Training Institute

Workshop-style programming for girls and nonbinary youth.

Our two- or four-session Training Institute programs empower students to become active leaders for positive change in their schools and communities. Developed using evidence-based research, the curriculum aims to increase students’ understanding of cultural norms and media literacy, ultimately building a stronger sense of belonging and positively impacting their mental health.

By guiding students through the process of identifying issues they care about, analyzing root causes, developing actionable plans, and putting those plans into motion, the program helps students develop the confidence and skills to be effective agents of change within their school and community. This approach not only fosters student leadership, agency, and civic engagement, but also teaches critical thinking, problem-solving, and project management skills.

The program aligns with Maine’s learning standards for social-emotional development and career readiness, providing an engaging, hands-on complement to academic curricula. The flexible nature of the curriculum allows Hardy Girls’ experienced facilitators to work closely with educators to ensure the content is relevant and impactful for students.

By empowering students to make meaningful changes, the Hardy Girls Training Institute presents an excellent opportunity to support the next generation of student leaders, and to improve the social and emotional wellbeing of our students.

If you’re interested in learning more about the Hardy Girls Training Institute, please email our Program Director, Kathy Paradis at kathy@hardygirls.org. To begin the scheduling process right away, please submit your information via this form. We will be in touch soon after to discuss scheduling and pricing.

Here's where we've been most recently!

North Yarmouth Academy
Trenton Elementary School
Freeport Middle School
Colby Cares About Kids
Maine Family Planning Conference
Pemetic Elementary School

Maine Family Planning Conference
Pemetic Elementary School
Youth Policy Leadership Forum
Girls Day at the Statehouse
Chewonki
Cape Elizabeth Middle School

What our participants tell us about our trainings & workshops