Some of the most powerful stories start with a deep breath, the kind you take before stepping off solid ground.
When we learned that the them of Girl Scouts San Diego‘s annual Urban Campout event was “Defying Gravity,” we knew we had to document the girls as they took on a ropes course at Camp Whispering Oaks. What unfolded was more than a day of climbing – it was a masterclass in courage, connection and redefining what it means to feel grounded.
“It’s hard in life, especially as you get older,” shared Lightning, the Challenge Course Director. “You’re not really in a lot of high-fear situations. It’s kind of hard to find your growth zone when you’re just running errands or going to school. But here, you really get to see how you react.”
On the course, that idea came to life. Each step up the wall and every shaky moment in the air became a chance to test limits — not just physically, but emotionally. The girls learned that strength doesn’t always mean standing still or staying composed. Sometimes it means shaking, laughing, and still choosing to move forward.
The girls were gracious enough to clip a lavalier microphone to their harnesses so we could hear every inner thought as they reached for the top.
“For young girls and women, it can be hard to feel in control – to feel grounded,” Lightning reflected. “It’s often portrayed in a very stereotypical way, like being grounded means being stoic or non-emotional. But here, we show that you can defy that sense of gravity and still find security in your own way. You can be safe on the ground, but you can also be safe hanging 30 feet in the air.”
Instead of pushing participants to simply reach the top, Lightning and the team encouraged them to listen to their bodies, take breaks when needed, and trust themselves enough to try again. That small shift from performance to presence changed everything.
And when they finally reached their own version of the top, the cheers echoed through the trees.
From behind the camera, we watched those moments unfold in real time, the hesitation before a leap, the laughter that followed, the visible shift from fear to confidence. It’s the kind of transformation that reminds us why we do what we do: to document real people in the moments they realize what they’re capable of.
San Diego’s Girl Scouts continue to inspire us with their fearless energy and unwavering belief in each other. Every climb, every laugh and every deep breath reminds us: defying gravity isn’t about leaving the ground – it’s about lifting yourself higher than fear.
