A Summer Bucket List for Girls Who Want to Make a Difference
July 24, 2026
Every girl has the power and potential to be a changemaker. And while summer is absolutely a time to rest and have fun, it’s also a golden opportunity to try new things, discover what you care about, and take small steps towards becoming the type of leader you’ve always wanted to be. That’s why we’ve created a fun, actionable summer bucket list for girls who want to make a difference — and are ready to start now.
Girls who spend time during the summer exploring their passions, connecting with their communities, and developing their voice often return to the school year with stronger confidence, a clearer sense of self, and a deeper understanding of the impact they can make in the world.
This GLOW Summer Bucket List for girls includes 10 meaningful, memorable activities for girls (and advocates!) who want to make the most of their summer while making the world a little better, too.
Whether you’re a girl looking to level up this summer, or a parent, mentor, or trusted adult who wants to support a young woman in your life, this summer bucket list was made for you.
-
Start a Community Service Project
Think about something in your neighborhood that you wish were different: a park that needs cleaning up, seniors who might need a hand, younger kids who could use tutoring, or a local food pantry that needs volunteers. This summer, you can go beyond just noticing the problem. You can take action to address it.
Starting a service project doesn’t have to be complicated. Gather a few friends, decide on a need you want to address, and commit to showing up consistently. The leadership skills you’ll build — organizing, communicating, problem-solving, and following through — are the same ones that will serve you for the rest of your life.
-
Read a Book by a Woman Who Changed the World — Then Talk About It
Some of the most transformative conversations we can have are shaped by the books we read. This summer, choose a biography, memoir, or collection of poems or short stories by a woman who broke barriers, used her voice, and refused to be told she couldn’t. Let her story challenge and inspire you.
Even better? Don’t read it alone. Start a book club with friends — meet at someone’s house, a local coffee shop, or a park — and use the book as a jumping-off point for real, honest conversations about confidence, identity, and the kind of women you want to become. There is something uniquely powerful about a group of girls sitting in a circle, sharing what a story means to them.
Not sure where to start? Check out our GLOW Summer Reading List of books that celebrate girls and women.
-
Write a Letter to Someone Who Inspired You
Think of a woman — a teacher, a coach, a family member, a mentor — who believed in you before you believed in yourself. This summer, write her a letter and tell her exactly what she meant to you.
This simple act does two powerful things: It reminds you of the people who helped shape who you are, and it reminds her that her investment in a young girl’s life genuinely mattered. It’s a simple, meaningful way to reflect on your growth and honor the people who believed in you.
-
Create a Vision Board for Your Future
Vision boards are of our favorite activities from our GLOW Club curriculum. They’re a powerful way to discover what you want your future to look like, how to pursue your passions, and why they matter to you.
Before you pick up the scissors and magazines, start with a question: What do you actually care about? Think about the issues that make you feel something — the injustices that frustrate you, the causes that pull at your heart, the communities you want to show up for. That feeling is your “why,” and it’s the most important thing you can bring to any act of advocacy or leadership.
In GLOW Club, girls bring their “My Why” vision boards to life — identifying the causes they care about and the futures they’re working toward.
Once you’ve sat with that question, bring it to life visually. Using magazines, scissors, markers, and glue, create a vision board that captures not just what you want your future to look like, but why you’re working toward it. What issues do you want to advocate for? How do your personal experiences connect to something bigger than yourself? What kind of impact do you want to have on your community and your world?
Hang it somewhere you’ll see it every day. Because on the days when showing up feels hard, your “why” is what will keep you going.
Looking for more activities like this one? Check out our roundup of 6 Fun, Meaningful SEL Activities to Help Girls Develop Confidence and Advocacy Skills — pulled directly from our GLOW Club curriculum.
-
Create Something That Reflects Your Story
Your experiences, your perspective, and your voice are unlike anyone else’s — and the world needs to hear from you. This summer, make something that is uniquely, unapologetically yours. It doesn’t have to be polished or perfect!
Some ideas to help get you started:
- Write a poem about something that means a lot to you
- Create a playlist that captures who you are right now
- Make a zine about a cause you care about
- Put together a photo series or digital collage that tells your story
- Write a personal essay about a moment that changed you
- Create a piece of art that expresses something you haven’t been able to say out loud yet
Whatever form it takes, the act of creating something from your own story is one of the most powerful ways to find your voice — and start using it.
-
Celebrate a Girl or Woman Who Inspired Change
Sometimes the most important thing we can do is stop and acknowledge the people who paved the way for us or who are doing so right now without nearly enough recognition.
This summer, take some time to celebrate a girl or woman who has inspired you. Share a post about someone in your life whose leadership has meant something to you. Learn about a girl activist from another part of the world who is creating change that more people should know about. Or tell a friend, a sibling, or a parent about a woman who inspired you and why her work matters.
Recognizing the changemakers around us reminds us that leadership is all around us if we take a moment to acknowledge and celebrate it.
-
Have a Courageous Conversation
Think about a topic that matters to you or weighs heavily on you. This summer, find someone you trust and have a real, honest conversation about it. Practice articulating what you believe and why. Take it a step further and listen to truly hear the other person’s perspective, not just to respond.
Safe, honest conversation is at the heart of every GLOW Club, where girls learn to speak up, listen deeply, and advocate for themselves and each other.
Learning to hold space for difficult conversations is one of the most valuable advocacy skills we can develop. Every movement for change started with someone willing to say what others were only thinking.
-
Organize Friends to Do Something Meaningful Together
Leadership doesn’t always look like standing at a podium or a job title. Sometimes it looks like being the person in your friend group who says: What if we actually did something about this?
This summer, practice that kind of leadership. As Margaret Mead once said, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” Your friend group is that small group. Think about what you’re all good at and rally them around something that matters. Practice being the one who initiates, organizes, and follows through.
The girls who change the world aren’t always the ones with the most resources or the loudest voices. They’re the ones who show up, bring others with them, and refuse to wait for someone else to start.
-
Learn About a Global Issue That Affects Girls
Spend time this summer learning about a challenge that girls around the world are facing, whether that’s access to education, child marriage, gender-based violence, or something else entirely. Read articles, watch documentaries, and follow organizations (like @global_glow!) doing work in that space.
Understanding the world beyond your own experience is what transforms a girl into a global citizen — and a global citizen into a changemaker.
At Global Girls Glow, we work with girls in more than 30 countries who are overcoming extraordinary barriers to pursue their education, find their voices, and build brighter futures for themselves and their communities. Their stories are both humbling and deeply inspiring — and they’ll change the way you see the world. Sign up for our newsletter, The Bright Side, to receive inspiring girl stories delivered straight to your inbox.
-
Rest, Reflect, and Protect Your Peace
Here’s something every aspiring changemaker needs to hear: Taking care of yourself is not optional. It is the foundation that every act of advocacy and leadership is built on.
Girls today are navigating more pressure, noise, and uncertainty than any generation before them. And while passion and drive are beautiful things, burnout is real, even for the most committed advocates. This summer, give yourself genuine permission to rest.
Spend time in nature. Put your phone down for long stretches of time. Sit with your thoughts without immediately reaching for a screen. Journal. Breathe. Let yourself be bored, because boredom is often where creativity and clarity live. If you’re looking for prompt ideas to get started, check out our 10 Questions to Spark Confidence, Reflection, and Growth for Girls This Summer.
Looking for some guidance on stepping back and recharging this summer? Check out our Digital Detox Guide for practical ways to protect your peace.
An advocate who knows how to rest, reflect, and return to herself is an advocate who can keep showing up — for herself, for her community, and for the world she’s working to change.
Make This the Summer You Step Into Your Power
This summer, we’re inviting every girl, woman, and advocate to go beyond the ordinary summer bucket list. Use this time to discover what you care about, build skills that will last a lifetime, and take small, meaningful steps toward the leader you’re becoming.
Share how you’re taking on the GLOW Summer Bucket List for Girls using #GLOWSummerBucketList and tag us at @global_glow. We’ll be cheering you on every step of the way!
Want to help more girls around the world have a summer that changes everything? It just takes $17 a month to provide life-changing mentorship for one girl. Make a monthly gift and help us bring GLOW Club programming to girls who need it most.
We hope this summer bucket list for girls and advocates serves as an inspiration for you beyond just the summer. If you’re committed to doing at least one thing on our GLOW Summer Bucket List, sign the pledge and let us know you’re in!
Ready to commit to your summer?
By submitting this form, you agree to take the pledge and be added to our mailing list. You can unsubscribe at any time using the link in any email. We value your privacy and will never sell or share your personal information. If you are under 13, please ask a parent or guardian before signing up. For details, view our Privacy Statement.
