Oh sweet summer, how we love you!!

Oh sweet summer, how we love you! School has come to an end and the Mariposa Center for Girls is buzzing with excitement and fun! Our annual summer camp is something our girls look forward to all year. Activities intentionally engage the girls, teaching teamwork and resiliency, promoting independence, enriching academic acquisition, and encouraging a connection with the beautiful island we call home.

Some highlights of summer include our surf program, biking tours, off site trips to the beach and to the river, music class, learning English from our International volunteers, yoga, tennis, volleyball and swimming- just to name a few!!

The start of summer camp welcomed 19 new Mariposa girls to the center. Ranging in age from 6 to 10, these new girls are filled with awe and excitement, experiencing what Mariposa has to offer for the first time. After an orientation with their parents and a day alone at the center, they have immersed themselves and are thriving right along with the other 120 girls who are attending each day.

Yoandra, who just started attending, is 6 years old. When asked what she thought about being able to start at Mariposa, she said, “It makes me very, very happy and I really like yoga and going in the pool!”

Neimi, age 8, also claims the pool as one of her favorite activities, saying that she “cannot wait to learn how to swim well so that she can surf when she gets bigger!”

One of the most special parts of summer camp is having all of our girls at the center at one time. This also means that we have many sisters that are participating together that usually would not during the school year. Watching them take care of one another and set examples through encouragement and compassion, highlights the essence of what we do. Fabiola, one of our Mariposa Volando’s, has been working at the Mariposa Center for Girls since she graduated last June. Her immense pride over her two younger sisters- Katiana and Rose Mirlanda - is evident daily. She gracefully balances being one of our beloved swim instructors while watching over and encouraging her sisters to engage in everything Mariposa has to offer.

Summer is a time for fun, friends, sun, water, and learning. We are thankful for all these things and so, so thankful for all of our donors who help make our summer program possible