Question 1

Who can join?

Answer

Ages: Elementary school chapters include 3rd–4th graders or 3rd–5th graders. If your child is 8 years old or older at the start of the school year, but in a non traditional grade/ homeschoolers, contact us to talk about which chapter is the best fit. Middle school chapters combine 5th–7th graders or 6th–8th graders. Early middle grades (particularly 5th grade) have so much variation in physical, emotional and social maturity. Contact us if you have questions about which chapter (age range) is the best fit for your child. High school chapters are in the works! Contact us here if you have an 8th–11th grader who is interested in joining a new chapter. Gender: Artemis Pack enthusiastically welcomes all girls and non-binary kids. We welcome cis and trans girls, trans boys, gender non-conforming girls and anyone who feels aligned with our group magic. We are trans affirming, and believe there is no one way to be a girl, to be in girls’ space, or to be a part of girl community. We also welcome boys into Artemis Pack on a case by case basis.

Question 2

Gathering Schedule

Answer

During the school year, Artemis Pack meets once a month for girls and non-binary kids in the elementary grades, and twice a month in middle school grades. Each gathering is two hours.

Question 3

Cost / Financial Model

Answer

The Artemis Pack is an extraordinary program where girls access unique support and empowerment. We are entirely funded by your financial contributions. Our commitment to keeping the groups small and the quality high means that this program is not as low cost as other youth programs. But we promise, it's worth it. Your generosity helps us be generous and keep the cycle of abundance flowing. Participation fees are based on local economies and number of meetings per month, so contact us to find out about your area. There are a limited number of full and partial scholarships available that prioritize Black, Indigenous, People of Color, Transgender and Non-binary participants. To find out more about our current chapters, head to our registration page.

Question 4

History

Answer

Back in the ‘90’s when I (Tara) was a teenager, I participated in a magical group for girls called “The Diana Circle.” Artemis Pack is based on the incredible experiences I had in that group, which gave me a foundation in feminism, anti-racism, love for the earth and an understanding of wisdom traditions from around the world. Diana Circle provided a sanctuary for me that helped me stay true to myself through some very difficult years. I moved to Philadelphia in 2003 with a plan to become a high school teacher. I got a degree from Temple University, and a teaching license, but something in my heart led me down a non-traditional path. Instead of working in a classroom, I went into the non-profit sector. For 10 years I had the great pleasure of creating and supervising amazing, out-of-the-box programs including things like drag performance, mythology and magic, undoing racism, body-positive sex-ed, youth leadership, high school internships and radical history. But I never found anything like Diana Circle, and I saw that there was still a need. So, with permission from my mentor, ShuNahSii, I started a group here. In 2020, I renamed our program “The Artemis Pack.” Over the past five years, our little group has grown and evolved from the original six girls into a vibrant community with multiple chapters. We are creating a model that is unique and distinct to what we’ve learned and put into practice here in Philadelphia. I love Artemis Pack because it really does what we set out to do - creating a safe space for girls and non-binary kids to grow and thrive. As we step into the future together, we’re excited to share this model with girls and non-binary kids everywhere.