Girls Rock! Chicago Returns For Seventh Awesome Year

By Sarah Cobarrubias in Arts & Entertainment on Jun 7, 2012 3:00PM

Girls Rock! Chicago was founded in 2005 with the goal of educating young girls about music and encouraging creative expression through week-long summer rock camps. Still going strong, the volunteer-run non-profit is returning this summer for its seventh year and continuing its efforts to assemble a rock and roll army of girls aged 8-16.

This year, there’ll be two camp sessions, each in the last full week of June and July. Each session is expected to host at least 76 campers, who will receive instrument instruction and composition coaching, among a list of other activities. Campers are divided into bands and take on the goal of composing an original song by the end of the week.

Both camp sessions will celebrate with end-of-camp extravaganzas—two shows during which the bands from each camp session can perform their original compositions and show off their newfound musical talents. The first session’s show is Saturday, June 30, and the second session’s is Saturday, July 28, both at the Bottom Lounge.

Tickets cost $10, but proceeds from the shows will go to Girls Rock! Chicago, so attending is guaranteed to give you the warm and fuzzies that come with donating to a good cause. If you’re looking to contribute in other ways, the org is always looking for volunteers for the camp sessions and other times of the year, though they especially need guitar instructors to teach at this summer’s camp. You can also donate cashmoney or instruments—they’re particularly in need of drum kits.