Fourteen-year-old Megan's first week at EXPLO has been chock-full of food, feminism, and flipping houses — and she's ready for more.
If I had to convince someone to come to EXPLO, I'd tell them the food here is awesome, because everyone loves food. I'd also tell them that we get to be so independent here; the instructors respect your age and the fact that you want to be alone sometimes. I've been to other summer camps where that isn't the case.
This session I'm taking Interior Remodeling. I love this class because it's real. We learn about all the different parts of remodeling: we have a floor plan, a budget, and costs to consider. We got to talk to a plumber and electrician to discuss why those things need to be prioritized when remodeling. The fact that we get to talk to real professionals and work with actual numbers makes it less summer camp-y, and more like real life.
My other course is Gender Portrayal in the Media. In that class, we look at movies and the gender stereotypes that they're filled with. We look at advertisements and how they impact our own definition of beauty. It's really interesting because we get to see how gender really does play a role in everything. I love the class because it's a group of girls who are all really supportive and thoughtful.
I love EXPLO because everyone who's here wants to be here. All the people from my classes are so enthusiastic and excited to be there, and it makes class even more fun. That includes my instructors- their love for what they teach makes us love it, too.
Charlotte Steinberg