Announcement
Winter 2025 class registration now open!
Registrations and applications for our Winter 2025 after-school programs are now open! All classes will be held in-person at our workspace in West Berkeley.
Fear Less. Build More.
Girls Garage is a nonprofit design and construction school for girls and gender-expansive youth ages 9-18. Through classes in carpentry, welding, architecture, and activist art, we support and equip a community of fearless youth who are building the world they want to see. Established 2013.
Speak up. Stand out. Make trouble.
Upcoming Sessions
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After-School Program
Protest + Print
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After-School Program
Carpentry + Wood
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After-School Program
Advanced Design/Build
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Summer Program
Young Women's Design and Building Institute
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Summer Program
Builder Bootcamp
Testimonials & Impact
“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"
“When I showed up for my first Protest and Print class, I wasn’t sure who I was, what I wanted to do, or why I joined. But I was met with open arms and surrounded by girls and instructors who showed me my purpose and gave me a sense of belonging. The creation of my first piece was just the beginning of my journey to making sure my voice was heard and representing those who were being misrepresented or not represented at all.”
— Aisha, 16 years old
“I loved being able to help the community and form bonds with other girls and non binary people. It was so nice to have a space where everyone listened to each other and genuinely wanted to understand one another. ”
— Vivian, 17 years old
“When I'm here, I do all the things people tell me I can't.”
— Solyana, 15 years old
680
participating youth since 2013
190
projects completed since 2013
100%
teen students attending at no cost
Get the Girls Garage Book!
Girls Garage: How To Use Any Tool, Tackle Any Project, and Build The World You Want To See
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