We're taking applications for our teen summer program, Young Women's Design Building Institute, through March 1st. This is an immersive week-long design/build experience for rising 9th-12th grade girls and gender-expansive youth!
“The experience was so amazing for me because I got to show my work to school kids, teachers, and parents that use the classrooms and school space. I am so grateful that I got the experience to create a powerful symbol of hope and interconnectedness. I don’t think I could have gotten the same experience anywhere else, creating powerful artwork alongside girls my age, artwork with a social justice purpose.”
— Keiani
“Free tuition at Girls Garage has eliminated any barriers that could deprive me of an experience that I believe all girls should have access to. It has allowed me to practice something I am passionate about, in a safe space, without having to worry about fees, as well as allowed some of my closest friends to attend these empowering classes with me. If I wasn’t able to be a part of Girls Garage, I would have never found my love for engineering and design, which is what I’m going to do in college and as a career in the future.”
— Erica, 17 years old
“Working with these girls for a very long time has been amazing. I’ve know some for 5+ years and some for barely a week, but I feel like working on this huge project together has made us all even closer. One of my favorite things on the whole process was physically building the actual parklet with the other girls. It was so much fun to work together and hear everyone’s ideas and strategies. Another thing I really enjoyed was the woman from the landscaping architecture firm who talked to us about what they do and some of their advice on our parklet. It also gave me ideas of careers I might want to go into in the future.”
— Mikaela
“I learned so much about building, designing, and being a woman. It was amazing that in such a short time I made such great friends and was able to be confident and comfortable with them. I really like how this feels like such a safe and empowering space.”
— Izzy
youth participants since 2013
projects completed since 2013
teen students attending at no cost
Girls Garage is your can-do compendium of all things tools and building! Packed with over 175 illustrated tool guides, 11 how-to projects, 21 essential skills, and 15 profiles of awesome builder girls and women, Girls Garage will inspire you to fill up your toolbox and get building.
"I wrote this book as an invitation for girls to put on their tool belts and build the world they want to see. And I mean that quite literally: I want girls, who have big dreams, goals, and ideas, to have zero barriers to access the tools they need to be successful. That tool might be a hammer, a little extra confidence to try something new, or the ability to see yourself in the world of STEM."
— Emily Pilloton-Lam, Founder of Girls Garage