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Camps build girls’ self-esteem

Nanaimo teens provided a foundation for healthy living.
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PHOTO CONTRIBUTED Participants in the Building a LEGacy fitness challenge raised more than $6

Getting a leg up on fitness proved beneficial in removing barriers for girls wanting to attend summer camp.

Sarah and David Gilks, owners of Core Essentials gym, ran Building a LEGacy fitness challenge from March to June with more than 100 women taking part.

To make the challenge different, they raised funds for young girls in the community to attend the Esteemed CHICs (Choosing Health and Integrating Changes) summer camps that focus on positive body image, self-esteem and healthy living.

The  fitness participants wanted to send 20 girls to camp. A one-week camp costs $250/child and they exceeded their goal raising $6,250 over the 12-week challenge.

Angela Slade, camp founder and child and youth counsellor, knows the importance of teaching young girls healthy body image and confidence-building skills.

“For many girls, even as young as five, being ‘model thin’ is a goal and with more and more TV shows and Internet images focused on appearance, their self-esteem is constantly being challenged,” she said.

Slade developed the summer camps seven years ago while doing her undergrad in child and youth care.

The day camps use age appropriate discussions and activities to provide girls with a positive foundation on which to build a happy and healthy young teen.

“I encourage them to be who they truly are, not what someone wants them to be,” she said.

For more information on the camps, please call 250-668-7454 or go to www.esteemedchics.com.