News4U Online

The Girls in Bloom (GIB) organization was formed by a group of local women who are driven to protect and nurture the adolescence of our city's young girls. For its seventh year, it is conducting the Girls in Bloom Expo which is scheduled for Saturday, February 27 at The Centre.

            Girls in Bloom allows middle school aged girls to enter a mature setting where they control the classes they want to participate in and be treated to prizes, gifts and a fabulous luncheon. The day is absolutely free, thanks to generous donations from Tri-State businesses. This year's theme is “Explore It, Nurture It, Express It!” Participants are offered an enormous variety of classes to pick for their day of experience; about 17 programs per hour are offered.  In the past there have been classes such as mask painting, using dogs as therapy, the dangers of tanning beds, money management, art, cooking, journal writing, dance, makeup, fashion and dealing with relationships. One of the more popular classes last year was Evansville's American Idol. There are a variety of new choices this year, including an ice hockey introduction class. This forum is also an opportunity for the girls to display any piece of art that they have created. The pieces will be on display throughout the day. Parents are allowed to join their daughters in some of the classes or just hang out in the cafe with coffee, pastries and great reading material.

            The organization is trying to create a safe harbor for middle school aged girls to explore new ideas and directions so they can use that knowledge for future character development. Adolescent girls are faced with terrific challenges these days from untold numbers of media sources such as the internet, magazines, television and music. Our society tries to portray to young girls that you have to be thin, beautiful and perfect in order to be of value. Girls at this age are vulnerable to negative influences and it's important that they are exposed to opportunities to build self-esteem through education, exploration and plain old support from key adults in their lives. The women of this organization recognize the importance of positive influence in the lives of adolescent girls and they've turned this intention into a fantastic event.

            Anne Topper, the Expo’s director, says that “our goal is to offer programs to create a day of safe risk taking. Safe risk is an important element in self esteem development. Girls are often afraid to try new things because they feel the need to be perfect or the need for approval of their peers.”

            Sign up now for this fantastic event. Last year’s Expo was attended by 600 girls and that is the cap again this year. It is for girls from 5^th through and including 8^th grade.  Classes are to be chosen by the participants the morning of the event. Area schools will be receiving brochures to be distributed the last week in January. The cost is free and lunch is included!

Online: www.girlsinbloom.us