Heather Latter
The “I am Awesome! (And I Know It!)” regional retreat for girls aged 10-16 will begin taking registrations next Thursday (May 15) at 7 a.m. for its second event, which is scheduled for Sept. 25-28 at Sunny Cove Camp.
“It’s about empowerment and personal discovery, focusing on self-esteem awareness,” explained retreat director Renée Martin-Brown.
“It’s a weekend journey of the heart, body, mind, and spirit, proving that being uniquely you is the perfect you,” she added.
Last year’s inaugural retreat was such a success, it inspired Martin-Brown to enter the event in the Aviva Community Fund competition—and it won the grand prize of $45,000.
“It’s helping us to bring in qualified educators from around Northwestern Ontario,” said Martin-Brown, noting one presenter even is coming from as far away as Toronto.
“We are also going to have social workers and councillors on-site all weekend,” she added.
“That’s really important to us.”
Martin-Brown indicated they only had a social worker there for one afternoon during last year’s retreat.
“It was just not enough—the girls need more support,” she stressed.
“So now we will have three on-site for the whole weekend.”
The rest of the funding will be used for the accommodations at Sunny Cove and the meal costs for the weekend.
“The grant money is allowing the girls to come for free,” said Martin-Brown, adding she also will be expanding the number of participants.
“Last year we had room for 25 girls,” she noted. “At Sunny Cove, we have room for 75 girls because we have the funding to support 75 girls.
“That’s the biggest difference,” she remarked. “The money is allowing us to reach more girls through Northwestern Ontario.”
Martin-Brown is hoping to have girls attend from across Rainy River District, as well as from Dryden, Kenora, Red Lake, and Thunder Bay.
“It will give us a broader impact and we are hoping these girls that are able to attend go back to their communities as ambassadors for the program,” she said.
“In the sense that they will be able to be leaders in their classes and their communities. That they will believe in themselves and in their own self-worth. . . .
“We want to give them the tools to help [with bullying] and to know they are not alone, or where they can go to seek support,” she noted.
The weekend will feature eight workshops, including music, drama, creative writing, yoga, and Internet safety, which all are centered around self-esteem education and personal development.
Some of the confirmed presenters are Paula Wing (drama), Kathy Loney (yoga), Carrie Shouldice (creative writing), Kirstan Jewell (overcoming adversity), and Joella Notte (visual art).
“With 75 girls, we will probably break the workshops into two groups,” said Martin-Brown, citing for example girls aged 10-12 in one and 13-16 in the other.
“Then we will come together as a whole group for discussions.”
And while there is no cost to attend this year’s retreat, Martin-Brown is hoping all the participants will take part in fundraising.
“Fundraising is part of the ‘I am Awesome! (And I Know It!)’ retreat experience,” she explained.
“Although the retreat is being sponsored this year through the generous Aviva Community Fund grant money, we are asking that each girl who has the opportunity to attend the regional event to fundraise a minimum of $300.
“This is a pay-it-forward incentive for girls who will be attending in future years,” Martin-Brown reasoned.
“It is our goal to keep registration fees as low as possible as it costs $800 per girl, based on 25 girls attending in future years, to run the program.”
Martin-Brown said it will help to keep costs down to be able to reach more girls.
She added the Aviva funding has to be used within the year or returned.
In addition, the “I am Awesome! (And I Know It!)” initiative has become a not-for-profit organization and now is partnered with the OPP’s Youth Foundation.
“Therefore, the OPP Youth Foundation charity is able to issue tax receipts for all donations to the program,” Martin-Brown said.
“I’m really looking forward to this year’s retreat,” she enthused.
Registration is available online only by visiting www.i-am-awesome.ca (follow the “register here” link to sign up).
Only the first 75 applications registered online will be accepted.
More information also is available on the website.
