Heather Latter
For a third-straight year, Renée Martin-Brown set out to inspire a group of young women through her “I Am Awesome! (And I Know It!)” self-esteem retreat—and that’s exactly what she did.
A total of 65 girls aged 11-16—some from as far away as Ear Falls, Thunder Bay, and Timmins—gathered at Sunny Cove over the weekend to nurture and develop self-esteem while exploring areas such as positive body image, peer pressure, confidence building, exploring emotions, and media influences.
“From the moment the girls arrived, you knew they were excited to be there,” enthused Martin-Brown, adding she felt that energy all weekend.
The girls participated in a variety of workshops and activities during the retreat—one being a photo voice led by Nancy Daley-Fulton.
“The project was around the importance of the retreat,” Daley-Fulton explained.
“They were to take photos of something that resonated with them as to why they worked so hard to be there for this retreat weekend.”
Daley-Fulton noted there were all kinds of different pictures, including of a tree and a pair of shoes.
“One of the things that is wonderful about [the tree] is that I could just smell it, and it was quiet and peaceful,” she said about the caption for the photo of the tree.
The photo of the pair of shoes, meanwhile, portrayed a journey.
“My feet brought me here and they help me stand, just like the retreat helps me stand,” Daley-Fulton said of one of the girls’ comments.
“They were really powerful,” she added. “It’s about putting together a picture and words and giving it life.”
Daley-Fulton spent many hours preparing a slideshow of the photos that was viewed by all on the final day of the retreat.
“I was just amazed by the final product,” said Martin-Brown, noting it took a lot of work to complete the project given a photo voice project usually takes about eight weeks while they condensed it into two days.
“They put a voice to their photos and it was very personal for each of them, focusing on why the retreat is so important to them,” echoed Daley-Fulton.
Other powerful activities included posting positive “Post-It” notes across the camp, releasing balloons covered in messages of dreams and inspirational words, and parading with lit candles from the main lodge to the beach while singing “Fight Song” by Rachel Platten.
“It was just so symbolic of lighting the fire within us,” Martin-Brown said about the song.
“It was so serene seeing the candles burning on the beach and reflecting on the water.
“It really captured the essence of the retreat and reflected what our dreams were for the weekend,” she added.
The girls also spent Friday and Saturday participating in workshops, such as drama led by Eleanor Albanese of Thunder Bay, visual arts led by Crystal Nielson of Thunder Bay, and creative writing led by Joelle Barron of Fort Frances.
The yoga session was led by Becky Holden of Nestor Falls, music by Martin-Brown, and self-esteem education by Tiffany Clifford-Smith of Fort Frances.
For all of the workshops, the girls were divided into two groups—those aged 11-12 and those aged 13-16.
The older girls talked about healthy and unhealthy relationships while the younger group started out discussing negative and positive self-talk.
But Martin-Brown noted the girls wanted to share more about their stories of bullying.
“It was great that Tiffany was able to adapt to that,” she noted, adding Clifford-Smith was able to provide support to the girls.
“And it was interesting to see them navigate the workshop on their own,” Martin-Brown said.
The girls also had plenty of free time to journal, make new friends, and get ready for the semi-formal dance that took place Saturday evening, with music provided by Party Rock DJ Services.
Then on the final day Sunday, they took part in wrap-up activities, watched videos, and handed out prizes for the top fundraisers, which were Aurora Hutton of Fort Frances ($675), Emily Howarth of Dryden ($600), and Laura Cochrane of Terrace Bay ($548.75).
While the retreat was funded in part by winning the $10,000 grand prize from the “Tbaytel for Good” competition, as well as by multiple donations from community organizations, the participants took part in a pay-it-forward initiative to go towards next year’s retreat.
Martin-Brown said the girls worked hard to reach their goal by taking on multiple fundraising activities, including tag days, running a concession stand at soccer, selling food at the dragon boat festival, sorting recycling at Cloverleaf, hauling yard waste, and hosting “Music in the Park,” among others.
Together they raised a total of $14,000.
Nathalie Clouthier noted her daughter, who attended from Timmins, only regrets not fundraising more because now she really sees the value of the retreat.
Clouthier recalled her daughter came home from school with information she had found online about the retreat and said she wanted to go.
“So I looked into it and without even really looking at how far we had to go, we decided if this is what she wants, this is what we’ll give her,” she remarked.
And she added it was worth the 12-hour trip—one way—to attend.
“[My daughter] made some lifelong friends and she learned the positivity is the key to your self esteem,” Clouthier noted.
“She wants to go back next year and she wants to take a couple of her friends.”
Her daughter said the retreat really would help her friends in understanding how beautiful and awesome they are.
Even the adult counsellors lauded the retreat.
“The sparkle in their eyes stays with me,” noted one. “I am so grateful to be a part of the amazing team that brings Renée’s dream into reality.
“I wish I had this when I was a kid,” she added.
“I can’t say enough about how great this experience is for girls because when women support each other, amazing things happen!”
Another counsellor said she had a tremendous weekend.
She indicated she was so thrilled “to be a part of something that will, undoubtedly, change a young woman’s life for the better, times 65—in one weekend.”
“We all should have had this experience,” she added.
“You can see the confidence build in these young women as the weekend went on.”
“I think every year we learn a little more about what the girls’ needs are,” said Martin-Brown, noting sometimes the connections are happening in ways they don’t even realize.
“I’m going to try to figure out how we can incorporate a little more one-on-one time,” she said for next year’s retreat, which will take place in late September (registration to open in May).
“I’m very happy with the program we have for the girls so far,” Martin-Brown stressed. “They are connected to the arts-based workshops and they like creating projects that they can take with them.
“So I really feel like we are on track with that,” she reasoned. “They are really digging deep. . . .
“And they are really benefitting form the program,” Martin-Brown added.
“They know they need to be that positive light—don’t be afraid to stand up for others and don’t be afraid to go for your dreams.”
For more information about the retreat, visit www.i-am-awesome.ca
