Summer Intensive 2026 · July 6–24 · Impact Summary
Sixteen girls arrived nervous.
They left certain.
Every scholar in our inaugural Summer Intensive completed an end-of-summer reflection. In their own words, the change was not primarily academic — it was the moment each girl decided she was allowed to take up space.
100%
Survey completion
All 16 scholars responded — every voice in the cohort is represented here.
4.6/5
Overall experience
Average rating, with 69% of scholars scoring the program a 5.
94%
Left in a positive state
15 of 16 chose a word like proud, grateful, confident, or prepared.
The shift, in one word
We asked each scholar for one word describing her first day, then one word describing how she feels now. Nothing captures the program’s effect more plainly.
July 6 — 88% arrived anxious
nervous · scared · anxious · overwhelmed · uncomfortable · pessimistic · awkward
July 24 — how they feel now
certified · proud · grateful · confident · peaceful · prepared · excited · comfortable · happy · amazing
In their words — all sixteen scholars
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What grew
Asked to name three strengths they discovered or deepened, scholars converged on a single cluster: the courage to be seen and heard.
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Where exposure led
Every scholar could name a track she felt drawn to — and defend why. At fourteen, that articulation is the outcome; the distribution will keep moving.
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Journalism and STEM produced the clearest turning points: one scholar found a career she now names as her goal after interviewing CNN’s Sara Sidner; another cited the newsroom exercise as the first work she could picture doing for a living; our scholar most interested in STEM chose the track to build toward becoming a surgeon, and left the Lincoln Hospital visit more eager to learn than she arrived. The teleprompter session became the cohort’s most-cited moment of collective support.
The moment it clicked
Asked to describe a moment they saw themselves differently, scholars pointed overwhelmingly at presenting their work aloud — brand boards, future-self boards, teleprompter reads — and at site visits to CNN and Accenture, where a dream job stopped being abstract. Almost none of them named a lesson or a worksheet. The turning point was consistently the moment a girl was asked to stand up, be looked at, and speak — and discovered the room was on her side.
“I got to be exposed to one of my dream jobs.”
Zanna
“When I presented my project to everyone, I felt more confident out of my comfort zone.”
Cali
What we heard
We asked for the hard feedback too.
Three requests came up repeatedly when scholars were asked what they wished we had done differently.
Deepen creative arts
69% chose the Creative Arts track, and several noted that site visits skewed toward business and journalism. They asked for more theater, dance, fashion, and design.
More time to breathe
Scholars asked for longer lunches, outdoor time, and unstructured space to bond — noting long stretches seated in one room.
Better food, real choice
The most consistent request across the cohort: more variety and healthier options at mealtimes.
“We are actively working on every one of these. On food especially — we know the economical route of pizza, chicken fingers, and fries is not the healthiest way to feed girls we are asking to show up sharp every morning. We are seeking a long-term nutrition partner so that the table matches the ambition of the room.”
Rita Omokha, Founder & Executive Director
The summer, in motion
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Watch the Summer Intensive recap
July 6–24, 2026 · Cohort ’26
Recap video coming soon
We are finishing the edit. Check back shortly, or email info@herclimb.org for a copy.
Watch the Summer Intensive recap video at impact.herclimb.org/summer-26
“I see a family I can make. I see my sisters.”
Shanarani, Cohort ’26
Your support built this cohort’s first summer. The fall session begins Saturday, September 12.
Her Climb · A 501(c)(3) nonprofit · EIN 39-4670274 · herclimb.org
Based on end-of-summer reflections collected July 2026 from all 16 Summer Intensive scholars. Quotations are scholars’ own words, attributed by first name only.