Girl Power!

Annual camp empowers young girls

Last week, a group of local girls learned what it means to be empowered.

Girls between 8 and 13 years old attended the 5th Annual Girl Power Camp in Luling which focused on empowerment for young girls.

Madeleine Naquin, 13, has been to the camp multiple times and said it helps to build her self esteem.

“It has taught me to think more positively about myself,” Naquin said.

Susan Fendlason, director of the camp in St. Charles, said she sees positive changes in the girls every year.

Each day of the camp had a different theme involving self discovery, positive body image, communication, healthy friendships and self esteem. Licensed social workers lead the camp in indoor and outdoor activities.

“The goal is to increase their self esteem, develop healthy relationships and learn how to communicate with each other,” Fendlason said. “It’s been a great summer – I hear a lot of girls saying they wish camp was longer.”

Hailey Walthall, a 10-year-old from Destrehan, said that she really enjoyed her first summer at the camp and will definitely come back next year. Her favorite activities were doing arts and crafts with her new friends and learning about team work during daily games.

Walthall also learned positive ways to communicate, such as keeping eye contact with the people she has conversations with.

Each summer, she takes the positive messages she learns at camp and shares them with her friends that could not attend.
Luling’s 8-year-old Paige Stabile attended the camp for the first time this year and said she really enjoyed all of the activities.

“I learned a lot, like to not try to do something that you’re uncomfortable with,” Stabile said. “It’s a lot of fun.”

The camp was sponsored by Catholic Charities and the St. Charles Women’s Club for girls parishwide.