Lemon Aides in the Schools

Program Overview

Lemon Aide in the Schools is a weekly after school program offered throughout the school year. Our leadership development program empowers girls to actively learn about themselves and their ability to make a difference in our community through mentorship, project leadership, teamwork and community service. In addition to increased self-confidence and self-esteem, our program promotes life skills such as goal setting, effective communication, problem solving, informed decision making, project planning and implementation and relationship building.

Mentorship:

Positive female mentorship is a key component of our leadership program. In a school environment, teachers and staff are in a unique position as campus role models to lead the program. In addition, as our girls grow in the program, students will become mentors to their fellow Lemon Aides and role models throughout the school. This tiered approach promotes self confidence and self esteem and in turn our girls gain the tools to advocate for themselves, work collectively, build relationships and give back to their community.

Components of a Leadership Meetings:

Balanced Snacks: Snack time is an interactive and communal experience for our Lemon Aides to refuel their bodies. At each meeting, girls learn about healthy eating by following a balanced snack recipe. Our girls take great pride in being able to easily replicate snacks at home and teach others.

(Emphasis making snacks). Balance snacks are provided and give girls the opportunity to refuel. Throughout the year, we teach the girls about healthy eating and teach them to make well balanced snacks that they can make at home.  

Team Building: Team building activities focus on bringing the group together, effective communication and problem solving and leadership skills.

Self-Care: A strong leader understands the importance of selfcare. Our curriculum includes lessons on healthy habits such as nutrition, hygiene, mental and physical health.

Leadership Training: Throughout the year girls gain self-confidence and self-esteem by growing and discovering their unique personal strengths and understanding those of their peers. Service projects throughout the year allows the girls the opportunity to gain hands on experience in areas such as program planning, decision making, implementing, and evaluating service projects set throughout the year. Our girls have a greater understanding of their communities needs and how to make a sustainable impact.

Service Projects and Implementation: The first semester girls focus on making a difference on campus and implementing programs such as reading to kids participating in afterschool care and acts of kindness for teachers and administration. The second semester our girls form small groups in which they select a beneficiary agency from the broader community. Small groups educate their peers through a slide show presentation and through planning a service project from start to finish. Current projects include a canned food drive, making pet toys for an animal shelter and creating artwork for senior-living communities.