Holy Cross Female Athletes Host Sports and Body Image Camp for Worcester Girls

WORCESTER, Mass. – Female student volunteers at the College of the Holy Cross will be running "Fit Girls Camp: Strengthening Self-esteem, Friendships and Muscles Through Sports" from 4 - 6 p.m. on Monday, April 28 - Friday, May 2 for girls in fourth through sixth grades. Run in cooperation with Girls Inc. of Worcester, the program is designed to teach young girls about body image and fitness, while exposing them to a variety of sports.

Each day of camp will begin with an "ice breaker" game, followed by instruction and scrimmages in specific sports. Members of female athletic teams will lead a day of their respective sport. The schedule of events is as follows:

* Monday, April 28 - Basketball, Hart Gym * Tuesday, April 29 - Soccer, Hart Field * Wednesday, April 30 - Field Hockey, Hart Turf * Thursday, May 1 - Hip Hop Dancing, Smith Wellness

On Friday, May 2, the Nutrition, Exercise and Eating Disorder (N.E.E.D.) Peer Educators and psychologist Betsy Cracco, of the counseling center, will present a workshop on body image and nutrition from 4 - 6 p.m. in Smith Hall, room 201.

The workshop will include discussion on the ways in which young girls have observed and experienced judgement about their bodies. Participants will offer their own stories and listen to the stories of the N.E.E.D. Peer Educators. They will also examine popular magazines aimed at young girls and discuss the messages being sent about body image and appearance.

The final segment of the workshop will include a body tracing exercise. Through a series of guided questions, the girls will construct life-size self-portraits, which will symbolize the ways in which their bodies are healthy and functional for them.

Camp will end with a small celebration. Each participant will receive a T-shirt, a "Celebrate Girls" magnet, and a free copy of New Moon Magazine, a magazine produced by girls for girls.