Passages Northwest was founded in 1996 by Annie Lareau and Jane Bierman Seibel, who shared a strong belief in the power of working with women and girls through a combination of arts, science and outdoor activities. Annie and Jane were particularly concerned about the lack of support and programming for middle school girls and created a program to provide tools and skills to young women so that they could resist negative pressures and build on their strengths.

Over the last twelve years, Passages Northwest has grown into a thriving organization, viewed as a local expert in girls’ development and diversity in the outdoors. In 2000, we were a founding member of the Northwest Girls Coalition, and we remain an active member of the NWGC as well as the Association for Experiential Education. Over 5,000 alumnae have found in us a community that will support, uplift, and strengthen them.