The Circle Program provides girls from low-income New Hampshire families with new opportunities to learn the skills, courage and confidence they need to handle the challenges in their lives. We do this through a unique combination of adult and peer support that is delivered through our year-round mentoring and residential summer camp programs.

     The Circle Program’s philosophy is closely aligned with Positive Youth Development, which emphasizes building assets and skills. Positive Youth Development, a research-based approach (Lerner et al., 2005), focuses on promoting healthy developmental potential and outcomes.

     The goals, referred to as the 6 C’s, seek to:

• Enhance social, emotional, cognitive and vocationalcompetence

• Improve self-esteem, self-confidence and self-efficacy

• Build and strengthen connections with other people and institutions

• Enhance character development through increased self-control, decreased involvement in risky behaviors and respect for society’s rules

• Increase capacity for caring through empathy and identification with others

• Give girls opportunities to belong and “give back” through community service; their contribution.

     These 6 core principles provide the foundation for the Circle Program’s summer camp and year-round mentoring programs.