The James Center

Real world. Right now.

That's the vision and vibrancy of The James Center at Garrison Forest School.

With an array of interwoven curricular and co-curricular programs in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math), financial literacy, service learning, civic engagement, and leadership development, Garrison Forest students learn hands-on by exploring their passions. Trying new skills. Leading with confidence.  And making their mark on the world today and tomorrow.

By partnering with institutions and organizations—including a groundbreaking collaboration with The Johns Hopkins University--The James Center reinvents girls' education and extends learning and leadership well beyond campus borders. 

Explore The James Center's programs, partnerships, people, and recent news:

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Civic Engagement & Service Learning 

Includes the Elsie Foster Jenkins '53 Fund for Community Service, the Jenkins Fellows, Service League, and more:

Learning to Lead

Includes the GFS collaboration with the Baltimore Community Foundation's Middle Grades Partnership.

Watch this video by Emmy-award-winning documentary filmmaker Allen Moore to learn more about The James Center. For a full history on the Center's innovative founding and programming, click here.

James Center Photo Gallery

  • 2013 BizTown for 4th & 5th Grades
    40 Files
  • "Give-N-Go for Jhpiego" Basketball Tournament

    GFS and local girls' schools co-hosted a basketball tournament to raise funds for Jhpiego as part of "January for Jhpiego."

    47 Files
  • Race for the Cure Race Day 2012

    Team GFS was incredible on 10/21/12! Largest team overall AND 4-time Race winner, David Berdan!

    48 Files
  • Garrison Forest students serve as mentors for MGP students.
    2012 Middle Grades Partnership
    18 Files
  • Sara Hamilton '12, spent her WISE semester at Johns Hopkins studying food chain contamination in the Chesapeake Bay. She also conducted research at the National Aquarium with her WISE mentor.
    STEM Photos
    48 Files
  • During "JA in a Day," all Lower School students enjoy a day of hands-on learning about money matters in a Junior Achievement program taught by GFS parent volunteers.
    Financial Literacy Photos
    15 Files
  • Julie Stellmann '12 went to Honduras in summer 2012 to volunteer in medical clinics. As a 2011 Jenkins Fellow, Julie volunteered with a medical mission group in Peru.
    Civic Engagement & Service Learning Photos
    23 Files
  • Whitty Ransome, James Center Director, with 2012 Women of the World-Baltimore Festival founders, Jude Kelly and Marin Alsop.
    Learning to Lead Photos
    15 Files
  • The summer 2011 MGP group poses in front of the GFS Middle School, their home for the MGP summer program.
    2011 Middle Grades Partnership Photos
    12 Files