22nd Annual Girls Day Out

Hosted by Tompkins Cortland Community College | Presented by EDF Renewables Homer Solar Energy Center

CFCU Community Credit Union speaking with a participant about career paths in banking.

On Saturday, March 9, girls aged 10-14 from the Cortland area came together to enjoy a unique day of activities designed to engage and motivate them to explore leadership and career path opportunities.

In the morning, all of the girls attended an interactive career fair to partake in hands-on activities and speak to female representatives from 25 organizations regarding education and career paths. See the full list of career fair participants here.

After the Career Fair, the girls split up into smaller groups and participated in 40-minute rotations of science, music, and art activities. Kristen Avery, TC3 alum and lab technician at the Ithaca Wastewater Treatment Facility, led the science activity with samples she collected from a stream on campus earlier that morning. The girls learned how to classify the organisms from the samples using the naked eye and a microscope to test the water quality.

Practicing suturing with Guthrie Cortland Medical Center at the Career Fair.
Looking for organisms from a stream sample to examine further and classify in the science activity.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Former music therapist and Cortland Prevention Resources Director Melissa Simmons taught the basics of playing the ukelele. They explored how fun and exciting but also therapeutic learning a musical instrument can be.

Finally, local artist and longtime YWCA supporter Liz Sharp facilitated the art project, which involved the girls creating their own personal flags with bandanas.  They started with their names and thought of empowering words to describe themselves to create what resembles an acrostic poem.

At the end of the day, the girls jumped in the pool and had some fun with friends!

Creating their empowering personal flag on YWCA persimmon bandanas during the art project.
Focusing on learning to play the song “Best Day of My Life” by the American Authors on the ukulele during the music lesson.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Check out the 2024 Girls Day Out Facebook Album!

2024 Girls Day Out Sponsors:

Platinum & Presenting Sponsor

Silver Sponsors

Beck Equipment

NYCM Insurance

Plan First Technologies

Thoma Development Consultants

Visions Federal Credit Union

Bronze Sponsors
James J. Baranello Law Office
Cortland Health Center
Fadden & Associates P.T., PLLC
Family Planning of South Central NY
First National Bank Dryden
Josie’s Journey
Sciarabba Walker & Co., LLP
Seven Valley Dental
Sarah Tillotson, LCSW-R

Special thanks to YWCA Cortland’s 2024 Persimmon Partners: