While it’s true that the world is populated by plenty of badass female musicians (Alice Bag, Exene Cervenka, and Shannon Shaw, to name just a few), it’s also true that punk and rock ‘n’ roll bands are still dominated by dudes. And for young ladies new to a respective music scene, that lack of female presence can be enough to make joining a band seem inconceivable — and being a passive audience member feel like it’s par for the course. That’s why Bay Area Girls Rock Camp — a weeklong program for eight- to eighteen-year-old girls that teaches them how to play instruments, form bands, write songs, and play a live show — is possibly the most female-empowering summer camp out there. What’s more, the nonprofit also hosts a three-day Ladies Rock Camp for women over eighteen — because, after all, you’re never too old (or too female) to rock.
.Best Program to Engage Youth
Bay Area Girls Rock Camp