ROCK 'N' ROLL CAMP FOR GIRLS We Put the 'AMP' in CAMP! OUR MISSION The Rock’n’Roll Camp for Girls, a 501(c)3 non-profit, builds girls self-esteem through music creation and performance. Providing workshops and technical training, we create leadership opportunities, cultivate a supportive community of peers and mentors, and encourage social change and the development of life skills. OUR HISTORY The very first Rock 'n' Roll Camp for Girls Summer Camp took place in August, 2001, on the Portland State University Campus. Since then, the organization has grown into a year round institute where girls learn music in a positive environment and develop into strong women who play awesome music. Shortly after the 2002 Summer Camp in the NAYA building on N. Mississippi, the Rock Camp moved to its current location in an old industrial sewing machine factory. Volunteers spent the better part of winter and spring of 2003 to prepare for that year's Summer Camp by cleaning, painting, building walls, and setting up rooms for instruction and band practice. As in '01 and '02, hundreds of girls between the ages of 8-18 sent in applications in hopes of getting accepted into the coolest summer music camps for girls in the world. Immediately after Camp, the Girls Rock Institute opened its doors to 7 girls in the fall of 2003. While the first session of the after school program was limited in number, it was not small in spirit. GRI has grown to offer instrument instruction, band formation, band practice, workshops, private lessons, band coaching, and more to hundreds of girls in Portland and the surrounding areas. The first Ladies Rock Camp, April 2004, answered the most asked question: Why didn't this camp exist when I was a girl? In the course of 3 days, 20 women formed bands, learned their instrument, and had a rockin' Showcase performance. The event generated enough funds to support financial aid requests for the upcoming Summer Camp season. In response to the growing interest in Summer Camp, a second session was added in 2004. As always, each camp was entirely operated by a dedicated force of talented volunteer organizers, instructors, coaches, band managers, workshop leaders, and support staff. After another great year of GRI, LRC, and Summer Camp, early leadership changed hands. In October of 2005, founder Misty Mc Elroy resigned to pursue other endeavors. At this time, several long term volunteers and GRI instructors formed a crew of staff members dedicated to continue providing and improving upon RnRC4G programs. In 2006, RnRC4G experienced incredible growth and success. TACS (a local service to non profits) joined saff and the Board of Directors to further develop strategic planning, board development, and new programs. Once again, GRI saw increased enrollment, and campers joined waiting lists in hopes of attending one of the two Summer Camp sessions. With incredible support from the community, parents, students, campers, musicians, and foundations, RnRC4G began forming a new program: the Girls Rock Camp Alliance. GRCA founding members include 7 girls rock camps from around the world and share in common a mission to help build self esteem and leadership skills for girls through music education and performance. In 2007, RnRC4G brought camper enrollment up to 250 girls over 3 sessions of Summer Camp. The organization also added an on-site, all volunteer/intern run record label and distro called 16 Records, as well as a year round intern program, Youth Advisory Board, Hip Hop Elements, Summer Sampler, and further developed Band Center services. It is a very exciting time for Rock Camp. The board of directors, staff, and volunteer crew continue to grow right alongside student and camper enrollment. More growth is expected upon the release of "Girls Rock! The Movie" and Chronicle book release due in spring of 2008.