Enviro-Girlz Summer Experience
A free summer leadership program for Black girls ages 8-12 in Ottawa
The Enviro-Girlz Summer Experience is an 8-session summer program designed to help Black girls build confidence, environmental knowledge, and leadership skills through hands-on learning. Across July and August 2026, participants will explore climate change, biodiversity, food justice, and urban green space through films, cooking workshops, nature hikes, museum visits, journaling, group discussions, and solution pitches.
This program is designed for a small cohort of 10 Black girls and will take place on Saturdays from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM.
Program Details
Dates: Saturdays, July 5 – August 23, 2026
Time: 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Locations: Heron Road Community Centre, Pink Lake Trail, Canadian Museum of Nature
Cost: Free
Cohort Size: 10 participants
What’s included:
Transportation support for off-site sessions
Snacks at every session
Journals and program materials
A published blog post at the end of the program
What Your Child Will Experience
Each Saturday session (9:00 AM – 12:00 PM) combines fun, learning, and leadership-building activities:
Film screenings and discussions (Ice Age, The Lorax)
Cooking workshops using climate-smart traditional foods (sorghum, millet, fonio)
Nature hikes at Pink Lake Trail (Gatineau Park)
Visits to the Canadian Museum of Nature
Group discussions, journaling, and solution pitches
A final blog post published on the Jua Centre website
Participants will build confidence, communication skills, and environmental awareness while working in a small, supportive group of 10 girls.
What Parents Can Expect
We prioritize communication, safety, and support for every family:
Welcome call or email before the program begins
Weekly reminders and updates
Transportation support where needed
Consent forms for participation, off-site visits, and blog publication
Final blog posts shared with families at the end of the program
Who Should Apply
This program is designed for:
Black girls ages 10–13 living in Ottawa
Youth who are curious about the environment, food, animals, or climate change
Youth interested in building confidence, leadership, and communication skills
No previous experience is required.
Families will also be invited to a virtual parent information session in June 2026 to meet facilitators, learn about safety protocols, and ask questions.
Register Your Child
Spots are limited to 10 participants.