Empowerment: A simple word with a not so simple meaning by Avery Dermer mpowerment, according to Merriam-Webster, means, “to and the role it played in their lives. There are some common themes give authority or power to.” That definition, though, does in each of their stories – the supportive role of their parents, life not Ebegin to capture the personal meanings the word holds for many changing experiences and the influence of the natural world. people. Jay said that from The Beeline speaking to these important Camp Danbee, a seven-week sleep-away summer retreat for women it hopefully will show girls that they can do anything they girls in the Berkshire Mountains of western Massachusetts has a put their mind to and that they can be their best selves. long history of encouraging empowerment. At Danbee it’s called Camp Danbee has counselors that come from other countries “girl power.” This means that it is okay to be who you are. Campers to work with the young girls here. They and others share a common are reminded of this at each meal as they walk into the mess hall interest in helping these girls be independent. Many return year- and see the bright metal sign that proclaims, “Dance like no one is after-year and bring with them their own perspective on empowerment watching.” At Camp Danbee there is no “glass ceiling” to hit when of women. You will read what they have to say. trying new things. Danbee is a judge-free zone. Because of this, Danbee’s program directors bring with them years of experience girls have numerous opportunities to go outside their comfort zone, and expertise in such areas as theater, or gymnastics. With the to push themselves and cheer and dance, the spirit is catching. former that includes off-Broadway. With the latter, that includes Jay Toporoff, Director of coaching top female athletes Camp Danbee, has witnessed at the Division II level. They, and nurtured the evolution of too, have views on Danbee’s philosophy of girl empowerment. power, dating to when he Campers also return to became director in 1990. Danbee year-after-year at “I want to teach girls how the rate of 90 percent. The to communicate, collaborate, oldest are tenth graders and and compromise because I that is their final year. It’s believe these are skills they Danbee’s age ceiling. Many will use for the rest of their have been at Danbee eight lives,” he said. or nine years and during that He says he wants girls to time these girls became leave Danbee feeling they young women with views on can do infinite things they what empowerment means. never dreamed would These oldest girls will share become a reality. Not only those views. does he want them to do that We begin this report on for themselves, but to make empowerment by a difference through introducing you to four community service. remarkable women. “I want girls to learn how to problem solve and to be Four women who embody the essence of empowerment. Top Kit DesLauriers able to gain a real sense of left: Mariana Santos, Top right: Kit DesLauriers, Bottom left: empathy that allows them to Lisa Aire, Bottom right: Sy Montgomery Kit DesLauriers photo by Jimmy Chin; Mariana Santos photo courtesy of Chicas Ponderosas; Caballo; Sy Montgomery photo by Nic Bishop photo courtesy of Vista Lisa Aire You will meet Kit be kind toward others,” he DesLauriers, a ski said. mountaineer who was the Jay is clear about the message he gives to parents. first person to not only climb to the summits of the highest peaks “I want parents to work with us to believe in their children,” he on the seven continents, but to also ski from those summits. The said, “and to continue allowing them to see life in a way that makes Beeline interviewed her from her home in Jackson Wyoming where them self-confident, kind and big participants in many activates she lives with her husband, Rob, and their two daughters, Grace This is Danbee’s version of empowerment and its reputation and Tia. has reached beyond its home on the shore of Lake Ashmere. Danbee Kit grew up loving the outdoors and was an athletic kid who came to the attention of Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, participated in many sports, from softball, to soccer, to track. Her now the Democratic presidential nominee, because of its work for life’s journey included becoming trained as a helicopter crew chief. ten years hosting America’s Camp that was created after 9/11 for She has been the first one called to organize backcountry rescues kids – boys and girls – who had lost a parent in that tragic event. that included dead avalanche recoveries and swift water rescues. “Camp Danbee up in the Berkshires, which hosted America’s She has hung underneath a helicopter to reach someone trapped Camp,” Secretary Clinton said in a speech a little more than a year on the side of a cliff. Kit now is an elite athlete competing at a very ago, “is a real gem devoted to helping girls and young women find high level, not to win events, but to explore new vistas among the their voices and reach their potential.” mountains of the world. She also is a North Face athlete working Such is the essence of Camp Danbee’s philosophy, but do we with the company to improve products that help all people push take the word empowerment for granted? Do we say this word so their limits. casually that it’s lost its initial meaning? The Beeline decided to Kit has learned much about herself and empowerment by being explore this question by talking to people who embody the meaning in the natural world. Perhaps one of her best teachers was a wolf of empowerment. Within these pages you will meet four accomplished women in their respective areas on what the word means to them (Continued on page 2) The BeeLine Page 2 “Girl Power”: A Special Report (Continued from page 1) She landed a fellowship with International Center for Journalists she raised from a very young cub. She lived near Telluride, Colorado (ICFJ), which sent her to Latin America to teach those same digital at the time and the wolf lived with her, but roamed free and was true skills.It was then she saw the disparity between men and women to itself. She learned much from that wolf. with men having access to the technology housed in one building Throughout her life she has looked back on her mother’s words and women writing the stories working in another building, but telling her to never let anyone tell her that she can’t do something, having no access to the technology or an opportunity to learn new especially because she was a girl, or a woman. When asked about skills. Mariana knew she had to do something and created Chicas empowerment and who empowers her, she simply states, “You need Poderosas to empower women to become leaders on the front lines to empower yourself.” of journalism in the digital world. Kit said that once she searches out what it is she wants to do, She followed what her parents had repeatedly told her as a then she empowers herself. child, “Don’t wait for things to happen.” There now are Chicas “There’s nobody else out there that is going to empower you,” Poderosas chapters throughout Latin America. she says. Lisa Aire Sy Montgomery In Lisa Aire you will be meeting someone who went through a We will introduce you to Sy Montgomery, a naturalist who has very hard time; who created two independent ad businesses; who written twenty books and has been described by The New York was responsible for one of the most iconic and successful advertising Times as “equal parts poet and adventurer.” Sy dreamed of being campaigns that helped make Motel 6 a widely recognized brand a naturalist and followed that dream, even quitting “a great job” as with the line “This is Tom Bodett, and we’ll leave a light on for you.” a medical and science writer and people said she was crazy. A Despite all her success, she felt empty and unfulfilled. She was summary of her biography is filled with exploit after exploit involving lost. At the same time she wanted to learn to ride horses. So, living wild creatures large and small as she conducted scientific field in New York she went to the one place that would offer that – Central research and wrote about her work and adventures with the animals Park. When she arrived, the man who worked there told her that she studied. what she wanted to do was more serious than just riding around on When she was asked for her thoughts on empowerment she a horse. He gave her a name of a guy in Colorado. “He’s the best,” said it was, “Being able to give to the world what you know you he told her. At that moment Lisa knew what she had to do and where have in your heart.” she had to go. And so began a life-changing experience during For Sy there are teachers to empower us everywhere. She refers which she met a horse named Miss Hakomi Banks who showed to a saying “when a student is ready a teacher will appear.” Sy her how to feel free. explains that it is important to be alert and aware and “what it really “She plugged me in and turned me on,” Lisa said describing means is that we have to recognize our teachers.” her horse.