SPRINGFIELD, Ohio --- The development of self-esteem, leadership and spirituality among middle school-aged girls is the goal of Sistercamp, to be held at Wittenberg University June 20-25, 1999.
The program, headed by Robert White, Wittenberg's director of church relations, and Barbara Mackey, Wittenberg's director of community programs, is the first of its kind to combine self-worth and spirituality to aid girls through the toughest of the teen years.
"So many teenaged girls find that their middle school years are the most challenging of their lives," White said. "Our goal is to help build personal and spiritual assets in girls that will assist them in achieving their potential and enjoy life. We hope to help girls recognize negative behavior which may lead to depression, drug and alcohol abuse, inappropriate sexual activity and eating disorders."
White, who has served as youth director at a 5,400-member Lutheran congregation in Apple Valley, Minn. for seven years prior to coming to Wittenberg in July 1998, said that there are many programs which address self-concept but none which include spirituality as part of the program.
"I believe that spirituality plays a strong role in developing a strong self-concept," White said.
Enrollment in the program is limited to 50 girls who are entering sixth, seventh and eighth grades in the fall of 1999. Almost all of the staff will include Wittenberg female faculty and staff and other professional educators and Wittenberg women students will serve as mentors.
For more information on the Sistercamp, contact Mackey at (937) 327-7050, or e-mail bmackey@wittenberg.edu.
Wittenberg is a private, liberal arts college affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America located in Springfield, Ohio.
