Conference brings learning opportunities to Jasper

Life-long healthy living is at the centre of an annual girls-only conference that will be held at the Jasper Activity Centre on April 18.

The 2009 Go Girl Conference, which is usually held in Edson, will be held here in Jasper so that young girls can network, try new things and get a new lease on life in a boy-free environment.

Targeted at girls aged 11 to 15, Anna DeClerq, a local youth and teen outreach worker, said the conference hopes to get young girls involved in physical activities during an often static time in their life.

“At this age, girls’ self-esteem plummets and they’re prone to get sedentary and not get involved because of self-esteem issues. This is the reason it’s just girls, so they can go and try all these activities,” she said.

For girls who have always wanted to try something, but haven’t quite had the nerve, the Go Girl Conference can be a prudent opportunity for them to get involved. 

“What we’re hoping for is life-long healthy living,” said DeClerq.?“This conference is also going to provide girls with information on how they can continue these activities.”

“They get to try things that might not be accessible in [their] community as well, to try activities that might not be normal activities, like basketball, because they aren’t for everybody,” she said. “Lots of the activities [at the conference] are... stuff that you can’t just go out and [do].”

The conference is also a great networking tool for girls, especially with older women from the community.

“We’re trying to create strong women role models ... so they can see women, as they get older, who do participate in activity and lead healthy lives,” she said. “Women in our community who are promoting healthy lifestyles.”

In a bid to promote a holistic and healthy lifestyle there will be a session with the Chocoholic Dietition, who DeClerq said will “talk about reasonable eating.”

Coach Cassandra, who leads the national snowboard team will also present information to the girls on “training and putting your mind to things, just motivating yourself to do well in sports,” according to DeClerq.