Bob France is Chief of Staff at Marvell Semiconductor, and is a National Board Member as well as a longtime Citizen Teacher in our California campuses.

Bob France taught his first Lego Robotics Apprenticeship with Citizen Schools in 2013, then went on to develop a 3D Printing class, and later led a Girls’ Backpacking trip. It’s become a family affair, where his son participated in facilitating the 3D Printing class and his wife, Dianne, partnered with him on the backpacking trip. What do all of these have in common? It’s about building skills and ultimately, confidence for life and career. Bob said, “Years from now kids may not remember the specifics of what they learned but I hope they will always have that confidence. Confidence is actually a job skill!”

Perhaps the greatest embodiment of that confidence can be found in the girls’ backpacking class. Bob and Dianne were inspired by learning in a study that women and girls who participate in outdoor activities feel more empowered and free. They took a group of girls through the Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve with 10-15 pounds of personal gear and learned survival strategies, including first aid, what to do in the event of an accident, and how to stay calm. For some of the girls, it’s their first exposure to rough terrain and overnight camping outdoors.

Bob recalled that Bonnie, one of the girls on the trip, reflected on her experience and felt “some of the things applied outside of backpacking.” This included how to assess and manage a situation and asking the questions: what’s wrong? What happened? What’s important to do first? Even in the short time she spent on the trip, Bonnie was able to recognize that she could improve on how to stay calm in stressful situations.

The confidence these girls develop in a short timeframe will serve them well outdoors, in the classroom and later in their careers.