Summer Camps & Programs

Program Description

Girls First at Madeira School

Summer Residential Academic Program
McLean, Virginia

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For More Information, Contact
Girls First at Madeira School
Madeira School
8328 Georgetown Pike
McLean, Virginia 22102
800-883-4159 (toll-free)
http://www.madeira.org/girlsfirst

Type of Program: Academic enrichment
Participants: Coeducational, ages 11 to 16
Enrollment: Approximately 100 students per session
Program Dates: Two 2-week sessions from July 8 to August 3
Head of Program: Douglas Murphy, Director

Location

Madeira’s 100-year history educating girls in grades 9–12 in the Washington, D.C., area has allowed the school to develop strong relationships with some of the capital’s most influential professionals in order to provide girls with fresh intellectual possibilities. The 376-acre campus is just 12 miles from Washington, D.C., and the world-class array of cultural and historic destinations the United States’ capital city has to offer.

Background and Philosophy

Girls First at Madeira School gives rising seventh to eleventh grade girls the chance to supplement their school-year studies with rigorous and fun class work and benefit from experiential learning through the guidance of successful women in a wide range of careers. Girls First students pursue a scholastic adventure of their choice while participating in a variety of enjoyable daily and nightly activities in a beautiful riverside setting 20 minutes from the nation’s capital. Young women who attend Girls First don’t just read textbooks; they engage in layered learning where classroom experiences are never removed from real-world applications.

Program Offerings

Writer’s Workshop. Imagination is welcomed and fostered in this workshop. However, as the participants learn, inspiration is only the beginning. Girls First also makes sure girls gain the ability to express themselves in a powerful and elegant way by exposing them to the technical side of the English language, feedback from a passionate audience, and the simple practice of writing regularly. The teachers are young creative writing professionals who are familiar with the classics of poetry and fiction, as well as essential contemporary works. Sylvia Plathe and Franz Kafka share time with Joshua Beckman and Sharon Olds. Girls First believes that a necessary step to becoming a good writer is learning to pay attention to the surrounding world; frequent field trips and outdoor exercises are an enjoyable and rewarding part of the curriculum.
Chinese Conversation and Culture. China is well on its way to becoming a global superpower, yet its culture and language are understood by few outside of the Far East. The Chinese conversation and culture class introduces girls to a society that has produced many of the world’s technological and cultural achievements and a language, Mandarin, that is spoken by more people than any other. No past experience with Chinese is required for students in this class. Girls first learn the fundamentals of tonal languages, practicing pronunciation with their instructors and each other. Then they add vocabulary and grammar skills, all in the course of learning how to have basic conversations with Mandarin speakers. The teachers incorporate original ideas into a well-founded approach to language as well as the large Madeira campus and its multimedia capabilities, making the curriculum far more than just a traditional classroom experience.
Forensic Science. Many Americans have seen popular programs and movies showcasing forensic science—but how is crime scene investigation really accomplished? Girls First invites inquisitive minds to join its experienced instructors in its forensic science class. No previous experience is needed. The instructors start from scratch, teaching skills that, by the end of the course, allow the students to examine a mock crime scene and solve a realistic case. One of the reasons Girls First teaches forensics is that it applies a broad spectrum of sciences toward answering fascinating questions about crime. By grappling with the intriguing mysteries of forensics, students acquire skills that they can apply in many analytic endeavors. Students gain experience with a number of scientific fields, like chemistry, biology, and physics—an experience that not only gives them a head start on their school year, but may blossom into a lifelong interest.
Veterinary Science. As recent disease scares have illustrated, the field of veterinary medicine is not only vital to animals, but also to human health. Veterinary scientists help ensure the safety of food supplies, protect humans from animal epidemics, and provide holistic care for some mankind’s most beloved assistants and companions, be they dogs, horses, birds, or other, more exotic species. The course introduces girls to this fascinating, expanding field and its variety of advanced diagnostic and therapeutic methods. Learning about these techniques exposes students to medical study and treatment methods in general—an exposure that serves as a great leg up on any future medical or life science courses they may take. The teachers provide hands-on projects that immerse the students in the details of a specific veterinary issue, helping them learn far more than they would through abstract textbook learning. In demanding but fun laboratory examinations, students tackle real veterinary problems, and, in the process, gain a deep understanding of many different topics in biology and chemistry.
Performing Arts. Girls First invites girls of all ages and levels to its performing arts workshop, where they are challenged, supported, and taught in an open but demanding program. Girls study acting, singing, and dancing techniques, from classical to contemporary. They perform dramatic and comedic scenes as well as improvisations. The young, talented instructors use focused personal exercises and flexible group experiments to build strong skills. Girls discover that great acting is possible from anyone with the willingness to succeed, since it follows as much from education and preparation as natural talent. The immersive course creates an accepting and encouraging community of performers who are learning together, helping each other, and having a great time together. The small class size allows for frequent one-on-one tutoring tailored to each student’s specific talents and needs. The program is designed to help students develop a wide range of skills that will serve them well when they leave the stage and participate in other experiences. Learning to be comfortable in front of an audience, to control one’s body and voice, and to improvise assists in future public speaking situations and increases overall confidence and social skills.
Fashion Design. Fashion design is an exciting, fast-paced field in which some of America’s most intelligent artists work. Girls First’s talented instructors show girls that fashion design makes use of a great deal of academic knowledge as well as creativity and talent. They present scholarly material in a creative, hands-on environment and allow girls to immerse themselves in the tasks of designing a space or piece of clothing. No previous design or drawing experience is required, just eagerness to learn and the desire to create. The fashion design curriculum helps girls identify and respond to clothing trends, with the end result of planning their own themed clothing line and designing a garment. The classroom experience is supplemented by many on- and off-campus field trips where girls look at famous spaces and clothes and talk to professionals who give them an insider’s view of the fashion and interior design industries. Girls leave the program with the ability and courage to explore their unique design concepts as well as with a sound understanding of the design process in general, one that will help them in an array of creative pursuits.
Architecture. Architecture is known as the science and art of designing buildings and structures, but it is so much more. A wider definition includes the design of the total built environment from the microlevel of furniture to the grand stage of urban planning. Throughout history the study has grown from the dynamics between needs—such as shelter, safety, and community areas—to the Bauhaus school and, ultimately, to postmodernism. Architecture is a fascinating blend of social science, art, technology, engineering, politics, history, and philosophy, and the resulting structures seek to manipulate light, space, volume, and texture in addressing abstract and functional needs. Girls who enroll in this course are introduced to the basic principles, modern questions, and history of the subject while also building models, designing landscapes, and visiting relevant structures in the area.
International Politics and Global Issues. It is more apparent today than ever before that America does not exist in a vacuum—events and conflicts in foreign countries have become just as important to Americans as domestic or local issues. Yet many people have little or no understanding of the complex international forces, religious factions, and ethnic groups that share and shape the world. The goal of the international politics and global issues course is not just to introduce students to the absorbing fields of international relations, political science, and diplomacy, but to make them informed, thoughtful, and influential global citizens. The instructors craft a curriculum that makes the discovery of international politics stimulating and enjoyable. World cultures and issues come alive through historical material, contemporary accounts, and multimedia presentations. Classroom teaching and individual research projects go hand-in-hand with lively group discussions and problem-solving sessions.

Enrollment

There are approximately 100 students in each session.

Daily Schedule

	7:30–8:30 8:45–9:00 9:15–10:15 10:30–11:45 12:00–1:00 1:15–2:30 2:45–4:00 4:15–5:15 5:30–6:30 6:45–8:00 8:15–11:00 Breakfast Morning Meeting Class Session 1 Class Session 2 Lunch Class Session 3 Class Session 4 Activities/Sports/Free Time Dinner Evening Options Free Time/Entertainment
	Each program’s schedule may vary from the sample given above.

Extra Opportunities and Activities

Girls First takes full advantage of the long summer days and Madeira’s lovely, expansive campus in creating both organized and optional activities for the afternoons and evenings. Staff members’ ideas, as well as student suggestions, contribute to forming a wide range of options, emphasizing social interaction, fun, and relaxation. Popular activities include a starlight tour of the Washington monuments, dining at ethnic restaurants in Georgetown, going to an WNBA Mystics game, seeing a show at the Wolf Trap Performing Arts Center, or visiting the Kennedy Center.

Facilities

Girls live in double rooms in Madeira’s six attractive dormitories that combine modern conveniences with turn-of-the-century architectural charm. Each 25–30 girl house at Madeira has its own technology center, laundry room, and lounge. Students eat thoughtfully prepared, healthy, gourmet meals in a spacious, newly renovated dining hall. The forty-six classrooms at Madeira include a broad range of laboratory, computer, and multimedia features suited for the instructors’ innovative educational purposes and the students’ educational needs.

Medical Care

Medical care is available 24 hours a day at nearby hospital facilities. All participants must submit comprehensive medical forms and proof of insurance.

Costs

The tuition for each two-week session is $2395.

Financial Aid

No financial aid is available at this time.

Transportation

Airport pick-up and drop-off are available at either Washington-Reagan National Airport (DCA) or Washington-Dulles International Airport (IAD) for an additional fee.

Application Timetable

Inquiries are welcome at any time. Applications are accepted until June 1. After June 1, acceptance to the program is based on availability, and applications must include a late fee of $100.