and eighth grades to explore their leadership potential and strengthen their personal confidence and self-esteem. Each girl will discover and develop her own unique leadership style though a broad range of hands-on activities.

At the Institute, participants learn about team-building, different leadership styles and group dynamics. The girls build character by identifying and prioritizing their own values and belief systems which they then use to make ethical decisions. Compassion is developed through both community service opportunities during the program, such as volunteering at a food bank, and the individual action plan each girl will develop to implement in her own community. Participants come to find courage within themselves as they push beyond their own boundaries to conquer the challenges of a high-elements ropes course. Throughout the two weeks, the girls work closely with high school mentors and interact with adult women who share their personal and professional leadership journeys. In a culminating presentation, participants showcase the public speaking skills they developed in the program’s communication workshops. Ongoing reflection is a vital part of the character-building process, and every girl journals regularly about her own journey as a leader throughout the program as well as how she will continue applying the skills she is learning to her life after GLI. Graduates of the program go on to become student government leaders, yearbook editors, team captains and club presidents.

The Institute, a recently expanded, 10-day summer enrichment program, takes place on the beautiful 26-acre campus of Kent Place School in Summit.