While some camps teach you how to tackle the wilderness, one is teaching girls how to navigate another type of territory.
For over ten years Second Story Women’s Centre has held Girl Talk day camps in communities across the South Shore for girls aged 9 to 12.
Emma Sutherland, lead facilitator with the camp, says they do fun activities but also talk about a variety of issues with the girls from puberty to body image issues.
“We try to bridge that gap and have conversations about how we can have those conversations and maybe give them some of that information they don’t have or their parents aren’t necessarily comfortable giving them,” says Sutherland.
The camps are tailored to meet the needs of each group that takes part, which Sutherland says has been evolving.
This year they’re paying particular attention to mental health and what consent means, particularly in light of the #MeToo movement.
“Last summer I saw questions about what it means to be sexually assaulted … when I see these questions I think that just reiterates how important it is to talk to the girls about consent.”
This year they’re letting the girls take the lead on what they want to talk about.
The day camps generally start with some discussions about body image and photoshop, because the crafts often involve using magazines.
Sutherland says it’s important the girls know that what they see in them, isn’t always real.
But Sutherland says if there’s something that’s on the minds of a particular group, whether that’s drugs or mental health, they’ll tackle the topic.
The day camps also provide a way for girls to talk about things their parents might not be comfortable talking about either like whether to shave or not or when to start wearing a bra.
The day camps include games and crafts, like making friendship bracelets, or dresses from newspapers and it’s all free, due in part to funding from Lunenburg United Way.
For more information on dates and locations and where to sign up, click here.
Story by Brittany Wentzell
@BrittWentzell
