Porter’s LEADS is a series of programs for middle school girls in grades 5 through 8. The LEADS workshops offer unique ways to engage and introduce participants to the competencies and skills necessary to begin their journeys as leaders–locally, globally, and for a lifetime.
Date: Saturday, September 27, 2025
Time: 9:00 a.m. – 3:15 p.m. ET
Cost: $150
Where: Miss Porter’s School, Farmington, CT
Registration for this event is now closed.
Note: you will be taken to our registration website that requires you to create a login to access the Porter’s LEADS registration forms.
Join us for an unforgettable workshop where creativity meets community change! Through hands-on activities, collaborative problem-solving, and immersive design challenges, middle school girls will discover the importance of connection as they examine the composition of urban spaces and make new friends! Participants will grapple with the connection between a thoughtfully designed city and the well-being of the people living in it, learning how city planning can shape a brighter, more inclusive future for everyone – especially girls and women. Together, we will explore questions like:
Girls will develop their creative and problem-solving skills through identifying and mapping the assets their communities offer. They will collaborate to engineer innovative solutions for how they can be conveniently connected and tackle obstacles, particularly looking to close specific, gender-based gaps.
Participants will:
This isn’t just a workshop – this is a launchpad for bold ideas, new friendships, and the belief that girls can shape the future. Whether your child loves art, engineering, activism, or building cool things, this program will ignite their imagination and give them the confidence to use their voice.
We are thrilled to announce Morgan Tuck as our keynote speaker! She is the Assistant General Manager and Director of Franchise Development for the Connecticut Sun. Prior to her role with the Sun, Tuck was a four-time National Champion with the University of Connecticut’s Women’s Basketball team (2012-2016) where she graduated with her Bachelors of Science in Business Management.
She then went on to be the third overall pick in the 2016 WNBA draft to the Connecticut Sun. After 4 seasons with the Sun she played her final season with the Seattle Storm, which ended with winning the 2020 WNBA Championship. Tuck is a five-time gold medalist with USA Basketball (U17, U19, U18, U19, and the National Team). During her professional basketball career, she also played overseas in China and Turkey.
As a dedicated professional in women's basketball, Tuck brings relatable experience and a proven track record in leadership and team collaboration. Her passion for the sport drives her to excel in dynamic environments, where her attention to detail and strong work ethic consistently contribute to the success of her teams. She is known for fostering a collaborative atmosphere and enhancing team performance, which leads to her commitment to advancing the growth of women’s basketball. Her ability to blend strategic vision with hands-on leadership drives positive change in the industry.
Date: Saturday, May 2, 2026
Time: 9:00 a.m. – 3:15 p.m. ET
Cost: $150
Where: Miss Porter’s School, Farmington, CT
Note: you will be taken to our registration website that requires you to create a login to access the Porter’s LEADS registration forms.
In this joyful workshop, middle school girls will explore the ways in which reading for fun can spark empathy, creativity, critical thinking and a passion for changemaking. The National Assessment of Educational Progress found that between 1984 and 2023, the percentage of kids aged 13 who read for pleasure almost every day decreased from 35% to 14%. Together, we will explore how reading for pleasure isn’t just fun, it’s a superpower!
Throughout the day, girls will have the opportunity to share about their favorite books and create community around reading. Casually discussing books requires strong synthesis, information retention, and analysis skills, all of which provide a sturdy foundation for critical thought. As a group, they will develop infrastructure that encourages others to join in their community of readers.
Participants will work together to build and decorate a wooden bench that will provide a community reading area. The day will end with a read-aloud party, featuring fresh, fun reads perfect for their summer shelves. Participants will leave this program with a new sense of community, the accomplishment of their collaborative creative project, and the powerful reminder that when girls read, the world gets better!
This isn’t just a workshop – this is a launchpad for bold ideas, new friendships, and the belief that girls can shape the future. Whether your child loves to read already or hasn’t caught the reading bug, this workshop will inspire them to be informed about and engaged with the world around them.
Sample schedule, subject to change
8:45 a.m. – Camper drop-off
9:00 a.m. – Discovering the CEO in You
10:30 a.m. – Break with snacks
10:45 a.m. – Brainstorm creative ideas and decide together how to design a small business as a social enterprise
12:00 p.m. – Lunch
1:00 p.m. – Money Matters: Personal Finance Basics
2:30 p.m. – Break with snacks
2:45 p.m. – Apply lessons to planning your business budget
4:00 p.m. – Choose your afternoon activity! (EX: swimming, Gaga Ball, friendship bracelets, arts & crafts)
5:00 p.m. – Camper pick-up
Sample schedule, subject to change
8:45 a.m. – Camper drop-off
9:00 a.m. – Cells, the Building Blocks of Life (create a 3D cell model)
10:30 a.m. – Break with snacks
10:45 a.m. – Use compound microscopes to view specimens representing the kingdoms of life
12:00 p.m. – Lunch
1:00 p.m. – DNA, the Blueprint of Life (build a DNA double helix)
2:30 p.m. – Break with snacks
2:45 p.m. – Extract DNA from plant cells
4:00 p.m. – Choose your afternoon activity! (EX: swimming, Gaga Ball, friendship bracelets, arts & crafts)
5:00 p.m. – Camper pick-up
Sample schedule, subject to change
8:45 a.m. – Camper drop-off
9:00 a.m. – Introduction to your motorcycle for the week (Welcome & Safety, Prep & Documentation)
10:30 a.m. – Break with snacks
10:45 a.m. – Remove bodywork and controls; wheels, exhaust suspension prep
12:00 p.m. – Lunch
1:00 p.m. – Let disassembly begin! (engine removal prep, frame and suspension breakdown)
2:30 p.m. – Break with snacks
2:45 p.m. – Engine external disassembly, wrap-up and group reflection
4:00 p.m. – Choose your afternoon activity! (EX: swimming, Gaga Ball, friendship bracelets, arts & crafts)
5:00 p.m. – Camper pick-up
Sample schedule, subject to change
8:45 a.m. – Arrival
9:00 a.m. – Leadership Workshops
11:30 a.m. – Support group transitions
12:00 p.m. – Lunch
1:00 p.m. – Shadow and assist in activity areas
3:00 p.m. – Mentorship check-ins
3:30 p.m. – Supervised practice leading a warm-up, game or activity
4:30 p.m. – Reflection, feedback, and goal setting
5:00 p.m. – Departure
Sample schedule, subject to change
8:00 a.m. – Wake up
8:30 a.m. – Breakfast and 1-on-1 check-ins for International+ campers
9:30 a.m. – Tech Meets Art: Exploring the Digital Canvas
12:30 p.m. – Lunch
1:30 p.m. – AI Artistry: Redfining Creativity
3:00 p.m. – Camper free time (down time in dorm, snacks at the Daisy, change for afternoon activities)
3:45 p.m. – Gather & Go
4:00 p.m. – Afternoon activities
5:30 p.m. – Dinner
6:30 p.m. – Evening activity (kickball tournament)
8:30 p.m. – Dorm meeting and games
9:30 p.m. – Relax and prepare for bed
10:00 p.m. – Lights out
Sample schedule, subject to change
8:00 a.m. – Wake up
8:30 a.m. – Breakfast and 1-on-1 check-ins for International+ campers
9:30 a.m. – Unpacking Human-centered Design
12:30 p.m. – Lunch
1:30 p.m. – Idea to Impact: Prototyping for Change
3:00 p.m. – Camper free time (down time in dorm, snacks at the Daisy, change for afternoon activities)
3:45 p.m. – Gather & Go
4:00 p.m. – Afternoon activities
5:30 p.m. – Dinner
6:30 p.m. – Evening activity (Color Wars)
8:30 p.m. – Dorm meeting and games
9:30 p.m. – Relax and prepare for bed
10:00 p.m. – Lights out
Sample schedule, subject to change
8:00 a.m. – Wake up
8:30 a.m. – Breakfast and 1-on-1 check-ins for International+ campers
9:30 a.m. – The Politics of Peacekeeping
12:30 p.m. – Lunch
1:30 p.m. – Speak Up! Engaging in Respectful Conversations
3:00 p.m. – Camper free time (down time in dorm, snacks at the Daisy, change for afternoon activities)
3:45 p.m. – Gather & Go
4:00 p.m. – Afternoon activities
5:30 p.m. – Dinner
6:30 p.m. – Evening activity (movie night)
8:30 p.m. – Dorm meeting and games
9:30 p.m. – Relax and prepare for bed
10:00 p.m. – Lights out
Sample schedule, subject to change
8:00 a.m. – Wake up
8:30 a.m. – Breakfast and 1-on-1 check-ins for International+ campers
9:30 a.m. – Opportunities and Challenges of Globalization
12:30 p.m. – Lunch
1:30 p.m. – Global Goals in Action: Understanding the UN’s Path to Sustainability
3:00 p.m. – Camper free time (down time in dorm, snacks at the Daisy, change for afternoon activities)
3:45 p.m. – Gather & Go
4:00 p.m. – Afternoon activities
5:30 p.m. – Dinner
6:30 p.m. – Evening activity (campfire, S’mores, and yard games)
8:30 p.m. – Dorm meeting and games
9:30 p.m. – Relax and prepare for bed
10:00 p.m. – Lights out
Sample schedule, subject to change
8:00 a.m. – Wake up
8:30 a.m. – Breakfast and 1-on-1 check-ins for International+ campers
9:30 a.m. – Exploring Connecticut’s Ecosystems
12:30 p.m. – Lunch
1:30 p.m. – Farmington River Study
3:00 p.m. – Camper free time (down time in dorm, snacks at the Daisy, change for afternoon activities)
3:45 p.m. – Gather & Go
4:00 p.m. – Afternoon activities
5:30 p.m. – Dinner
6:30 p.m. – Evening activity (Talent Show)
8:30 p.m. – Dorm meeting and games
9:30 p.m. – Relax and prepare for bed
10:00 p.m. – Lights out
Sample schedule, subject to change
8:00 a.m. – Wake up
8:30 a.m. – Breakfast and 1-on-1 check-ins for International+ campers
9:30 a.m. – Naming Your Purpose, Knowing Your Path
12:30 p.m. – Lunch
1:30 p.m. – Frameworks for Social Change
3:00 p.m. – Camper free time (down time in dorm, snacks at the Daisy, change for afternoon activities)
3:45 p.m. – Gather & Go
4:00 p.m. – Afternoon activities
5:30 p.m. – Dinner
6:30 p.m. – Evening activity (Guest speaker followed by bonfire and S’mores)
8:30 p.m. – Dorm meeting and games
9:30 p.m. – Relax and prepare for bed
10:00 p.m. – Lights out
Sample schedule, subject to change
8:00 a.m. – Wake up
8:30 a.m. – Breakfast and 1-on-1 check-ins for International+ campers
9:30 a.m. – Life in Balance: Exploring the Seven Elements of Wellness
12:30 p.m. – Lunch
1:30 p.m. – Element 1: Physical – Creative Movement Workshop
3:00 p.m. – Camper free time (down time in dorm, snacks at the Daisy, change for afternoon activities)
3:45 p.m. – Gather & Go
4:00 p.m. – Afternoon activities
5:30 p.m. – Dinner
6:30 p.m. – Evening activity (Talent Show!)
8:30 p.m. – Dorm meeting and games
9:30 p.m. – Relax and prepare for bed
10:00 p.m. – Lights out
Sample schedule, subject to change
8:00 a.m. – Wake up
8:30 a.m. – Breakfast and 1-on-1 check-ins for International+ campers
9:30 a.m. – Lead & Lean: Harnessing Collaborative Strength
12:30 p.m. – Lunch
1:30 p.m. – Trust Tower Challenge
3:00 p.m. – Camper free time (down time in dorm, snacks at the Daisy, change for afternoon activities)
3:45 p.m. – Gather & Go
4:00 p.m. – Afternoon activities
5:30 p.m. – Dinner
6:30 p.m. – Evening activity (Color Wars!)
8:30 p.m. – Dorm meeting and games
9:30 p.m. – Relax and prepare for bed
10:00 p.m. – Lights out
Sample schedule, subject to change
8:00 a.m. – Wake up
8:30 a.m. – Breakfast and 1-on-1 check-ins for International+ campers
9:30 a.m. – Leadership Compass: Finding Your Direction
12:30 p.m. – Lunch
1:30 p.m. – Blueprint for Leaders: What Sets them Apart?
3:00 p.m. – Camper free time (down time in dorm, snacks at the Daisy, change for afternoon activities)
3:45 p.m. – Gather & Go
4:00 p.m. – Afternoon activities
5:30 p.m. – Dinner
6:30 p.m. – Evening activity (campfire, S’mores and yard games)
8:30 p.m. – Dorm meeting and games
9:30 p.m. – Relax and prepare for bed
10:00 p.m. – Lights out
