AUGUSTA — More than 100 girls will be at the Statehouse Thursday for the 12th annual Girls’ Day organized by the Maine Women’s Policy Center.

The girls, all in 8th grade, will have an opportunity to witness the legislative process first hand, participate in a mock public hearing and press conference, take part in a scavenger hunt and meet with elected women leaders, according to the center.

They will also meet Gov. John Baldacci.

"Girls' Day enables young women to envision themselves as leaders and to learn how to have a voice in the issues they care about," Maine Women's Policy Center Executive Director Sarah Standiford said in a prepared statement.

"Our hope is that these young women come away with real insights into the political process and a feeling of excitement about participating in it.”

The Maine Women’s Policy Center is a private nonprofit, nonpartisan organization whose purpose is to improve the lives of women and girls through public policy and leadership development.