BADASS GIRLS
the preteen MENTORSHIP CIRCLE
🌻🦄❤️🔥🦋
october 2023 — june 2024
“BADASS”
adj. 1. fearless, authentic, and compassionate, Urban Dictionary
Dear badass preteen,
(and welcome to the adult(s) who love a badass preteen socialized as a girl) —
I’m Eliza — the founder of Badass Girls — and I’m so excited you’re here!
(Just on this page looking for the quick link?) ⤵️⤵️⤵️
SO, LET’S BE REAL…
You’re pretty awesome. Your life is actually pretty great in a lot of ways (or at least some ways), and yet… there’s those things that you wish were a little (or a lot) better. It could be the friendship stuff, or the crushes, or the anxiety stuff, or or the family stuff, or the body feelings stuff, or the school stress stuff, or the transitions stuff (got some big life changes??), or the feelings stuff… or, or, or… a combo of ALL the things that it is to be alive AND be a preteen socialized as a girl.
It’s a lot, right?
Being YOU — the real you — in a world that often tells us to fit in, stay quiet, and be nice.
So when you think forward to this whole new year (and yeah, I’m kinda talking about Fall 2023 as the start to a new year… cause it kinda is, right?), it brings up some feelings… maybe you feel really excited about the new semester (!!), maybe you feel kinda nervous, maybe you’re actually dreading it with every fiber of your being (or maybe you’re homeschool/unschooled and you’re on a different kind of adventure).
Whichever way you’re feeling… one thing is true: you dream of this year maybe being… AMAZING. That when you look back in time (like 5, 10, 50 years from now)… 2023/2024 is the year where you began to show up as more of yourself.
You want to feel more confident being the real (imperfect) YOU.
so, i’ve got a dream for you…
And I want to invite you to try it on with me for a sec. Ya ready?
What if… this year things go a little differently in your life (and I mean THEY GO REALLY AMAZING). I don’t mean everything goes easy and ‘perfect’ for you — I mean that whatever comes (cause that’s life sometimes), you’ve got the tools and support to handle it. You’re reaching out for (and actually receiving) support in a new way. You’ve got your own back in a new way. You feel clear, you feel alive, you feel present.
You feel the relief (and joy) of being more of the real YOU.
Fast forward to June 2024 (yes, all the way forward)… and you’ve got a circle of badass new besties, plus a few big-hearted big sisters (I can’t wait for you to meet the amazing mentors!!) on speed dial.
You’ve got this group of real, kind, open, supportive humans who have your back. You have a place where you can talk about what’s really going on in your life (and listen to amazing humans talking about their teen lives). You’ve laughed until our sides hurt, and maybe cried a lil’ bit too (maybe both at the same time??). You’ve messaged each other like a million goofy links, and had real talk about all the things.
More than that, you’re actually taking this (BADASS YOU!) into your day-to-day life, because you’ve got the sustained support to make it real. The dream you had about that one (or more…) things not feeling so hard in your life… it’s actually happened. You’re here. You’re you. You’re kinder to yourself.
you’ve got a big sister in your back pocket…
… where literally no question is ever weird, dumb, or gross.
Where else you gonna ask the burning Qs that feel too awkward for parents, too confusing for friends, and too embarassing for a school counselor?
Please don’t tell me a Google search. 🙈
💗🔥🦄
So…
If this sounds super good to you… I want to invite you to join us for an online mentorship circle with a group of other badass preteens socialized as girls!!!!!!!
It’s gonna be… magic that I don’t quite have words for (and yet, look, I’m here trying to write a page for you about it!).
WE’d be delighted to have you be part of the circle, honey bunny ;).
Ready to meet your big sisters/siblings for this circle?
introducing your co-lead mentors
Lili Platt [she/they]
Lives in: the unceded lands of the Abenaki Nation, N’dakinna, also known as Vermont
Nerdy about: the feelings everyone is feeling, baking, anything musical theater, fantasy books/myths, sitting quietly and drinking tea, color-coding a calendar, how to have low drama friendships
Studying: environmental justice, theater, how to rest better, fun
How she found Badass Girls: her mama signed them up (a little bit unwillingly) for a program with Eliza when they were a preteen (10+ years ago! woah!) and Lili found her home: a space where it was okay to actually be her real self, to exhale, and to make their entire life easier
Fun fact: Lili is also trained in leading Qoya movement practices (AKA dance parties that make us feel like more of ourselves…!)
Superpowers: listening (like… really listening to you not making up a story about you in their head), being real, badass big sister text responses when you really need to hear someone tell you you’re amazing, breathing together through stress and anxiety, understanding that nothing is too weird or bad or awkward to talk about, finding the perfect musical song for the moment, loving, and learning from the earth
What you’ll find them doing: facilitating most group calls about perfectionism, anxiety, shame, confidence, body image, and activism – in the group chat sending epic pics of their fave tea, vinyl records, and nature spots, on 1:1 calls and texts loving on their personal mentees
Who would be a good fit as their personal mentee: someone who relates to what’s been shared about Lili – or specifically wants support with body image, perfectionism, ADHD, or healthy relationships.
Most excited for this year’s circle: getting to celebrate and hang out with the real parts of life. Getting to support epic people. Spontaneous (consent-based) dance parties!!! :)
lily kafka [she/they]
Lives in: the land of the Mahican tribe, also known as the Mid-Hudson Valley in Upstate NY
Nerdy about: cool plant facts, soccer/team work, hiking, Jewish ancestry, curating epic playlists for vibes and feelings, things that make her laugh/cry, doing the robot to impress/embarrass friends in the grocery store when their jam comes on, writing poetry
How she found Badass Girls: their mom took them as a pretty anxious 12 year old to a thing Eliza was teaching – mainly Lily remembers going from feeling shut down and hiding, to being their whole self. The community and mentorship made them feel safe, seen and powerful (and it’s been an epic love affair ever since!!).
Studying: sociology (AKA people and how we build societies), herbalism, and activism/change work
Fun fact: Lily spent four months last year in Vietnam studying gender and sexuality!
Superpowers: laughing, not avoiding the really hard feels (the things that no one else seems to want to talk about), not fixing people (you’re not broken), playing around (you're never too old to play), nature gratitude, and anything to do with the moon or periods… (really into it!!)!!
What you’ll find them doing: facilitating most group calls about seasons and cycles, making space for your feelings (and feeling them), cultivating self-trust, practicing self-love, and reminding personal mentees how amazing they are in 1:1 sessions and sending epic audio memos via text!!
Who would be a good fit as their personal mentee: someone who relates to what’s been shared about Lily – or specifically wants support with periods, self-love, communication, or feelings that feel scary to feel.
Most excited for this year’s circle: getting to experience a community we were maybe scared was too good to exist, giggling and journaling together on 1:1 calls, getting to cheer badass humans on, and create a space where we can be real (tired, scared, happy, nervous, weird… whatever!! Just us, without having to perform).
Ready to chat with us about it?
(Yeah, that’s the eventual next step if you’re super interested :))!! ⤵️
Or keep on reading to learn more about the program details.
this program is all about a ‘buffet style’ approach to learning —
🍦🍣🍭🥟
it’s not about doing everything perfectly — oh hell no —
it’s about YOU get curious about (and eventually learning) what actually nourishes you every month — because deserve attuned support. Is it live calls? Group chats? Mentor support? Videos to watch? The best book recs? You name it, we probably got it.
“It’s the place where I get to reflect on the hard stuff and the happy stuff with the people I trust. It feels amazing.”
- E, age 11
What’s included in the preteen mentorship circle:
18 (1 hour) group video calls facilitated by your co-lead mentors (2 calls a month from October 2023 thru June 2024) ✌🏼
3 (30 min) 1:1 mentorship calls on Zoom with your personal mentor (one in October, February, and June)
Facilitated circle group text chat on Signal chosen with the whole mentor team for connection, sharing, and inspiration
9 monthly themes (AKA topics) we explore together (see more below)
Access to the Badass Academy Video Library with 9 modules of bite-sized videos from Eliza and other Guest Faculty (35+ hours of content)
Home practice journal prompts for each month
9 parent newsletters (including brief audio updates from the circle co-lead mentors) all about the circle’s journey including fun updates (while honoring circle confidentiality) and parenting/adult resources for their own journey
3 optional parent check-in calls on Zoom with the just you and the co-lead mentors (scheduled at your discretion on available mentor parent call days!)
“Learning how to trust myself more in the program felt like a giddy joy! I feel more free to just feel how I feel – even if those feelings aren’t seen as “good feelings” in our society (it’s ok to be angry!!). I feel like it’s more ok to change as a person, to try new things, to learn about myself as a person, and to have a lot of fun while doing it!!”
— Z, age 13
what is it actually like in a mentorship circle?
here’s (anonymously) what preteens in past circles have experienced:
(yeah, everyone goes on a unique, personal journey — so we like to give you a frame of reference)
went from body image/weight obsession, to a nourishing, open friendship with her body
had the space and inspiration to explore gender feelings
made a book of their art
felt belonging with girls for the first time (and has a group chat of girls all over to prove it)
cried for the first time in 3 years, and actually didn’t hate it (it was awesome, and she felt better afterwards)
communicated with parents in a new way (good-bye communicating like a little kid)… about that BIG thing that was really scary to talk about, and it went great — and they’re actually on board to support with next steps
deleted TikTok (not because her parent said so) and watched her mental health skyrocket (now takes self-initiated phone-breaks every month for a week)
got clarity around which friendships are actually supportive, which are draining, and took radical (and kind) action to ONLY stay in friendships that feel safe, trusting, balanced, and fun :)
built an epic behavioral toolkit for getting centered when anxiety shows up (doesn’t mean they don’t get anxious anymore, but when they do — they know what to do)
went into nature almost everyday (and it felt great)
figured out what ‘self-care’ actually means, and began to show up for herself for real (had her own back for the first time)
started sleeping well, finally
and… more, more, more
“The calls made me realize how much I can actually trust myself. I can now trust my own feelings with my friends at school (and figuring out who to be close to). Plus… I should have more random dance parties in my bedroom!!”
— L, age 12
“I love how open and safe I feel with my circle. It’s so tough to find that somewhere else. I feel so much more secure in myself — and in all this love they bring.”
— Ellie, age 15
introducing your (epic) assistant mentor team 💞
[AKA your bonus big siblings/mentors trained by Eliza who are with you on the circle journey every step of the way] 💫
Xola Owens [he/they/she]
Nerdy about: plant facts, how to love their friends better, fossils/cool animal bones, She-Ra on Netflix, talking about stuff that ‘most’ other people don’t seem to want to talk about… like death philosophy and sciences (and how living well means dying well, and we’ve got to get more curious about this as a species/planet), rowing on the Thames in London, the relationship between belonging and loneliness, reading pretty much any mystery/fantasy/adventure books, Ramen noodles, accepting herself rather than who other people think you ‘should’ be, being an introvert who also loves people
Most excited about for circle this year: to nerd out about fantasy books/stories/myths with anyone who wants… and to get to meet and support cool new people!!! <3
Benunthi Singh [she/her]
Benunthi Singh [she/her]
Nerdy about: hand lettering, music that makes me feel things, hair care (frizzy hair journey over here!!), poetry that’s raw and people who use words to express such vivid, real feelings, and trees!
Most excited about for circle this year: to be in a loving space with other cool humans, where we get to talk about anything and grow together :)
What do we talk about when we’re in circle ?
Every month of our program, we have a theme that we explore together. It’s our lens for the month, our invitation to go deeper together, our spark, our open query, and our road map.
Do we also talk about other things??? You bet. We also talk all month about whatever is real and up for you (and the group). Someone feeling the friend drama? We’re gonna talk about it. The body image meanies in their own head? Yeah, we’re gonna go there. Random/amazing sex ed question? We’re all about it. You get the vibe? We’re real together.
Now… introducing our monthly themes:
october: Badass You ❤️
We're talking everything that gets in the way of us feeling like we belong, and the surprising difference between 'fitting in' and ‘belonging’ (hint: it has to do with amping up the volume on the wonderful weirdness that makes you... well, you). We're talking what 'sisterhood' really means and practicing discernment so we can create safer/braver spaces, communities, and friendships for ourselves (this includes speaking up and getting out of interactions that don't work for us, and don't make us feel safe). Bottom line: how would your life be different if you belonged TO YOURSELF? If you had your own back? We dive in to figuring it out together (and making it more real in our actual lives).
November: Badass Feelings 😫😜🤬😍😭
It's time to make friends with the complex feels that flow through our bodies and brains every day. So many of us are taught (implicitly or explicitly) that some feelings are ‘negative’ and some are ‘positive’ — we’re exploring the radical concept that ‘all feelings are good feelings’ — it’s all about having a healthy relationship with them. What if you felt like you could be friends with your feelings? Like none of the ‘bad’ ones could shake you (instead they just move through like a wave)? When things like school or stress or friends or the world gets us down… it’s essential to know how to have our own back. This is badass preteen magic.
December: Badass Confidence ⛔️🔥🦋
It’s getting cozy, cold and dark outside — finals are on for a lot of folks — and it might be on of those times where you’re feeling grateful that you have a circle to fall back into when stuff gets a little busy, stressful or hard (which it does sometimes). We’re talking coming home to ourselves, faking confidence, how to stop comparing yourself to others (and stay in your own lane and be awesome), boundaries for people pleasing, tools for navigating big and small change in our lives, dismantling internalized supremacy culture, getting rid of gendered labels, and celebrating our unique whole, imperfect, magical selves more and more. If you’ve ever wondered ‘what is confidence really’ or wanted to have more of ‘it’ — this month’s theme is for YOU.
January: Badass Periods 🩸 🌘 🌔 🗓
Have you ever heard a "joke" about how people who menstruate are "crazy"? Did it happen to allude (not so subtly) to the fact that it might have something to do with their menstrual cycle? We often receive the message that people who menstruate are 'unpredictable' and 'blow hot and cold.' On top of that, female-bodied folks can often experience (if you've got your period) that a cycle of menstrual hormones and physical symptoms can be... a real rocky ride. We're diving into why female-bodied folks are actually incredibly predictable (hint: we operate on a 28ish day hormone cycle not a 1 day hormone cycle like testosterone-dominant bodies), and how to care for yourself so that your period is actually easy, breezy (yup). We're tackling cyclical living, starting fresh, receiving the good, letting go, and resting like the magical being you are. Yes, I said YOU MAGIC. Side note: you do not have to have your period for this month to be applicable; we're talking about cycles of all kinds (and it’s EXTRA fun/important to feel READY to start cycling with the support of some big sisters!!). A bonus of this month’s theme? Learn to manage your time & energy like a badass boss of productivity (rather than fighting your cycle).
February: Badass Body Love 💗❤️🔥🫀🦄
Our bodies are the home we get for our whole lives, right? But often, we push them to capacity with stress, judgement (about how they're not quite 'right'), lack of sleep, and not quite knowing how to care for 'em (we get it, it's a little difficult). Then layer in the whole thing of interacting with other people (be it a friend who wants a hug, an uncle who still wants to pat you on the head every holiday) and it can get even more complex! Bodies are private space and yet they’re often treated like ‘public space’ — anyone and everyone can comment (and it’s 99% based on their own thoughts and feelings!). We’re diving into topics like toxic diet culture, intuitive eating, toxic exercise culture, why body image lives in our heads, how to get free, embodiment and so many other amazing unlearning/remembering things. If you want to have an epic friendship with your body — and make sure preventatively that none of the toxic messaging is getting in — this month is for YOU. All bodies are good bodies — let’s learn how to practice that together.
March: Badass Sex Ed 🌸🛁🕯🤓
Your body has a voice though, if you know how to listen to it. Sometimes it's quiet, sometimes it's loud, and often it speaks in ways we've forgotten how to understand. Here's some great news though: while we may experience discomfort or pain in the body, we also have a capacity for massive amounts of joy and sensually positive experiences (let's figure out how to tap into that). Did you know that in many countries it’s totally normally for kids to have great sex ed classes in school from kindergarten all the way through high school? And that statistically it’s correlated with safer, consensual and enjoyable experiences for everyone involved? Yup. WELCOME TO THE MOST AMAZING LEAST AWKWARD SEX ED CLASS TAUGHT BY YOUR BADASS SISTER (where literally nothing is weird ever). These circle calls are 100% appropriate for preteens and focus on beautiful topics like: knowing your no, knowing your yes, feeling like your body is yours (rather than what other people expect your body to look like, behave like, or be like), why female body anatomy is so cool 101, why pleasure isn’t just about sex, and so much more. It’s time for conversations like this to feel more normal and easy!
April: Badass Relationships 🤝🤘💬🗣
Get ready for everyone’s favorite topic (literally so important)… relating to other humans!! We’re talking crushes, friendships, family, mentors, teachers… etc. etc. etc. So many folks socialized as girls are taught to prioritize others’ feelings and needs over their own in relationship — and yet that can set up some pretty unhealthy relationship dynamics. What does it take to build a non-toxic friend community that actually has your back (we’re practicing it together)? How do you navigate a hard friend break up? What about communicating your actual needs with someone? And what is a crush actually? And when do you know you want to date them? And how do you communicate with parental units in a way where they actually hear you? If it helps you with relating well — we’re going there together this month.
May: Badass Expression 🎨🌻💅💭
You've got a voice. Do you use it? How often do you tamp it down, say it nicer, or go quiet so that you won't offend someone? We live in a culture that often teaches people socialized as girl to please people over listening to themselves. Let's investigate that, huh? We're tackling expression, wild instinct, art, getting dressed in clothes that feel true to you, gender feelings, and what it takes to move your feeling into action (and not let it get stuck in your throat). It can be one of the greatest joys in life to express ourselves fully — and this isn’t just for ‘good artists’ or ‘creative people’ or whatever (we’ll be unpacking that). What form of expression feels good to you? It’s turns out expression is a practice for self-love and connection.
June: Badass Leadership 💞📣⚡️🌳
Who is a leader? Nisha Moodley, one of our guest Faculty this month, defines a leader as ‘someone who cares’. Maybe your heart breaks for the world almost daily? Sometimes you feel small? And possibly the definition of ‘good leader’ doesn’t feel like it was built to fit you and your zones of genius? We’re diving into redefining leadership + power (and figuring out your leadership style), trusting what lights you up (and how to feel it), finding your purpose, and a sustainable path in social justice and activism. Leadership is easier when we do it together. Every day we’re creating with our lives — creating relationships, creating art, creating moments — what’s the life you want to consciously co-create for yourself? We’ll be exploring imperfect, beautiful, messy, real, whole-hearted ways to answer this together in our final month — where it’s not somebody else’s agenda, but about what lights us up in this beautiful, broken open world.
“I was nervous when my mom suggested Badass Girls, but right away I felt so accepted. I feel like now I can make a balanced life for myself and slow down from the craziness. I feel so open, relaxed and safe with my circle.”
— Lily, age 14
our GROUP CALL schedule*:
*may vary slightly from what’s listed below
Sunday, October 22nd from 12pm-1pm EST
Sunday, October 29th from 12pm-1pm EST
Sunday, November 5th from 12pm-1pm EST
Sunday, November 19th from 12pm-1pm EST
Sunday, December 3rd from 12pm-1pm EST
Sunday, December 17th from 12pm-1pm EST
Sunday, January 14th from 12pm-1pm EST
Sunday, January 28th from 12pm-1pm EST
Sunday, February 11th from 12pm-1pm EST
Sunday, February 25th from 12pm-1pm EST
Sunday, March 10th from 12pm-1pm EST
Sunday, March 24th from 12pm-1pm EST
Sunday, April 7th from 12pm-1pm EST
Sunday, April 21st from 12pm-1pm EST
Sunday, May 5th from 12pm-1pm EST
Sunday, May 19th from 12pm-1pm EST
Sunday, June 2nd from 12pm-1pm EST
Sunday, June 23rd from 12pm-1pm EST
mentor 1:1 call Availability:
The Lead Mentors for this circle are Lili Platt and Lily Kafka — one of them will be your Personal Mentor through the circle (you decide which!), and you’ll have a deeper relationship that includes 1:1 calls through the circle.
You get decide through the exploratory call process which mentor you feel would be a great fit as your own personal mentor! We strongly suggest you factor in their 1:1 availability and how it aligns with your own schedule.
Lili Platt 1:1 Call Availability:
Tuesdays 5-8pm EST, Wednesdays 5-8pm EST, Thursdays 3-8pm EST, Fridays 11am-4pm EST
Lily Kafka 1:1 Call Availability:
Mondays 11am-7pm EST, Wednesdays 3-8pm EST, Fridays 3-5pm EST
how do I know if a circle is for me?
preteens who are a good fit mostly feel like:
you are ready to show up for yourself and create a positive change
you feel excited to hang out with an awesome group of preteens socialized as girls from all over the country!
you looooove the idea of having a badass big sister to message for support or just chat with whenever and ask real questions about life (where nothing is weird or awkward…!)
you’re ready to have some deeper/realer conversations with other people — about stuff like body image, anxiety, stress, feelings, sex ed, friends, dating, family, etc… you name it… we may go there ;)
meeting people who don’t live where you live — and interacting online — sounds really appealing this year :) bring on the badass friends who live all over and don’t go to school with you!! WOOOO!!!
you really love the idea of having a space to talk about real stuff in your life that isn’t family/school friends/therapy
you’ve checked your schedule and the call calendar will mostly work!
you’ll be between 10 and 13 years old on October 1st, 2023
your parent/guardian(s) feels sooooo great about you having an intentional community of teens your age to gather with, and a mentor to facilitate open real conversations (including talking about: periods, body image, anxiety, gender, sexuality, sexual orientation, pleasure, and sex). your home/family is pro the sex positive family approach, and agrees with the research that shows that the more informed kids are about their bodies, the less shame they experience, and the more discerning choices they make for themselves.
the adults in your life are able to pay for the program with ease
if you (the participant) are struggling (and aren’t we all sometimes, hello to being human), you’ve got a wonderful support system outside of this mentorship program (for example: a therapist or counselor) and this mentorship is one wonderful part of your support system (yay!)
“My circle has the coolest people. Seriously. The mentors like hand picks awesome humans and so you don’t have to go through the initial friendship filter things. It’s like signing up to just meet awesome, real, kind humans. I love it.”
— Ky, age 16
A NOTE FOR PARENTS:
Dear person who loves a preteen socialized as a girl,
Eliza here.
I’m so honored that you’re here and considering enrolling your preteen in our online mentorship circle. I’m not a therapist (though I love therapy!), I’m a mentor, facilitator, attuned teacher, and professional big sister.
I believe that most schools aren't adequately supporting preteens to receive the life skills they need (meaning: emotional, body image, community-based), and that moms/parents/immediate family shouldn't have to do it alone. That's why I created Badass Girls. I’m passionate about there being a generation of preteens and teens socialized as girls who grow into adults without the same un-learning and healing to do as generations before them. I’m devoted to our collective evolution.
Our curriculum includes mindfulness exercises, emotional intelligence techniques, somatic tools, group process in the circle, 1:1 mentoring, and the Mothering & Daughtering relational approach. I place a special emphasis throughout our programming on the experience of being in a body, as our mainstream culture often strongly emphasizes a brain-focused approach to being a human. I believe that when given nourishing space to be themselves, preteens socialized as girls (and all humans) naturally move towards deeper wellness. Here’s one way to say it: if a flower doesn’t bloom, we don’t say ‘oh, it’s a bad flower’, we change its’ pot and get it more sunshine/water. So, we’re here to be part of your preteen’s nourishment plan. I believe the experience of belonging is an essential nutrient.
As you might imagine (seeing as I co-created the Mothering & Daughtering approach), I’m super pro-parent over here, or #teamparent as I call it. I know just how much our teens thrive when their relationship with the adults in their life is thriving! So what does that mean practically (beyond the curriculum we teach your kid)? We love connecting with parents! You’ll see you’ll be hearing from me + the mentor team every month with updates, audio and resources. Also, you’ve got confidential email access to the mentor team throughout the whole program and 3 check-in calls to schedule at your own discretion (we love hearing from you because then we get to support your girl even better!).
Here’s to creating a magical experience for your girl to feel more at home in herself!
Love,
Eliza
SOME Words from parents:
(whose preteens + teens were in past mentorship circles with us)
“My girl is becoming her true self, beyond what I’ve been able to accomplish for myself over 50 years.”
“My daughter found her voice in a new way. She feels heard, valued, and encouraged by this circle. She belongs to herself.”
“Every time my daughter circles up with her mentor, she comes back with higher self esteem.”
“Badass Girls was way more effective and positive for our daughter than therapy (and I’m a psychologist!) and frankly more cost effective in the end.”
“As a parent, I LOVE knowing a mentor I trust has my girl’s back. She’s still connected to her friends, but I see her making her decisions from a wiser place.
She turns to her mentor to ask ANY question whenever she feels stuck, insecure or lonely.
Badass Girls is changing the world, one girl at a time. She’s got a big sister on call for all of life’s ups and downs. ”
“Her mentor taught my girl (in a way that I could not) that self acceptance, love and care are not only essential, but also smart and cool.”
The Investment
Pay-in-full: $4000
[or]
12 month extended payment plan: $333 x 12 months
(limited scholarships are available)
❤️❤️❤️
FAQ:
How do I enroll?
Your next step is to sign up for an exploratory call with a mentor! Which mentor you wonder? You’ll get to choose whether you connect more with Lili Platt or Lily Kafka — our two co-leads for this circle! You can have a call with each of them, or you can decide based on reading their bios.
An exploratory call is a chance to ask the mentor questions about the program, meet them, and for everyone to get a feel together for if you’d be a good fit for this circle. If the mentor feels you would be, she’ll send you a private invite to enroll via email after your call.
Ready for the next step? Click here to sign up for an exploratory call!
How many preteens are in the mentorship circle?
We let in 12 preteens who we feel are a superb fit for the community we’re co-creating in the program.
How many mentors support a circle? Who is my personal mentor?
The average mentor to mentee ratio for our circles is 1:2. We are thrilled to offer an intimate and deeply supported experience for all mentees. You get to choose who your personal mentor is based on who you connect with, and who may be a great fit to help you thrive this year. Click here to sign up for an exploratory call with a mentor!
How old do you have to be to join the mentorship circle? How old is too old?
Most participants are between the ages of 10 and 13. We will occasionally let in a slightly older or slightly younger person who is an excellent fit for the group. If you’re at a ‘cusp’ age for the Preteen Mentorship Circle (ages 10-13) or the Younger Teen Mentorship Circle (ages 13-15) — it’s up to you to decide! For example, you might ask yourself: do you prefer being one of the oldest or the youngest in a group? We also strongly suggest you talk about it with one of the mentors on our team as they’ll have a great feel for the current circle groups that are forming.
How much time a month is the mentorship circle?
It ranges! You could spend 4 hours a month on the circle and be on ALL live calls. You could also dive in about 4 hours a week for watching videos, chatting with community, reaching out to mentors, AND the calls. There’s no wrong way to get what you need out of the mentorship circle (I know this can be confronting for some of us raised in the school system! No A’s will be awarded here. This is about mental health).
We call this a ‘buffet approach’ to learning — every month we ask that you explore the options and choose to participate in what feels nourishing to you. That being said, if you can’t attend a majority of the group calls live or schedule 1:1s with your personal mentor — we wouldn’t suggest enrolling this year.
What if I can’t make it to all of the group calls? Is it worth me joining?
YES! (And, it’s up to you!) It depends on the number of calls you can’t make. Every call is recorded and you have access to the call recording usually the next day. Everyone in our circle usually ends up missing a few calls (cause, life happens)! If you’re gonna miss more than half the calls live, we’d suggest re-looking at your schedule to see if you can make more time available for the circle.
I’m kinda introverted/shy, and sometimes I’m more comfortable listening than speaking in a group… is this program still for me?
YESSSSSSSS. Please bring those kick-ass listening skills to our group! You’re never pressured to share in the circle, or participate in any exercise we do (it’s always optional, you’re the boss of you). Many folks in our group have found that throughout the program they’re more chatty initially in 1:1 calls with their personal mentor, or in 1:1 connection with other folks in the circle. You do you, honey. Please come chat with a mentor about this on an exploratory call! It’s so common :)
How is Eliza involved in the circle?
Eliza personally trained and supervises each mentor as they work for Badass Girls. All mentees in circle have access to the Badass Academy video library taught by Eliza and our amazing guest faculty — and Eliza comes in to lead 2 circle calls in the winter.
Are there payment plans available?
Yes, we offer an extended 12 month payment plan.
Do you offer scholarships?
Yes, we offer scholarships for each circle. Scholarships become available as certain number of participants enroll at the full cost of the program. If you’d like to be added to the waitlist please reach out to us at hello at badassgirls dot me. Our scholarships are need based, and we do not ask for any proof — we trust you.
This sounds really amazing… but also really different from anything I’ve ever done. I feel nervous that it won’t be as good as it sounds… any thoughts?
I get this question quite often! Yes… it’s really this good. If this program is sounding amazing to you, trust it (because it actually really won’t sound amazing to everyone!). One thing I try to remember is that sometimes nervousness is just excitement without the breath. Take a deep breath… are you feeling really excited about the potential of joining this circle? Then yes, it’s gonna be great.
Got another question that wasn’t answered on this page? Read it through again to make sure… 😉 and then email me at hello@badassgirls.me.
The Investment
Pay-in-full: $4000
[or]
12 month payment plan: $333 x 12 months
(limited scholarships are available)
❤️❤️❤️
“Before the circle, I thought my mentor would want to change or fix me to help me be better, but actually Eliza just wanted to get to know me, the real me. It’s not like a camp or school where there’s like ‘don’t bully’ rules (and then the teachers don’t really do anything)… it’s actually a caring community where Eliza teaches us how to get our feelings, move through shame, and be our kind, real, inclusive selves with each other. It’s magic!!”
— Hanna, age 15
The Investment
Pay-in-full: $4000
[or]
12 month payment plan: $333 x 12 months
(limited scholarships are available)
❤️❤️❤️
We’re so excited for this specific magical, intimate group of preteens to circle up for an epic 9-month journey back to belonging to ourselves :) We can already feel how amazing it’s gonna be.
Love,
Eliza, Lili, Lily and the BG Team
Contact us
Got a question? Want to connect heart-to-heart?
Send Eliza a note at hello@badassgirls.me