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100% of proceeds benefits the Boys & Girls Club of Oshkosh
The Character & Empowerment program is for Club girls ages 7-9 (capped at 50 participants) consisting of 6 classes that run during the summer and are taught by community partners and Club staff.
The classes in the program cover a variety of topics including healthy self-esteem (confidence and empowerment), positive values (showing respect, being kind to others), healthy lifestyles (exercising and eating well), setting goals (working hard in school, dreaming big), as well as celebrating differences and self-expression.
The goal of the program is to instill good character, leadership and healthy life skills in young girls. We want them to feel empowered to be their best selves and reach for their dreams.
According to Dove’s Real Girls, Real Pressure: A National Report on the State of Self-Esteem conducted in 2008, “Seven in ten girls believe they are not good enough or do not measure up in some way, including their looks, performance in school and relationships with friends and family members.” The Club seeks to encourage girl members to embrace that who they are as people matters, that their voice needs to be heard and that with hard work and determination they can achieve their dreams and make a positive difference in this world.
Through the programs’ classes, the girls learn to care for themselves both inside and out and to know that they should respect what’s on the outside but that there is a higher premium on who they are on the inside.
2026 Character & Empowerment Classes:
Wave Robotics: Build the Future – June 15th
Twelve student engineers from the Oshkosh Area School District’s nationally acclaimed FIRST Robotics team take over the Club for four rotating STEAM stations — paper airplanes, binary code beading, BriQ LEGO builds, and LED bracelets. The afternoon closes with a live demo of Wave’s full competition robot, built in six and a half weeks and tested on the national stage.
Service League of Oshkosh: Confidence, Poise & You – June 22nd
The Service League brings their expertise in etiquette, self-esteem, and personal presence to help members feel confident in any room. From table manners to carrying yourself with pride, this session builds the kind of inner and outer confidence that opens doors.
Gabrielle Luloff: Wance Your Way to Joy – June 29th
Walk + Dance = Wance. Oshkosh-based creator of the Wance movement and TEDxOshkosh speaker Gabrielle Luloff built a philosophy around one joyful idea: when you stop worrying about what people think and start moving on your own terms, something powerful happens. Equal parts movement, laughter, and self-discovery.
Audrey Leigh, WLUK-TV Fox 11: Weather Science & Being Prepared, Not Scared – July 6th
Fox 11 meteorologist Audrey Leigh demystifies tornadoes, thunderstorms, and extreme heat — and shows members what it takes to become a weather scientist. Smart, skilled, and ready for anything, she models what it looks like to turn curiosity into a career.
Oshkosh Corporation: Discover Your Strengths – July 13th
Employee volunteers from one of Oshkosh’s most iconic companies lead members through an exploration of identity, self-esteem, and personal strengths — rooted in the Good to Give Back program. Members walk away recognizing what makes them exceptional and imagining the many paths available to them.
Grand Finale: Tea-rivia & Celebration – July 20th
Members put the finishing touches on their guest gifts, revisit the summer’s lessons in a lively round of Tearivia (the Character & Empowerment Edition!), and get primed for the July 29 Afternoon Tea. A moment to reflect, celebrate growth, and cheer each other on.
July 29th – Afternoon Tea!
