All of the girls who participated in the GEMS program get to be a part of our culminating sleepover retreat held at the end of the school year. Nancy and I stay after school the Friday before the retreat to set everything up. The girls love the opportunity to bond with all of the GEMS girls, not just the ones from their specific school group. They also enjoy the many activities we have for them: tie-dying GEMS t-shirts, decorating posters, acting out different scenarios, team building activities like group juggling and group lifts, as well as journaling. The retreat is a unique experience for the girls in grades 6-8 to bond with each other and with the teachers who volunteer to be a part of it!