Raise Your Voice 2012
Raise Your Voice is an event celebrating girls and their ability to change the world. Raise Your Voice will be at Monmouth College June 29 – July 1, 2012. We will be featuring the "It's Your Story – Tell It" Journey series.
Girls will get a chance to experience life on a college campus, meet new friends from across the council, learn and have fun!
Raise Your Voice 2011 was held at Coe College in Cedar Rapids. Girls completed the "It's Your Planet – Love It" journey. And learned how to earn the Silver or Gold Award. Adults had their own sessions and worked together to learn about Take Action. All groups watched the girl-produced documentary "What's On Your Plate" about sustainable and healthy eating and heard from our CEO Diane Nelson.
Raise Your Voice 2012 is in the works! Check back for more information!
2011 Highlights
Cadettes (7th & 8th graders)
Cadettes worked on the "Breathe" journey, exploring the air and how it connects to noise, scents, pollution and energy. Below is a sampling of the activities they did and a few pictures.
- Scent stations, using their noses to guess what was in different bags and their minds to talk about what memories the smells triggered
- Science experiments, exploring the power and weight of air
- Tumblewing construction, creating small perpetual flying machines out of paper
- A field trip to the Watertower Place Condos, with a green, sedum-planted roof
- A presentation from Clipper Wind Inc., about wind power and a blade design exercise
- A yoga session with a Tri-Yoga instructor, who talked about the power of breathing and how to relax
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Seniors (9th & 10th graders)
Seniors complete the "Sow What" journey and investigated the science of food, global food issues, careers in food, and sustainable eating. Below is a sampling of the activities they did and a few pictures.
- Created rugs from recycled T-shirts on hula hoop looms
- Listened to a speaker from Kirkwood College on sustainable/local/organic eating and growing, and why it is important
- Got their hands dirty planting, using biodegradable pots, organic soil, compost and untreated green bean seeds
- Participated in a mock legislative session on food issues in schools, with a speaker from the Iowa State Legislature
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Ambassadors (11th & 12th graders)
Ambassadors learned about environmental justice, created equations for change, and brainstormed what a healthy environment looked like and how it could be attained. Below is a sampling of the activities they did and a few pictures.
- Heard from Kirstin Simko from Solid Waste, who talked about recycling
- Listened to Carole Lamphier from Linn County Public Health, who described the air quality index
- Sewed tote bags from repurposed T-shirts
Adults
Adults had their own special sessions. This group completed the Take Action Volunteer Module, learning to guide their girls through the process of planning and implementing a Take Action project. This included a session in which they created asset maps of their communities and designed their own project. They also had a guest presenter who spoke on communication and communication styles. The weekend also included conversations about working with older girls, such as how to keep them active and involved, how to raise money for trips and how to give them opportunities to become leaders. The adults also took a break and enjoyed a relaxing shopping trip to Marion and were able to network with one another and staff.
