GIRL POWER....

.....that is exactly what was in my house two weeks ago during Camp Amica session two!  The theme for this session was, you guessed it, "Girl Power"!

Every day we learned about a "woman of the day" someone who has made a difference in the world, we did a "craft of the day", "question of the day", "story of the day", ate lunch together and had free time (which we couldn't of planned a better week as the weather was perfect!!!).

The first day we explored Helen Keller and Anne Sullivan and their relationship.  Immediately some amicas realized that Anna Cate and her teacher, also Amy, shared the same kind of relationship that Helen Keller and Anne Sullivan shared!  It was wonderful to see them realize this on their own!  During morning chat I asked the girls as we went around the room if they could think of other women who have made a difference...here were some of their responses....

Susan B. Anthony, my mom, Rosa Parks, Betsy Ross, Helen Keller and saving the best for last.....

when I got to Katie, I asked her, just like I did everyone else, "do you know a woman who has made a difference", (and mind you I have never asked her this question!!!), without skipping a beat, she turned her head in Anne's direction and said her name!  It was one of the most amazing moments!!!!   And I couldn't agree with her more....Amy has got GIRL POWER for sure!!!!

We also played a little game where everyone had to go around the room and tell us their favorite animal, WITHOUT USING THEIR MOUTHS!!!  Mostly everyone acted it out, with the exception of Anna Cate who used her iPad and another girl who wrote it down.  It was hard for some of them to not use their mouths and for them to realize how hard it is not to use your mouth when you have that freedom every day.

We broke into out two groups this day and as group one worked on the making two frames (one for them and one for a special amica) the other group made chocolate covered pretzel rods and worked in their journals...and then they switched!  Lunch was cheese quesadillas and then they were able to enjoy their pretzels!

Day two....this was my favorite day...and the day that I was floating through the air in my own house!  The "woman of the day" was Mother Theresa, not bringing anything religious to the discussion, but for the main fact that she lived her life doing things for others and what groups she focused on helping.  So today's whole day was about doing something for someone else!  The girls learned that the frames that they made the day before was going to be going to a girl who lives with Rett syndrome, just like Anna Cate.  But to make the experience personal for them, each girl was given the chance to go to a computer or iPad and take the time to learn about who they wanted to pick as their "amica" from the Girl Power 2 Cure website!  I was BLOWN AWAY at the level of dedication these girls had in picking out their "amica".  After each girl picked their "amica" they painted a picture on a canvas for them and then wrote them a letter.  Many of the girls kept going back to the website to make personal connections to the girls by something they could relate to!  And one girl noticed her "amica's" birthday was in September so she painted balloons!  As MY "amicas" were busy, we listened to the GP2C cd and before the day was over all the girls were marked with the GP2C flower tattoo!!!  

The day seemed to have flown by as I felt like I was dreaming!  It was one of those perfect days.  And to see Anna Cate, picking an "amica" of her own and making a picture for another girl who lives with the same daily struggles that she faces every day....that is GIRL POWER!

While I was floating through the house I was preparing lunch which was homemade chicken nuggets and organic brown rice crispy treats!

And the last day, the "woman/girl of the day" was each of my AMICAS!  The day was about them and how they can make a difference today, tomorrow or in the future.  In morning chat we explored other children and teens and how they are making a difference and we talked about how THEY made a difference the day before!  The smiles that are going to be brought to the 10 faces of girls living with Rett syndrome shows how anyone can spread GIRL POWER!

During morning chat we went around the room and said who/what we would like to help by spreading girl power and the answers were split between helping homeless animals, homeless people and people with special needs/cancer.

During craft of the day, each girl was given a bottle that they would be putting two pieces of paper in.  One piece of paper had their name on it and ever other camper had to write down one nice thing about the person who's name was at the top.  My amicas even wanted me to write something about them!!!  And then on the other piece they were to draw a picture, write or do both about how they want to spread girl power in the future.  My HOPE is that they will not open these "message in a bottle" for some time, HOWEVER, if they have to, I told them to read the sheets of paper when they are feeling down or in a bad mood.  It will help them to feel better by reading what their friends had to say about them!  Then they had fun filing their bottles with all different color sand!

And lunch today was super fun....we made mini taco bowls and had tacos and then decorated cupcakes for dessert!  The taco bowls were a hit!

Just like my first session each girl got a collage of pictures of the week that we shared and a journal full of memories.  While they were busy having fun AND making a difference to 10 girls on the second day of camp by being themselves, I don't think they realize how big of an impact they will have on those 10 amicas from GP2C!  I know how those amicas are going to feel and I know they will have a smile on their face, because I see the same smile on my "special amica's" face that these 10 girls brought to her this summer!  

I am going to end with two quotes that we shared this week:

"The best and most beautiful things in this world cannot be seen or even touched, they must be felt within the heart"---Helen Keller

"Every time you smile at someone, it is an action of love, a gift to that person, a beautiful thing"---Mother Theresa