Soroptimists to Sponsor Girl Power Conference

COURT HOUSE — Cape Assist’s 10th annual Girl Power Conference will be held on Oct. 2, from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., at the Cape May County Technical High School, Crest Haven Complex, Exit 11 off the Garden State Parkway.
The event is free and open to all girls in Cape May County ages 9-14. The day will consist of speakers, workshops, exhibits, and special guests, all designed to give the girls an opportunity to interact with each other and other members of the community.
In addition, there will be a complimentary breakfast, lunch, prizes and sessions for parents. Two buses will provide transportation this year. One will pick-up and drop-off at the Upper Township Elementary School and the other at the Richard M. Teitleman School in Lower Township.
The Cape May County Soroptimists will once again sponsor the Girl Power! Conference. Soroptimists is an international volunteer organization dedicated to improving the lives of women and girls, in local communities and throughout the world.
The Cape May County Soroptimists organization has hosted workshops and exhibits at the Girl Power! Conference for the past several years. This year, through their own initiative, generosity, and fundraising, they have also secured additional funding for the conference.
“Girl Power!” is a multiphase, national public education campaign sponsored by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to help encourage and empower 9- to 14-year-old girls to make the most of their lives.
Studies show that girls tend to lose self-confidence and self-worth during this pivotal age, becoming less physically active, performing less well in school, and neglecting their own interests and aspirations.
It’s during these years that girls become more vulnerable to negative outside influences and to mixed messages about risky behaviors.
Girl Power! combines strong “no-use” messages about tobacco, alcohol, and illicit drugs with an emphasis on providing opportunities for girls to build skills and self-confidence in academics, arts, sports, and other endeavors.
The theme for this year’s Girl Power! Conference will focus on three main categories, giving the girls a very well-rounded array of information on their future, their health, and their hobbies.
Some of this year’s returning classes include: Feeling Smoothie, Working with the Animals, Cut the Fat, Tennis Anyone, Just Breathe Yoga, and “The Mane Event”.
A few new classes that we will be introducing at this year’s conference include: Living Your Values, Journaling, Martial Arts, Marketing and Advertising, Hair Design, C is for Cookie, and Polynesian Dance.
For more information on the Cape May County Girl Power Conference, please contact Cape Assist at 522-5960. Registration forms are available through the Cape May County schools and also on the Cape Assist website at www.capeassist.org/GPRegistration2010.pdf .