<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\u201cI am so proud of every girl that showed up and tried new things, especially when they were scared. I am proud of them for being vulnerable with themselves, with each other, and the Active Girls-Healthy Girls staff,\u201d she said. \u201cTheir efforts each day did not go unnoticed, and I hope they themselves are proud, too.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
CWHW Graduate Research Assistant Eryn Murray agreed, saying it was inspiring to see the campers build relationships and try something different time and again. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In between the physical activities, the counselors and various guest speakers talked to the girls about different health topics. This included how to calm their body and mind, making healthy food choices, mindfulness, the unique challenges girls face being physically active, and more. They also had general discussions during lunch and snacks, to get to know each other and talk about what was on the girls\u2019 minds. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
For Dr. Jessica Dollar, associate director of CWHW, the chance to provide this programming for girls, in a female-only camp, was something she thought was extremely successful. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe were intentional in providing a variety of content in terms of physical exertion and learning about ways to be both physically and mentally healthy,\u201d she said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
It was important that the campers felt that they could be themselves and move freely without feeling like they were being physically judged or competing with others. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dollar said CWHW learned some things, too. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe definitely learned about some topics and activities that were more successful and popular than others, which will guide our design of activities next year. However, we think we had an appropriate mixture of time to move versus learning and talking,\u201d she said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
CWHW began planning the Spring Break Camp last spring, after re-envisioning another one of its key programs, the Program for the Advancement of Girls and Women in Sport and Physical Activity (PAGWSPA). After re-thinking PAGWSPA, CWHW identified several barriers to girls being physically active, and created the strategic plan for the Spring Break Camp, which included six staff members, eight volunteers, eight speakers, one community partner, and one university partner to successfully operate it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Dawn S. Chaney Foundation enabled the food to be free, transportation to be provided to and from several Guilford County Schools for girls who needed it, equipment to be available, and the speakers and additional resources to be available. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDawn\u2019s gift reduced any barriers for girls to access the camp. This was huge,\u201d said Shultz. \u201cMost importantly, her support as an advocate for girls to be physically active was also very much appreciated in how she assisted us in getting the word out into the community. We are very grateful for her support.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Chaney was there for most of the camp, and Shultz said she saw a big smile on her face while seeing the girls climb the rock wall, learn about exercise, play one of the many sports, talk about nutrition, and interact with the UNCG faculty, staff, and students who were there. <\/p>\n\n\n\nIt was very encouraging to see young girls able to come to a higher education institution and to see all the activities and sports programs. I saw them build relationships and experiment with their bodies for what they could do. Having their instructors there, teaching them and encouraging them was very important<\/p>Dawn Chaney, Dawn S. Chaney Foundation<\/cite><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\nCWHW Faculty Fellow Dr. Jaclyn Maher expressed the importance of ensuring this age population knows good physical activity habits and said there were signs the girls would continue what they learned. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAt the end of the two-day camp, more than 90% of girls reported being more confident in their ability to be physically active compared to the beginning of the camp, and their knowledge of how to be physically active had improved compared to the beginning of the camp,\u201d she said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
CWHW is also working on an app so the girls and their parents or caregivers can continue to participate in some of the activities and content that they learned in their daily lives. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Postlethwait said she hopes this camp is only the start for those who attended. She said the goal is for the girls to go on and continue to be active throughout their lives, and to spread the message to their friends, family, and to others. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
CWHW hopes to hold the Spring Break Camp again in 2025, possibly expanding it to four days, based on the feedback they received from this year\u2019s attendees. They\u2019d also like to extend the community outreach and expand the activities offered. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
By Sarah Newell For two days during spring break, 50 elementary-aged girls tried new physical activities and games in a welcoming, empowering environment at UNC Greensboro. They were part of the inaugural Active Girls-Healthy Girls Spring Break Camp, which was held by UNCG\u2019s Center for Women\u2019s Health and Wellness with … Continued<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":16533,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"hide_page_title":"","hide_breadcrumbs":"","hide_featured_image":"","_meta_field_banner_image":[],"_meta_field_nav_page_parent_limit":"0","_meta_field_nav_page_depth_limit":"0","footnotes":""},"categories":[7,14],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-16524","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-all-hhs-news","category-featured-stories"],"yoast_head":"\nNew Camp Proves Inspiring for Greensboro Girls\u00a0 - School of Health and Human Sciences<\/title>\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\t \n\t \n\t \n \n \n \n\t \n\t \n\t \n