In the weeklong summer session of Advanced Design/Build, our teens built a 200-sq-ft. greenhouse for Growing Leaders, a youth gardening entrepreneurship program. From framing and raising 8-foot walls to squaring the structure and installing roof rafters, our teens worked with the efficiency of a seasoned construction crew. They even managed to paint and attach a 42-foot-long wraparound mural to the greenhouse!
*“Girls” refers to gender-expansive youth (cis girls, trans girls, non-binary youth, gender non-conforming youth, gender queer youth, and any girl-identified youth).
“Being in an all-girls space has been a beautiful experience. I will never forget all the support given to me through this program, and all the memories will forever live on in my heart. I got to connect with so many girls and women who have the power to do whatever they put their minds to, and it’s truly been inspirational. I loved being able to connect with so many other girls from different backgrounds, and I’ve created unbreakable bonds. I came into Girls Garage not knowing anyone and came out with sisters.”
— Ameera
“It was a true bonding experience to build the toolbox together. We both felt empowered by what we had built. Learning these skills in the company of other women is crucial to feeling comfortable in your workspace.”
— Melissa + Ayla, Mother/Daughter Builder Bootcamp Participants"
“Girls Garage has opened up doors to so many different worlds that I would have not known existed if it wasn’t for this program. It shows every girl that they have in each of them a person who can do anything. They give you tools that can be used throughout your whole life along with an amazing community that cheers you on every step of the way.”
— Iris
“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
participating girls since 2013
projects completed since 2013
teen girls 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, Founder of Girls Garage