Youth Workshops
WELCOME TO ESE
At The Eastern School of Etiquette (ESE), our youth programs are intentionally designed to embrace confidence, awareness, and socially refined young ladies.
Through our signature POISED™ Framework—Presence, Order, Intention, Self, Expression, and Distinction—we guide girls ages 8–17 in developing the inner poise and outward grace needed to navigate life with confidence and character.
Our workshops go beyond etiquette.
They cultivate identity, elevate behavior, and nurture the whole young lady—from how she carries herself to how she understands herself.
The Poised Girl Academy: A 10-Week Youth Program
The Poised Girl Academy is the Eastern School of Etiquette's signature youth development experience designed to cultivate confident, emotionally intelligent, and purpose-driven young ladies. More than an etiquette program, this comprehensive academy develops the whole young lady—equipping her with the mindset, life skills, and confidence to thrive in school, relationships, leadership opportunities, and everyday life.
Grounded in ESE's signature POISED™ Framework—Presence, Order, Intention, Self, Expression, and Distinction—the Academy provides a transformational journey that develops both inner character and outward confidence. Through nine interactive workshops, girls strengthen emotional intelligence, communication skills, leadership abilities, social awareness, personal presence, and authentic self-expression while learning to navigate life's opportunities with wisdom, confidence, and grace.
ALL YOUTH WORKSHOPS BELOW ARE INCLUDED IN ACADEMY
Saturday, September 12th - Saturday, November 21st
In-Person Classes Begin On
We meet each Saturday: Harriet Tubman Cultural Center, 8045 Harriet Tubman Ln, Columbia, MD 21044, Room 109
Ages: 8 to 12 Sessions: 9:45 am - 10:45 am
Ages: 13 to 17 Sessions: 11:00 am - 12:00 pm
The Poised Girl Academy offers all youth workshops together at a special bundled rate. When you enroll in the Academy, every workshop listed below is included in your registration. If you prefer, you may also register for workshops individually.
Specific dates and times are provided with each workshop listing.
Her Radiance: Self-Awareness & Identity
WEEK ONE: SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2026
This workshop deepens the Self pillar by guiding young ladies through self-discovery, emotional mastery, and value exploration. Participants gain tools to better understand their identity and inner strengths. This engaging experience helps young ladies discover who they are, what they value, and how to express themselves with confidence and clarity.
Outcomes:
• Increased self-awareness and emotional mastery
• Exploration of personal values and identity
• Strengthened self-image and confidence
• Development of social and emotional skills
This workshop deepens the Self pillar by guiding young ladies through self-discovery, emotional mastery, and value exploration. Participants gain tools to better understand their identity and inner strengths. This engaging experience helps young ladies discover who they are, what they value, and how to express themselves with confidence and clarity.
Outcomes:
• Increased self-awareness and emotional mastery
• Exploration of personal values and identity
• Strengthened self-image and confidence
• Development of social and emotional skills
Confident Girls: Building Inner Poise
WEEK TWO: SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2026
This workshop strengthens the Self pillar by helping young ladies develop self-confidence, emotional awareness, and personal resilience. Participants explore how understanding themselves is the foundation of authentic confidence. This signature workshop focuses on developing confidence from within—helping girls strengthen their voice, self-worth, and emotional resilience.
Outcomes:
• Increased self-confidence and self-esteem
• Improved communication and self-expression
• Strengthened resilience and coping strategies
• Supportive connection with like-minded peers
This workshop strengthens the Self pillar by helping young ladies develop self-confidence, emotional awareness, and personal resilience. Participants explore how understanding themselves is the foundation of authentic confidence. This signature workshop focuses on developing confidence from within—helping girls strengthen their voice, self-worth, and emotional resilience.
Outcomes:
• Increased self-confidence and self-esteem
• Improved communication and self-expression
• Strengthened resilience and coping strategies
• Supportive connection with like-minded peers
Breaking Barriers: From Mean to Queen
WEEK ONE: SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2026
This program reinforces the Intention pillar by teaching young ladies how to make thoughtful choices in social situations, respond to challenges with emotional maturity, and cultivate supportive peer relationships. This transformative program equips young ladies with the tools to navigate peer pressure, social challenges, and emotional obstacles with confidence and maturity.
Outcomes:
• Resilience in the face of social challenges
• Tools to address and prevent bullying behaviors
• Emotional regulation and mindfulness strategies
• Encouragement of supportive and uplifting peer relationships
This program reinforces the Intention pillar by teaching young ladies how to make thoughtful choices in social situations, respond to challenges with emotional maturity, and cultivate supportive peer relationships. This transformative program equips young ladies with the tools to navigate peer pressure, social challenges, and emotional obstacles with confidence and maturity.
Outcomes:
• Resilience in the face of social challenges
• Tools to address and prevent bullying behaviors
• Emotional regulation and mindfulness strategies
• Encouragement of supportive and uplifting peer relationships
The Friendship Code: Healthy Relationships
WEEK ONE: SATURDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2026
This workshop strengthens the Expression pillar by teaching girls how to communicate openly, resolve conflicts respectfully, and build friendships rooted in empathy and understanding. This program teaches young ladies how to build, maintain, and nurture meaningful friendships rooted in respect, communication, and authenticity.
Outcomes:
• Healthy communication and conflict resolution skills
• Understanding of boundaries and mutual respect
• Appreciation of diversity in friendships
• Strengthened sense of identity within relationships
This workshop strengthens the Expression pillar by teaching girls how to communicate openly, resolve conflicts respectfully, and build friendships rooted in empathy and understanding. This program teaches young ladies how to build, maintain, and nurture meaningful friendships rooted in respect, communication, and authenticity.
Outcomes:
• Healthy communication and conflict resolution skills
• Understanding of boundaries and mutual respect
• Appreciation of diversity in friendships
• Strengthened sense of identity within relationships
Give It To Get It: Respect & Courtesy
WEEK ONE: SATURDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2026
This workshop connects to the Intention pillar by teaching young ladies that respectful behavior and thoughtful communication are choices. Participants learn to approach interactions with awareness, kindness, and purpose. This experience teaches that respect begins within and is reflected outward. Young ladies learn how to communicate, listen, and engage with kindness and awareness in both in-person and digital spaces.
Outcomes:
• Understanding the value of respect and courtesy
• Strengthened communication and active listening skills
• Awareness of respectful behavior online and offline
• Development of positive social interactions
This workshop connects to the Intention pillar by teaching young ladies that respectful behavior and thoughtful communication are choices. Participants learn to approach interactions with awareness, kindness, and purpose. This experience teaches that respect begins within and is reflected outward. Young ladies learn how to communicate, listen, and engage with kindness and awareness in both in-person and digital spaces.
Outcomes:
• Understanding the value of respect and courtesy
• Strengthened communication and active listening skills
• Awareness of respectful behavior online and offline
• Development of positive social interactions
Allow Me To Introduce Myself: The Art of First Impressions
WEEK ONE: SATURDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2026
This workshop supports the Expression pillar by helping young ladies refine how they communicate and present themselves socially. Through introductions, communication skills, and presentation techniques, participants learn how to express their character with confidence. Young ladies learn how to present themselves with intention, confidence, and authenticity—understanding that how they show up matters.
Outcomes:
• Increased confidence in introductions and interactions
• Enhanced communication and presentation skills
• Awareness of personal image and presence
• Ability to create lasting, positive impressions
This workshop supports the Expression pillar by helping young ladies refine how they communicate and present themselves socially. Through introductions, communication skills, and presentation techniques, participants learn how to express their character with confidence. Young ladies learn how to present themselves with intention, confidence, and authenticity—understanding that how they show up matters.
Outcomes:
• Increased confidence in introductions and interactions
• Enhanced communication and presentation skills
• Awareness of personal image and presence
• Ability to create lasting, positive impressions
Walking With Grace: Poise & Presence
WEEK ONE: SATURDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2026
This workshop strengthens the Presence pillar by helping young ladies understand how posture, movement, and body awareness influence how they are perceived. By refining physical presence, participants learn to enter spaces with calm confidence and quiet strength. This workshop develops physical presence through posture, movement, and body awareness—helping each young lady carry herself with quiet confidence.
Outcomes:
• Improved posture and body alignment
• Increased confidence in movement and presence
• Enhanced nonverbal communication
• Greater self-awareness in how she shows up physically
This workshop strengthens the Presence pillar by helping young ladies understand how posture, movement, and body awareness influence how they are perceived. By refining physical presence, participants learn to enter spaces with calm confidence and quiet strength. This workshop develops physical presence through posture, movement, and body awareness—helping each young lady carry herself with quiet confidence.
Outcomes:
• Improved posture and body alignment
• Increased confidence in movement and presence
• Enhanced nonverbal communication
• Greater self-awareness in how she shows up physically
You Grow Girl: Personal Style & Appearance
WEEK ONE: SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2026
This workshop cultivates the Distinction pillar by encouraging young ladies to develop a personal style that reflects self-respect and individuality. Participants learn that appearance can be an authentic extension of identity. This workshop empowers young ladies to explore their personal style while aligning their appearance with confidence, self-expression, and self-respect.
Outcomes:
• Discovery of personal style and identity
• Thoughtful wardrobe and grooming choices
• Development of a positive self-image
• Increased confidence in self-presentation
This workshop cultivates the Distinction pillar by encouraging young ladies to develop a personal style that reflects self-respect and individuality. Participants learn that appearance can be an authentic extension of identity. This workshop empowers young ladies to explore their personal style while aligning their appearance with confidence, self-expression, and self-respect.
Outcomes:
• Discovery of personal style and identity
• Thoughtful wardrobe and grooming choices
• Development of a positive self-image
• Increased confidence in self-presentation
WEEK ONE: SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2026
This workshop develops the Order pillar of the POISED™ Framework by teaching young ladies how structured etiquette and social awareness create confidence in shared spaces. Through dining protocol, participants learn how order and awareness allow them to navigate social settings with comfort and grace. This immersive dining experience teaches young ladies how to navigate any table setting with confidence, awareness, and grace. Students learn that dining etiquette is not about perfection—but about presence.
Outcomes:
• Confident navigation of formal and casual dining settings
• Polished table manners and social awareness
• Strengthened first impressions in social environments
• Increased comfort in group and public settings
Meals & Manners: Dining with Poise
This workshop develops the Order pillar of the POISED™ Framework by teaching young ladies how structured etiquette and social awareness create confidence in shared spaces. Through dining protocol, participants learn how order and awareness allow them to navigate social settings with comfort and grace. This immersive dining experience teaches young ladies how to navigate any table setting with confidence, awareness, and grace. Students learn that dining etiquette is not about perfection—but about presence.
Outcomes:
• Confident navigation of formal and casual dining settings
• Polished table manners and social awareness
• Strengthened first impressions in social environments
• Increased comfort in group and public settings
