A Look at 2014 So Far…

This year the GRC team has been working non-stop to make 2014’s camp even better then last year’s. It’ll be a hard task, but we are ready to do it!

Getting ready for camp doesn’t mean waiting patiently until July. We’ve been out and about getting Columbia excited about another inspiring year of Girls Rock goodness. Here’s the highlight reel of where we’ve been and what we’ve been up to so far in 2014.

January found us getting back to our Riot Grrl roots with a screening of The Punk Singer at the Nickelodeon Theater. Members of Haus Werk and Those Lavender Whales (forming Haus Whales for the night) opened the evening exploring the story of Bikini Kill singer, Kathleen Hanna, and the Riot Grrl movement. Following the documentary, a panel of musicians and scholars led a rousing discussion with the audience. The night was another great opportunity to connect with the community and further GRC’s educational mission.

Hauswhales rocked some Bikini Kill tunes for the crowd, and the panel made up of  past GRC counselors, teachers and musicians.

Top: Haus Whales rocking some Bikini Kill tunes for the crowd.  Bottom: Panel made up of past GRC counselors, teachers and musicians. Right: a killer poster for the screening of The Punk Singer, the Kathleen Hanna Story.

With the start of spring Girls Rock got the chance to march in the annual Mardi Gras Parade as part of the Mardi Gras Queen’s court. Volunteers, musicians, past campers and parents got to reconnect and march the parade route with the rest of the community.

Campers and Volunteers made signs and banners to celebrate Girls Rock in the Mardi Gras Parade!

Campers and Volunteers made signs and banners to celebrate Girls Rock in the Mardi Gras Parade!

 

A great day to march with campers and friends at Mardi Gras!

A great day to march with campers and friends at Mardi Gras!

Friend and longtime supporter of GRC, Jasper Magazine, welcomed GRC as a beneficiary of their latest magazine release celebrating Women’s History month. Girls Rock organized talented female musicians to perform that night and debuted our brand new photo booth!

Ladies who rock at the Jasper release party- from left to right; Jade Blocker, Prairie Willows, Beth Dickerson,  and Stefanie Santana

Ladies who rock at the Jasper release party- from left to right: Jade Blocker, The Prairie Willows, Beth Dickerson, and Stefanie Santana

 

GRC organizers rocking out in the photo both! Join us in the booth

GRC organizers rocking out in the photo both! Join us in the booth this spring to take your best rock photo!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

While we were busy in town this spring, three of our dedicated volunteers and organizers made the trek up to Philadelphia to join other Girls Rock Camp representatives at the annual Girls Rock Camp Alliance Conference. The organizers had the opportunity to learn from other camp organizers, musicians and volunteers from across the country. We cannot wait to take the learning that we gained from the conference and put it to good use during camp this July.

Girls Rock Columbia is now an official member of the Girls Rock Camp Alliance!

Girls Rock Columbia is now an official member of the Girls Rock Camp Alliance!

We brought what we learned back to Colatown to help put on our very first Gear Drive and fundraiser show held (and helped!) by the good folks at Hunter Gatherer. The crowd came out to see great performances by Buried Beds and My Brother My Sister. We hosted our very first live auction event that night, auctioning off incredible items like swag from Columbi-Yeah, prints from The Half and Half and a dance party from the Greater Columbia Society for the Preservation of Soul. We had a blast raising funds for camp while raising awareness for our programs!

Camp organizer, Mollie leading the auction and pepping up the crowd.

Camp organizer, Mollie, leading the auction and pepping up the crowd.

Girls Rock was pleased to be invited to participate in the opening home bout of the Richland County Regulators this past weekend. Girls Rock representatives were on hand to meet with interested parents, community members and youngsters to find out more about camp and how they can get involved. The Regulators named GRC their official charity of the night.

We’ve been busy all spring prepping for camp, bringing in new volunteers, and learning from each other and our other ally camps and partners. July is coming up fast and there is so much more to do, but we are here to roll up our sleeves and  get to work, come see us when we are out and about, and always, feel free to lend us a hand and join our team!

Until then, rock on. Love, Girls Rock Columbia.

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