W.A.V.E. babies

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by Naomi Bloch

What's a teenage girl to do with her summers in this modern age, rife with ever-evolving gender roles and nary a mentor in sight? If Girl Guides camp doesn't appeal, the next best thing just might be a two-week leadership camp called W.A.V.E.S, offered under the Q-PIRG McGill umbrella to girls from 12-17 years.

W.A.V.E.S, which stands for "Women Active Vocal Effective Strong," is offering two 10-day sessions featuring workshops by local movers and shakers of the female persuasion. "We're hoping to get a lot of community activists in who can provide a positive message in an environment where ideas can be freely discussed," says one of the camp's facilitators, Shannon Devine, herself a women's studies student.

The sessions, which run July 3-16 and July 23-Aug. 3, cost $80, but bursaries are available for anyone who asks. "Basically, when they fill out the registration form we just ask that if they have the means to please pay for it themselves. Otherwise they can just check the box to request a bursary," says Devine. Unfortunately, the project is not a registered charity and they're on the lookout for benefactors willing to contribute to the bursary fund. "Last year, 16 out of 20 participants used the bursary fund. We want the program to be open to girls from all socio-economic backgrounds." For more info call 398-8976 or e-mail wavesmontreal@hotmail.com.