Feel Good Friday - GirlVentures

Summer is coming and for many people that means camping trips in the great outdoors. One group that brings young people into nature is today's Feel Good Friday organization, GirlVentures.

Founded in 1997 and based in San Francisco, GirlVentures "inspires girls to lead through outdoor adventure, inner discovery, and collective action." As explained on their website, "we envision a world where girls and women lead inclusive, resilient communities and where nature is accessible to everyone and conserved for future generations."

GirlVentures is built on the shared values of inclusion, integrity, empathy, creativity and community and their summer programs, ranging from 7 to 14 days, are targeted to girls from 6th to 12th grades. While hiking, kayaking and climbing through the Northern California wilderness, the girls and their mentors explore "identity, social justice, leadership, health, and the environment."

Surveys of participants show that after completing a course:

• 93% believe they can now be leaders
• 93% are more confident to be themselves regardless of what others think
• 92% believe their bodies can do more than they initially believed

All programs are offered on a sliding scale so that everyone has the opportunity to participate. During the school year options include rock climbing and a spring break course for girls of color. A list of online resources, books and other camps for boys and girls is available on the website year round.

To support the work of GirlVentures you can make a donation, volunteer and spread the word on social media by liking their Facebook page and following them on Twitter @GirlVentures.

Feel Good Friday - League to Save Lake Tahoe

I'm having a fabulous Friday and feeling good because I'm heading to a friend's wedding in Tahoe. That inspired me to make the environmental organization, League to Save Lake Tahoe the subject of today's Feel Good Friday.

Lake Tahoe, located in Northern California is the largest Alpine lake in North America. If you live in, or have ever visited California, you've likely seen the iconic blue sticker declaring the mission to "Keep Tahoe Blue". More details can be found on their website: "The League to Save Lake Tahoe is dedicated to protecting and restoring the environmental health, sustainability, and scenic beauty of the Lake Tahoe Basin. We focus on water quality and its clarity for the preservation of a pristine Lake for future generations."

Founded in 1957, "the League focus has been monitoring development and recreation plans, and working with local, state and federal lawmakers to save Lake Tahoe." With over 6,000 members in 46 states the League has helped secure millions of dollars of public funding, advocated for limited development on wetlands and led the effort to ban two-stroke jet skis.

The work of the League centers around four areas:

• combatting pollution
• promoting restoration
• tackling invasive species 
• shoreline protection

Specific and practical examples include sweeping and marking storm drains, increasing public transit and launching a bike share program, forest stewardship days, a program that trains visitors to identify and report aquatic invasive plants, regional stormwater monitoring and the traditional beach clean up.

If you're inspired to do your part to Keep Tahoe Blue you can donate, volunteer, shop (a bumper sticker is only $2) and follow the social media buzz by liking the Facebook page and following them on Twitter @KeepTahoeBlue.

Click here for more Tahoe fun facts and if you can, plan a visit!

Feel Good Friday - Detroit Impact

I've been in Detroit all week and wanted to look for a local organization to profile for Feel Good Friday. That led me to Detroit Impact.

As explained on their Twitter page, "Detroit Impact Goal; to train, coach, educate, equip, and engage youth who have shown potential in the areas of leadership, mentoring, counseling and advocacy."

Founded in 1991, their programs include academic assistance in the form of group and individual tutoring, life skills mentoring, a Microsoft Computer Learning Center, a Motown Writers Journalism Class, Remote Car Circuit for kids 6-12 and education on money matters.

They also have voter registration education workshops, pet care classes and community clean ups! Click here and scroll to the bottom to watch a news clip on their recent STEAM classes and kids making rockets from water bottles. Click here to learn about how they connect students with paid summer internships.

To support the youth of Detroit and the many programs run by Detroit Impact you can make a donation and show the social media love by liking their Facebook page and following them on Twitter @DetroitImpact91.