The YWCA offers both a Girls Center for inner-city girls from Lawrence as well as off-site programs for girls in surrounding communities. Off-site programs can be offered in collaboration with other community organizations or schools are each tailored to the needs of local girls.

Gender-specific programs for girls are designed to help girls 6 to 17 experience success and build the confidence, skills and motivation necessary to make healthy choices in adolescence and in later life.

YWCA Girls Programs are designed for learning, exploration, and celebration — to help girls build the physical, social and academic skills necessary for success. Girls enroll in age-appropriate after school, summer, and evening programs throughout the year.

Physical Fitness
Opportunities to learn a physical skill, play sports and be a part of a team build a lifetime commitment to physical fitness as well as both the competitive and cooperative skills so important to teamwork. The YWCA offers swimming lessons, recreational swimming, sports, karate, swimming and Double Dutch. The program is inclusive, helping girls at all levels of ability acquires skill and confidence.

Exploration and City Camp
The YWCA encourages girls of all ages to explore their interests, to try new activities and to strengthen their creative abilities as well as their academic performance. The Girls Center’s regular after school program offers art, dance, music, dramatic play and public speaking activities. The YWCA also runs special enrichment programs throughout the year such as "Girl Power" and “Girls Zone” conferences dedicated to the needs of older girls. City Camp, the Girls Center summer program, allows girls to explore the City and surrounding communities through trips to museums, natural environments and recreational parks.

Family Fun
Girls Center participants are often joined by their families to celebrate accomplishment, explore new skills or enjoy recreational activities at the YWCA. Mother / Daughter Nights create lasting memories and trust between mothers and their adolescent daughters at a time when many girls take on risky behaviors. The YWCA celebrates Girl of the Month and Year, hosts an annual Talent Show and engages Girls Center families in the YWCA’s National Week Without Violence.

Technology
The YWCA’s TechGirls Program is offered periodically to introduce girls to computer software and hardware in an intensive program designed to build girls’ technology literacy, competency and confidence. Throughout the year, other gender specific girls programs are offered through the Youth Technology Programs.

Prevention & Esteem-Building Programs
Activities to help girls avoid dangerous or unhealthy behaviors and become role models for others are integrated into all Girls Center programs. Girls receive anti-violence training and participate in pregnancy and substance abuse prevention lessons.