Heather Latter
The “I am Awesome! (And I Know It!)” retreat for girls aged 11-16 will begin accepting registrations this Monday (May 2) for its fourth-annual event, which is scheduled for Sept. 22-25 at Sunny Cove Camp.
Retreat director Renée Martin-Brown said the “register here” link will appear on the website (www.i-am-awesome.ca) at 7 a.m.
A total of 60 girls will be accepted.
“Applications are received on a first-come basis so they need to register early to reserve their spot,” Martin-Brown stressed, adding they then have until Aug. 15 to complete the fundraising component.
“It’s about empowerment and personal discovery, focusing on self-esteem awareness,” she explained.
“It’s a weekend journey of the heart, body, mind, and spirit, proving that being uniquely you is the perfect you.”
Martin-Brown added the retreat seeks to promote confidence in the participants and give them the tools to face the struggles teen girls often encounter, such as bullying.
“Even though we have zero-tolerance policies for bullying in place, the girls continue to feel bullied,” she noted.
“Whether it’s being acknowledged or not, they still feel it.
“When we allow a time of conversation and sharing, that’s the first topic that’s in their hearts,” Martin-Brown said.
“So we try to give them tools and strategies to work through that, and let them know that they can always find someone to support them.”
Participants will talk more about mental health issues this year, Martin-Brown noted.
“We have had girls coming into the retreat at the age of 11 who admit to self-harm, which is frightening,” she remarked.
“We’re glad they tell us because otherwise it would be easy for them to hide that.
“This is our fourth year and now it’s time to dig a little deeper,” she said.
Martin-Brown has discovered smaller discussion groups allow for the girls to be more engaged.
In previous years, they’ve been split into two age groups. But this year, they will be divided into three groups for the “big” conversations.
“It will allow more opportunity to share,” she reasoned, adding they’ll have educators, mental heath workers, and social workers on site during the retreat.
“They are there to offer the girls one-on-one time to chat or let them know where they can go to get help if they find they need someone to talk to,” she explained.
The retreat also strives to bring out confidence in the girls by having them participate in a variety of arts-based workshops over the course of the weekend.
These include music, drama, creative writing, and visual arts, which all are centered around self-esteem education and personal development.
“We see them gain more confidence as they try things out in a non-threatening environment,” Martin-Brown said.
“They are supported and so proud of themselves.
“And that’s something they can carry on with them through school and life,” she added.
Details are being finalized for the presenters, which will be available on the website once they’re confirmed.
Martin-Brown said she’s doing her best to maintain the quality of the retreat despite having a smaller operating budget this year due to not securing any major funding.
The retreat was awarded the $45,000 grand prize in the Aviva Community Fund competition in 2014.
Then last year, it earned $10,000 from the “Tbaytel for Good” competition, as well as funds through the Moffat Family Fund.
“This year, I’ve applied for some grants but we haven’t been selected at this point for any funding,” Martin-Brown noted.
“So we’re going to have to rely solely on fundraising.”
Martin-Brown said the girls have a $300 fundraising initiative that they’re encouraged to complete in order to attend the retreat, which has generated $13,000-$15,000 in both 2014 and 2015.
“It’s a very important aspect of the program,” she stressed. “It’s what is keeping us thriving at this point.
“We’re hoping the girls for the 2016 retreat will take that very seriously,” Martin-Brown added.
“We’re going to continue to ask our community for support, and try to get our program out there on a larger scale, so that people can continue to donate if they see the benefit.”
Martin-Brown noted the retreat remains affiliated with the OPP’s Youth Foundation.
“It’s been a great partnership,” she enthused, adding they “administer all our funds.”
“Donations can be made online through the OPP Youth Foundation,” she explained.
“There is a place in the donation process to select which program, so if you just write the ‘I am Awesome!’ retreat, the money is allocated to the program.”
The “I am Awesome! (And I Know It!)” program also encourages participants to work together to do group fundraising projects.
In past years, Martin-Brown noted they have held tag days, a canteen at the soccer field, yard cleaning, and food vendors at community events.
“They have worked hard,” she enthused. “And I know we will have another awesome retreat ahead.”
For more information, visit www.i-am-awesome.ca
