A Message from the Director
Dear Parents of Guardians of Delegates to Nevada Girls State,
When I was asked to be a delegate to Nevada Girls State, the one-sided conversation I had with my parents went something like this:
“Mom, Dad, I am going to this program for a week. I need you to sign this paper, and this paper, please write me a check, and I need you to drop me off and pick me up.”
My parents, bless them, trusted my teachers and shipped me off to a program up in the mountains for a week. They were not entirely certain what the program was about or what I would be doing up there, but they let me go anyway.
Now, several years later, I find myself in the position of Director of this great program and I would like to try to address some of the questions you might have about where your daughter is going to be spending a week of her summer.
Nevada Girls State is a week long, fast paced academic program in a camp setting, sponsored by the American Legion Auxiliary, Department of Nevada. Throughout the week the delegates hear from different law makers, elected officials, and government personnel about their roles in the shaping of how our communities function. These young women learn how voting works and participate in elections. They learn about the various elected and appointed offices on the city, county, and state level, and they run for election. They learn to write legislation and participate in a mock legislative session at the end of the week. And of course one of the best aspects of the program is the friendships they will make with young women from all over the State of Nevada.
Many women who have been active in Nevada’s political history are graduates of a Girls State program such as:
- Frankie Sue Del Papa, former Attorney General for Nevada – attended Nevada Girls State
- Sue Wagner, former Lieutenant Governor for Nevada, the first woman in our state to hold that position – attended Arizona Girls State
- Cheryl Lau, former Secretary of State – attended Girls State
Nevada Girls State is held up at the University of Nevada, Reno’s 4-H camp in Stateline, Nevada. We love this location for several reasons: (1) we are the only group up at the camp during our time there; (2) the camp is located right on Lake Tahoe which is a gorgeous setting; (3) emergency services, should they be needed, are just down the street from camp; and most importantly (4) it is a secure location, entirely fenced in with restricted gate access.
We would like to remind you again, that your daughter is expected attend all parts of Nevada Girls State. The program is such that she will need to complete the full week to receive the maximum benefits from it.
If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to call or email me any time.
Very truly yours,
Daela Gibson, Director of Nevada Girls State
(775) 224-0073
NevadaGirlsState@gmail.com
Common Questions from Parents/Guardians
How much does Nevada Girls State cost?
- $250 Registration Fee
- $40 Materials Fee
- $75 Bus Fee (only applicable to students taking the bus from points South of Silver Springs, including the greater Las Vegas area)
Fees may be submitted by anyone on behalf of a student, including (but not limited to) parents/guardians, schools, American Legion Auxiliary Units, civic organizations, or elected officials. We encourage all students to try to find sponsorship and will help students find a sponsor if they need one.
What if my child winds up not being able to attend?
From the time of registration, we assume your child will be attending the program and we make our plans accordingly. If something occurs that prevents your child from attending, please contact the program AS SOON AS POSSIBLE!
NevadaGirlsState@gmail.com | (775) 513-4681
Fees are non-refundable if notice of non-attendance is received any time after May 20th.
What if we have a family emergency while our child is attending?
If there is a family emergency and you don’t intend to bring your child home from camp, please do not inform them of the emergency. By telling them, you have only separated them from a necessary and important support system and created an extremely stressful environment. If you do intend to pick up your child early, please contact the Director to inform her of the situation immediately, and tell your child only once you have arrived at the campground.
What is the procedure for picking up my child at the end of the program?
As part of our Waivers Packets, you are will need to indicate on the Transportation Form who will be picking up your child at the end of the program, whether that is at the camp or at one of the bus stops. In order for your child to be released, at least one of the people indicated on the form will be required to show identification. Your child will not be released to a taxi, Uber, Lyft, or other rideshare program, or to anyone not indicated on the Transportation Form. If you need to change who will be picking up child after the Waivers have been submitted, please contact us at NevadaGirlsState@gmail.com or (775) 513-4681. You will also need to provide a new signed Transportation Form.